HISTORY OF DYKES ON BIKES® WMC
When Dykes on Bikes began in 1976, one of the women coined the name and the San Francisco Chronicle ran with it. The group's first meetings were held at a private home and then moved to a room above the legendary lesbian bar Amelia's.
That nickname embedded itself in queer memory. In 1980 these women attended again but a Parade organizer tried to push the women out of the lead position… and they pushed through securing their place at the head of the pride parade for good.
That nickname embedded itself in queer memory, and by the late 1980s the San Francisco Dykes on Bikes Women’s Motorcycle Contingent was born.
Curator’s Talk | “Dykes on Bikes: Thirty Years at the Forefront” (2008) https://youtu.be/5n4D2wyj0z8?si=dViDys2NMMrs83I_
B.A.R. Bay Area Reporter, Vol. 8, June 22, 1978
Our name was catchy and fit for many women on motorcycles, so they used it too. It became a liability for the San Francisco, and nationwide, as groups not associated with us used it in official capacity. Confusion in the public was growing.
As other dyke-centric motorcycle groups used the rhyming name and did (or said) things not affiliated with us, not aligned with our mission, and created problems in the community, clarity was required.
Our name sparked a legal war when they tried to trademark the name in 2003.
The San Francisco Dykes on Bikes® WMC maintains the trademark and all use agreements.
SF is the Mother Chapter for all approved Chapters. All Chapters are self-governing within SF Guidance.
To connect with SFDOBWMC to charter a Chapter in your area, learn more on their website.
Find a local Chapter near you.
In 2003 the USPTO rejected the trademark for the name, deeming “Dyke” disparaging to men AND derogatory to lesbians.
They won the trademark for the name four years later… but trademarking the logo faced the same roadblocks. They fought until 2017 with the Supreme Court until they finally were heard. By unanimous decision, the Supreme Court struck down the “disparaging” clause as unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination, securing the logo at last.
That legacy is now federally protected—the result of a 13-year trademark battle that rose all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court Loves Dykes on Bikes in the Advocate Magazine, 2018 : https://www.advocate.com/current-issue/2018/5/21/supreme-court-loves-dykes-bikes
WHO ARE THE DYKES ON BIKES® in Rehoboth?
-
Dykes on Bikes® Rehoboth Beach Women’s Motorcycle Contingent is rooted in the legacy of the original San Francisco Chapter, advancing visibility, pride, and solidarity among lesbian + queer women motorcyclists and allies while building a bold, inclusive community in and around Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
Our mission is to empower and unite lesbian + queer women motorcyclists, LGBTQ+ and women’s causes through philanthropy, Rides, supporting local communities, PRIDE events, and education.
-
Dignity
We honor the humanity, autonomy, and lived experience of every person we encounter.Outreach
We build bridges across communities, organizations, identities, and generations.Boldness
We understand visibility as leadership, not performance.Ritual Kinship
We honor the traditions, responsibilities, and sacred trust of riding together.Belonging
We create spaces where lesbian and queer women riders can be seen, supported, and strengthened. -
Dykes on Bikes WMC was born in San Francisco when a group of lesbians showed up on motorcycles and jumped in front the city’s Pride parade. Something clicked—for the crowd, for the movement, and for queer people who had never seen lesbians so visible, so strong, so unapologetically front and center.
Since then, Dykes on Bikes® WMC has grown into an international symbol of resistance, freedom, and community. With chapters around the world, we are proudly lesbian-led, fiercely inclusive, and committed to standing at the front—not for recognition, but for protection.
We clear the path. We set the tone. We hold the line.
-
Yes, we said “DYKES.”
It’s a word that was once used to insult and isolate us. But like many marginalized communities, we reclaimed what was meant to hurt us and turned it into armor. In our mouths, “dyke” is not a slur—it’s a badge of honor. A signal of strength. A shout of survival.
When we tried to trademark our name in 2003, the U.S. government said “dyke” was too offensive. We disagreed. We took our case to court and won. After a 14-year legal battle, the Supreme Court affirmed what we’ve known all along: we have the right to name ourselves. Our visibility is not vulgar. Our pride is not profane.
-
Dykes on Bikes® stands for lesbian visibility, queer resilience, and gender diversity. We welcome women, trans and nonbinary riders, and anyone who shares our values of community, freedom, and collective liberation.
Our bikes may be vintage or brand new. Our riders may be seasoned leather dykes or first-time Pride participants. But every single one of us carries the heartbeat of this movement—engine by engine, ride by ride.
-
May 2025, Dykes on Bikes® “arrived” in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware for the first time when the Chapter was approved by the San Francisco Mother Chapter. We carry the legacy of five decades of DYKE grit and glory to the First State. We’re here to create something rooted in history and grown in local soil.
So if you see us on the road—leather vests glinting, rainbow flags flying, engines humming like thunder—know this:
We are Dykes on Bikes and we’re just getting started. -
YES… we are dually a nonprofit organization created to carry a powerful legacy into local service.
We exist to empower and unite lesbian and queer women motorcyclists while supporting LGBTQ+ and women’s causes through philanthropy, rides, Pride events, education, outreach, and community partnerships.
Our work is visible on the road, but it reaches far beyond the ride. Every donation, sponsorship, fundraiser, event, and collaboration helps us build safer spaces, stronger riders, visible leadership, and lasting community.
We do not ride for profit. We ride for purpose — grounded in history, accountable to community, and ready to serve.