Vic Germany thought registering a federal trademark for San Francisco’s iconic Dykes on Bikes organization would be no problem. After all, the nonprofit lesbian motorcycle group has become internationally known for riding in the lead position at San Francisco’s pride parade every year for nearly three decades.

Instead, the group has spent a humiliating two years slogging through the swampland of trademark law, with no end in sight, said Germany, president of the San Francisco Women’s Motorcycle Contingent, a.k.a. Dykes on Bikes.

Twice, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has rejected the Dykes’ application, on the grounds that “dyke” is vulgar, offensive and “scandalous.” Patent office attorneys even point to Webster’s dictionary, which says dyke is “often used disparagingly.”

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Since when does the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office get to decide what offends us? I, along with some other curious minds, would like to know.

In case you weren’t aware, “queer” isn’t offensive. But “dyke” is.

What about the term fag?

Slut?

Whore?

This is taken from a comment over at Hothouse:

When everyone hears the word dyke, they think of the sterotypical lesbians that are ugly, butch, fat, and man hating freaks.

Does that make it offensive… just because a person doesn’t want to be assumed to be ugly, butch, fat, and a man hating freak? I think it’s offensive when people assume that I’m straight. Who’s gonna protect my feelings?

BTW, I doubt people assume someone to be ALL of those things from the word dyke. I think it’s more like ugly or butch or fat or a man hating freak.

What else ya got for me? This:

*He thinks I’m lesbian because I play football
*Nike’s “Homosexual Agenda”
*Where are Gay People From?
*Homo-Hop Festival Showcase Returns
*The Natural Roots of Sexuality
*Most gays, psychologists reject conversion
*Duo in Billings filming pilot on gay, lesbian acceptance in rural America
*Nobel Peace Nominee Defends Diversity