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Mission Statement // 3.13.07 // max San Francisco Dykes on Bikes® Women's Motorcycle Contingent is an organization committed to creating a local, national and international community of women motorcyclists and friends of women motorcyclists. Our mission is to support philanthropic endeavors in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and women's communities and beyond, and reach out to empower a community of diverse women through rides, charity events, Pride events and education. : ............................................................................ : Membership & Meetings // 2.27.08 // max Riders are considered a Dykes on Bikes® General Member just by registering for the SF Pride Parade. We meet at 7:30 PM on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month until April when we get into full
swing and meet every Wednesday. Meeting place SF
Eagle Tavern
For more information about membership and to get on the Dykes on Bikes® mailing list contact:
: ............................................................................ : SF Dykes on Bikes® Womens Motorcycle Contingent History // 4.09.07 // soni In 1976 a small group of 20 - 25 women motorcyclists gathered at the head of the San Francisco Pride Parade and, unbeknownst to them, a tradition began. One of these women coined the phrase “Dykes on Bikes®” and the San Francisco Chronicle picked it up and ran with it. For the next several years, riders just showed up and rode—no formal organization or registration. It was this way for several years until the middle to late 1980s; however, as, SF Pride became more structured and our numbers kept growing, the need to organize Dykes on Bikes® became necessary; thus, the Women’s Motorcycle Contingent (WMC) was born.. However, in the press and LGBT culture, we continued to be know as Dykes on Bikes®. The WMC was started by LB Gunn, Kalin Elliot-Arns, Christine Elliot, Sabine Balden and Mel. This name was used to make the group appeal to all women motorcyclists. The first meetings were held at a private home and then moved to an upstairs room at Amelia’s, a dyke/lesbian bar. When Amelia’s closed, the meetings were moved to The Eagle Tavern, at 12th St. and Harrison St., where meetings continue to be held. In 2003, the organizers voted to recognize our long history by changing the name To the San Francisco Dykes on Bikes® Women’s Motorcycle Contingent (SFDOBWMC).. Today we register and organize over 400 bikes for the San Francisco Pride Parade. Since 2003 we have been trying to trademark the name Dykes on Bikes®, a name by which we have been known since 1976. The need to trademark our name became evident when a woman in Wisconsin tried to trademark “Dykes on Bikes®” for personal gain. With the help of Oliver Crain PC, we succeeded in getting her to drop her trademark petition. The organizers wanted to keep the name for non-profit use by any group of women riders that wish to use it for non-profit endeavors; therefore, we submitted a trademark petition of our own. After rejecting our petition three times one the grounds that the word “dyke” is derogatory and offensive, the Trademark Board reversed their decision and approved the application for trademark! We celebrated! As part of the trademark process, the Trademark Board must publish a notice at which time anyone can file an objection to the issuance of a trademark. One letter of opposition was submitted in 2006 and, one again, we found ourselves in a fight to trademark our name. To read more about our efforts, go to Dyke
Drama: A not-so-excellent In September 2006, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board granted our motion to dismiss the opposition to our Dykes on Bikes® trademark application. However, the story does not end on a ‘Happily Ever After’ note (yet). The opposer filed a notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in November 2006. Thus, the Dykes on Bikes® are going to federal court. Stay tuned as we continue to write our history. See Also Women in Motorcycling
History : ............................................................................ : Contact Information // 01.21.08 // max Dykes on Bikes®
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Message from the President //6.12.08 // vick germany Happy Gay Pride Month! Please check out the Pride Parade page where you can now fill out a Pride Parade Registration Form. You still have to print it out, mail it and a check for $15 to the SFLGBTPCC 1800 Market Street, PMB #5, San Francisco, CA 94102. The deadline for pre-registration is fast approaching, and that date is June 25. After June 25, registration goes up to $20. So, please send in your registration form and check in by that date. There will be opportunities to register the Saturday before at our annual pre-pride parade party (for more info see below and the Events Page and also the day off the parade; however, I strongly encourage you to pre-register because it helps the SFDOBWMC tremendously on the day of the parade! On May 15, the GLBTHS special exhibit honoring the Dykes on Bikes®: “Dykes on Bikes®: 30 Years at the Forefront. We fought for it. We earned it. We own it.” officially opened! Considering the news about the California Supreme Court ruling about marriage equality that same day, there was a good turnout for the event, and everyone I talked to enjoyed the exhibit, especially sitting on the Triumph, with footage of the Dykes on Bikes® projected behind them and listening to the sound of Dykes on Bikes® on a pair of headphones. If you’ve never ridden in the parade, but always wanted to, this is a great way to get a sense of the thrill of riding in the parade. If you want to experience a ride in the parade, you will have the opportunity to win a chance to ride on the back of a bike by coming to our annual Pre-Pride Parade Party on June 28 (see info below). The exhibit runs until July 12. The GLBT Historical Society is located at 657 Mission Street 3rd Floor and exhibit galleries are open Tuesday through Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. On May 17, not quite a dozen riders (including a couple of scooters) met at Spikes Coffee for a Dykes on Bikes® in town ride lead by Kelly. We cruised around the city -- up to Twin Peaks, over to McClaren Park, stopping at Dainese D-Store at 31 S Van Ness Ave (between 12th St & Mission St) for Italian sodas and espresso, over to the GLBT Historical Society to tour the 30 years of DOB exhibit and then finally ending at the DOB party at the Eagle. The Dykes on Bikes® ‘The Dyke and Fem Party’ had three bands (The Yes Gos, Keep Sweet and Ol’ Cheeky Bastard) that rocked the Eagle. Bubblinsugare was auctioneer extraordinaire – auctioning off signed Giants memorabilia, a $50 gift certificate to Alpha Pets, a Prostar tank bag with a retail value of $61.95 each (donated by MotoJava), and a chance to ride on the back of Sheila Malone’s bike during the SF LGBT Pride Parade! A good time was had by all. We also had this year’s t-shirts, caps, and pins for sale (see Merchandise). We will have them for sale at our June 28 event (see below for more info) and on June 29 at Market and Steuart Sts where we line-up for the parade. On May 18, the Dykes on Bikes® and the Inter-Club Fund held a Spring Ride to the North Bay. Unfortunately, I was not able to go on the ride (I was playing tourist in Chicago after the International Mr. Leather contest was over. I had the honor of being at judge this year) and I have not heard how the ride was. Knowing the area, though, I’m sure it was a pretty ride. Because I was in Chicago this year, there was no ride to the Santa Cruz Gay Pride Parade (held on June 1). We’ll be back next year, though. On June 12 - Dykes On Bikes® presents "30 Years of a Ride," a panel discussion about the major mile markers of this landmark organization. At the GLBT Historical Society, 6:00-8:00pm. I am leading a Dykes on Bikes® ride down to San Jose Pride Parade on June 15. For the fourth straight year, the Dykes on Bikes® are riding down to San Jose's Gay Pride Parade “Laugh, Love and Be Proud” www.sanjosepride.com/. This run is for women (used in the broadest/inclusive sense of that word) so as to increase the visibility of Dykes on Bikes® in the San Jose Pride Parade. The parade starts at 10:30AM. Meet at Caffe Soma at 1601 Howard St (just 2 blocks up from the Eagle Tavern), San Francisco at 8:00 AM. The caffe is open. Ride leaves at 8:30 AM sharp! For South Bay Riders, meet the SFDOBWMC at the assembly area in San Jose 9:30 AM, which is at the Victory Parking lot on S. Market St. between West St. John's and West Santa Clara. You must have a valid driver's license and proof of insurance to ride in the parade. There is a $5 registration fee. I will bring registration forms and collect the fee from riders. The San Jose Gay Pride Festival costs $15 to enter and the parking lot on Woz Way between W. San Carlos and Park Ave charged $5 to park last year (in previous years it was free). For those of you who do not want to go to the festival, I will be leading the group to a local restaurant for brunch after the parade, and then for a ride in the South Bay. Details to be provided on Sunday, June 15. If you are interested in riding down to San Jose or the ride afterwards, please RSVP to president@dykesonbikes.org that way I can plan for the ride, brunch, etc. For information on volunteering to help line up 400 bikes and the dykes (and some men) who ride them, contact: lineup@dykesonbikes.org. To be a Road Captain, contact: roadcaptain@dykesonbikes.org. Road Captain/Line-up meetings will be held on the following dates:
June 25 – Pre-registration ends. Registration after this date goes up to $20. You can register on June 28 at our annual party (see below) or on June 29 at Registration, which is on Steuart St. between Market and Mission. See Pride Page for details. On June 26, the GLBT Historical Society will hold a special Pride Week reception for the Dykes on Bikes® exhibit from 6 – 8 pm. On June 28, the Dykes on Bikes® throw their annual pre-pride parade party, from 1 – 5 pm at the Eagle Tavern in San Francisco. This is a special event as we will be celebrating our Trademark victory! We will have live music by Kyra Gordon and the Tender Morsels. This year’s raffle prizes include a pair of women's textile riding pants (size 12) retail value of $200 and a Prostar tank bag with a retail value of $61.95 (donated by MotoJava), various leather items from Leather Etc, a gift certificate to Tangerine, and a ride on the back of Ren Davis-Phoenix’s (organizing member of the Dykes on Bikes® - (check out her photo at the Members Page) bike with the Dykes on Bikes® in the SF LGBT Pride Parade! Here’s your chance to ride in the parade—with the Dykes on Bikes®! We will also have a special raffle prize: 2 round-trip tickets on Virgin America! For the Virgin America tickets, you need not be present to win and raffle tickets will cost $5/ticket. June 29—the Big Day—the SF LGBT Pride Parade! Check out the Pride Page for more information. WE NEED VOLUNTEERS FOR THE PRIDE PARADE (Road Captains, Line-Up, Registration)! If you are interested in volunteering, contact:
A reminder that stunt riding is not allowed. This includes: wheelies, weaving, passing bikes in front, dropping behind, breaking out of line, doubling back against the flow of the Parade, riding right up to the spectators, purposely creating gaps, crowding or endangering other bikes. Passengers must be legally seated in the passenger seat. Only 2 people per bike. Items cannot be thrown from a bike. You may see some people riding to the outside of the two columns of bikes—these are Road Captains. If a Road Captain asks you to do something, please comply with their request. They are helping to ensure that everyone has a safe ride down Market St. The DOB is meeting every Wednesday through June 25 at 7:30 pm at the Eagle Tavern, located at the corner of 12th St/Harrison St. Well, that’s it for this month. I hope to see you at one or more of the events listed above. Vick
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