Photos courtesy of Dykes on Bikes
By Kate Brown, Ph.D—
As we prepare to roll into this year’s San Francisco LGBTQ+ Pride Parade, San Francisco Dykes on Bikes® (DOBTM) is doing so with a powerful mission in sight: our 50th Anniversary. What began as a bold act of visibility has grown into an international movement, and this year’s Pride ride will be both a celebration of how far we’ve come and a signal of where we’re headed next.
That global reach will be on full display at Pride. Riders from Dykes on Bikes chapters across the world are making the journey to San Francisco to ride with us. We are thrilled to welcome riders traveling from as far away as Australia to join their fellow dykes from across the United States and beyond. Their presence is a testament to the enduring impact of our movement and the shared values that continue to connect us across borders.
Following the Pride Parade, our celebration will continue with a week-long retreat in Northern California. This gathering will give us the rare opportunity to slow down together, on the road and off, and reflect on our history, our victories, and the responsibility we carry as stewards of this movement. Just as importantly, we’ll look ahead and ask big questions about what the next 50 years of Dykes on Bikes should be, as an international force for visibility, advocacy, and community.
Closer to home, we have exciting events coming up this spring. On Sunday, March 22, from 3–7 pm, we’ll be hosting a fundraiser at the iconic White Horse in Oakland. The afternoon will include fun games, good company, and an open invitation. Everyone is welcome to join us in supporting our work and celebrating our community.
Our spring ride calendar is also starting to take shape. We have a ride planned for February 21, 2026, with more details to be announced soon. Be sure to follow us on social media and keep an eye on our “events and rides” page (https://www.dykesonbikes.org/) for the latest updates as the season fills out.
Finally, we are incredibly proud to share a well-deserved congratulations to Dykes on Bikes attorney Brooke Oliver, Senior Counsel with Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savith LLP. Brooke has been recognized as a top global trademark attorney, named to the World Trademark Review 1000 list for 2026.
Brooke is widely known for her critical work supporting artists, nonprofits, and social justice movements. As General Counsel for Dykes on Bikes, she argued our trademark case before the United States Supreme Court twice! The culmination of two trips to the Supreme Court over the course of thirteen years was the landmark, unanimous Supreme Court decision in 2017 (Matal vs Tam), which struck down as unconstitutional the provision of the Lanham Act under which the U.S. Patent Office could determine what speech was “disparaging” or “offensive,” and is widely considered one of the most important freedom of expression cases for the LGBTQ+ community.
Congratulations to Brooke Oliver on this monumental career achievement and on this extraordinary recognition by her peers throughout the industry. Her work has left an indelible mark, not only on Dykes on Bikes, but also on an incredible list of organizations that fight for social justice and LGBTQ+ equality.
Kate Brown, Ph.D., is the President of San Francisco Dykes on Bikes® Women’s Motorcycle Contingent. https://www.dykesonbikes.org/
Dykes on Bikes®
Published on February 12, 2026
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