My word!
An update to
this older story: Dyke is no longer considered a sickening word in the United States legal hierarchy. Or within a part of it, anyway. "San Francisco lesbian bikers have
won a major battle with the US Patent and Trademark Office. For more than a year the San Francisco Women’s Motorcycle Contingent has been trying to trademark the name 'Dykes on Bikes'.... The Trademark Office twice rejected the group's application on the ground that the word 'dyke' is disparaging to lesbians.....
"They then submitted more than two dozen expert declarations from scholars, linguists, psychologists, and activists demonstrating how the word “dyke” has evolved to become a positive term and that lesbians view 'Dykes On Bikes' as empowering. Nevertheless, the Trademark Office then denied the request a final time.
"The group appealed to the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.... This week the appeal board reversed the decision and notified the group that it can trademark the name."