Soni Wolf

Soni S.H.S. Wolf (September 19, 1948 – April 25, 2018) was an American lesbian activist. She described herself as a dyke, and was also a motorcycle enthusiast and former U.S. Air Force Vietnam-era veteran. She co-founded the Dykes on Bikes (DOB) after their 1976 San Francisco Pride parade debut, and rode with them each year from 1978 until her death in 2018. The group is a highly visible symbol of empowerment and LGBTQ pride. Wolf nurtured DOB’s worldwide chapters and fought for their right to use the reclaimed term dyke, they fought and won two lawsuits against the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office so they could trademark their name and logo. DOB does “philanthropic work for LGBTQ causes and organizations around the world”. In June 2019, to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, Wolf was one of fifty inaugural heroes to be named on the National LGBTQ Wall of Honor placed inside the Stonewall Inn, and within the Stonewall National Monument.