In the 2020 Gender Census, 89 respondents identified as a dyke, with an dykes additional six people identifying as “dyke (in relation to gender)”/”dykegender”/”dyke-gender”/”dyke is my gender tbh”, and several more as variants such as “dykeish”, “dykefag”, “boi dyke”, “non-binary dyke”, etc. In the 2019 Gender Census, 17 people (0.2% percent of respondents) wrote “dyke” as their identity, and one wrote “bulldyke”. The word is commonly considered a derogatory slur, but has been reclaimed and used positively by some lesbians. Dyke as an identity and term is not universally understood or accepted in all parts of the world. Fashion within the dyke community can include styles that reject traditional femininity, such as short haircuts, button-up shirts, and boots.

As to the second element, the best guess is that -dyke is variation on dick, either as a generic term for a man or meaning a penis. It also seems likely that bulldyke arose in American Black slang. How, if at all, this nickname relates to the later sense of the word is uncertain, but the fact that in this case Bulldyke refers to a man and the fact that both Washington and Neal were Black may provide a clue as to the term’s origin.

Origins and historical usage

“Dyke” is a term that has historically been used as a derogatory slur but has been reclaimed by some within the lesbian community as an empowering and self-identifying label. TCU finished the 2022 regular season with a 12–0 record but lost the 2022 Big 12 Championship Game against the Kansas State Wildcats in overtime. His .625 winning percentage ranked fourth in program history for head coaches of more than two seasons. Dykes left the program at the conclusion of the 2021 regular season to take the head coaching job at TCU. Cal averaged 38.3 points per game, second-best in the Pac-12 and 11th-best in FBS, generating a program-record 459 total points for the season.

Modern Usage of ‘Dyke’

The etymology of that term is also obscure, but may have originated as a Virginian variant of deck and decked out. From the mid-19th century to the early 20th century, dike had been American slang for a well-dressed man, with “diked out” and “out on a dike” indicating a young man was in his best clothes and ready for a night on the town. Bull (“male cattle”) being used in the sense of “masculine” and “aggressive” (e.g., in bullish), a bulldyke would have implied (with similar levels of offensiveness) a “masculine cunt”. It may be related to the late-19th-century slang use of dike (“ditch”) for the vulva. The Oxford English Dictionary notes the first attestation as Berrey and Van den Bark’s 1942 American Thesaurus of Slang, which lists bulldiker as a synonym for lesbian. The term first appearscitation needed in an August 1921 article in the journal Medical Review of Reviews titled “The ‘Fairy’ and the Lady Lover”.

Historically, ‘dyke’ was often used in a pejorative manner to demean lesbian women. Also, while both hermaphrodite and morphodite are old terms for those with same-sex attraction, both were general terms referring to both men and women, and neither specialized to refer only to lesbians. Thus, Harvey “Bulldyke” Neal may have been a large, exceptionally masculine man, and the term connoting masculinity later transferred from men to lesbians.

Dykes often challenge the cultural and societal constraints placed on women, particularly those that define women by their appearance, behavior, and role in a heterosexual framework. The word’s shifting meaning underscores the power of language to evolve and reflect the changing dynamics of identity and culture. However, in recent years, dyke representation has grown, with more complex, nuanced portrayals in TV shows, films, and literature.

• His coaching career began in 2005 at the University of Kentucky as a graduate assistant, following three seasons as a linebacker with the Wildcats.
• While it can be derogatory when used as an insult, many individuals have reclaimed the word, embracing it as a badge of pride.
• TCU enjoyed more sustained success under Dykes in 2024, finishing with a 9-4 record and a blowout 34-3 win in the New Mexico Bowl.
• Dyke n., bull dyke, n., bulldagger, n., bull-dyking, adj.
• With a 48–46 win over Arizona State on Senior Day, Cal finished the regular season with a 7–5 record, clinching their first winning season since 2011.

The Evolution and Impact of Dykes Slang

At Kentucky, Dykes coached James Whalen who earned consensus All-America honors and set the all-time NCAA Division I record for receptions by a tight end. Following his success at Southern Methodist, Dykes was hired as the head coach at Texas Christian University prior to the 2022 season. Dykes coached the Mustangs to three winning seasons, including a 10–3 record in 2019 which was the program’s best record in more than thirty years. After coaching Cal football to its worst season (1–11) in program history in 2013, Dykes improved the team’s record to 5–7 in 2014, and then to 8–5 and an Armed Forces Bowl victory in 2015. In 2010, Dykes became a head college football coach for the first time at Louisiana Tech.

Personal Reclamation and Empowerment

Notable nonbinary or genderqueer people who call themselves dykes include poet Eileen Myles, entrepreneur Al Sandimirova, and author Rivers Solomon. Dyke is sometimes also used as an identity for non-lesbians, such as bisexuals or pansexuals. The words dyke, dike, bulldyke or similar, commonly refer to a lesbian, particularly one with masculine or butch traits (although femmes can also be dykes). By rejecting conventional femininity, dykes embody a resistance to the constraints placed upon women in patriarchal societies. While some people still find the term offensive, for many others, it serves as a reminder of the resilience and pride of queer people, especially lesbians. As attitudes toward lesbian and queer identities have shifted, the term dyke has gained acceptance within the LGBTQIA+ community.

Historically, the term “dyke” was used as a pejorative, intended to insult or demean women who deviated from heteronormative standards of femininity. The term “dyke” has evolved significantly in contemporary slang, encapsulating a wide array of meanings and connotations. Fae wrote that “This flag refers to dyke as a reclaimed slur as well as a multi faceted identity, encompassing orientation, gender (ie dykegender), and culture.” Another dyke pride flag was created in February 2020 by a tumblr user named Jace (urls disastergay, frostwitch, agenderwitch, and plantbutch). Through dyke marches, pride events, and community organizing, the dyke community continues to challenge societal norms and fight for justice and equality for LGBTQIA+ individuals.

TCU’s Offense Comes Alive in Regular Season Finale Win Over Cincinnati

SMU finished the COVID-shortened season 7–3, highlighted by a win over No. 25 Memphis. On the other side of the ball, SMU led the FBS in sacks per game with 3.92 and ranked third for tackles for loss per game with 8.54. In 2018, Dykes’ first season in charge, the Mustangs finished 5–7, going 4–4 in the American Conference. That year there were two Sonnys on the TCU coaching staff — Sonny Dykes and Sonny Cumbie. Besides his losing record, California Athletic Director Mike Williams has stated that Dykes had never “settled into California, the Bay Area or the Cal experience” as reasons for the firing.

Facebook censored use of the word dyke as “abusive content” in June 2017 on its website. From the mid-19th century to the early 20th century, dike had been American slang for the well-dressed man. Most theories tell that dyke comes off the word bulldyke, which has a similar meaning. It is also used as an adjective for things related to lesbianism. Understanding the multifaceted nature of this term allows for a more inclusive dialogue about LGBTQ+ identities and experiences.

• The term first appearscitation needed in an August 1921 article in the journal Medical Review of Reviews titled “The ‘Fairy’ and the Lady Lover”.
• At the conclusion of the 2011 season, Dykes signed a contract extension to increase his base salary to at least $700,000.
• Of those, around 20% identify as lesbian, a significant portion likely using terms like ‘dyke’ in their social and personal identities.
• If the penis sense was intended, then bulldyke might refer to size and connote the mistaken folk belief that lesbians have large clitorises or that the clitoris is some sort of false penis.
• The origin of the term dyke is obscure.
• The term ‘dyke’ has a myriad of meanings and implications, especially within the LGBTQ+ community.

In some countries, the term is still viewed negatively, while in others, it has gained widespread recognition and empowerment. They also advocate for greater inclusion within both the broader LGBTQIA+ community and mainstream society. These events are spaces for solidarity and empowerment, creating a sense of belonging for individuals who may feel marginalized within the larger community. However, in recent years, there has been a greater push for dyke visibility and representation in films, TV shows, literature, and other forms of media.

Dyke was once a derogatory term used to belittle or insult lesbians, often invoking stereotypes about lesbian behavior or appearance. In the 1970s and 1980s, as part of the feminist and LGBTQIA+ liberation movements, the word was reclaimed by lesbians as part of a broader effort to affirm their sexual and gender identities. The word has evolved to signify pride, strength, and defiance against societal norms, particularly in the context of gender and sexual identity. It is typically used by lesbians to describe themselves, especially those who embrace a more masculine or butch presentation, though it can also be used more broadly to describe any lesbian or queer woman.

It also reflects the intersection of sexual identity, gender expression, and resistance to societal norms. This intersectionality shapes the unique experiences of individuals within the dyke community and informs their activism and cultural contributions. The success continued on the field as the Mustangs racked up 466.8 yards and 38.4 points per game. Despite gaining 494.5 yards per game in 2020, SMU’s offense fell to the 12th-ranked offense in the FBS. As a result of SMU’s record-breaking season, the Mustangs had nine players garner all-conference honors, its highest since 2011. This drastic change was largely due to the improvement in SMU’s rushing attack, going from 115.6 yards per game in 2018 to 180.8 yards per game in 2019.

Altogether, his teams lost to UCLA, USC, and Stanford 11 times in the four years that he coached the Golden Bears. On January 8, 2017, Sonny Dykes was fired as the head coach of the Cal Golden Bears. Dykes and the Golden Bears finished the season with a record of 5–7, which included wins over #11 Texas and #18 Utah. Spavital served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2016 before being promoted to interim head coach following Dykes’ firing. Nevertheless, Cal finished the season in the bottom half of the Pac-12 standings for the third time in three years under Dykes.

A surge of feminism in the lesbian community led to “dyke separatism”, which emphasized that lesbian women should consider themselves to be separate from men, their ideas and movements. For lesbians of the community, however, a dyke is an extremely masculine, easily identified lesbian, given to indiscretion. In the 1950s, the word dyke was used as a derogatory term for lesbians by straight people, but was also used by lesbians of higher social status to identify crude, rough-bar lesbians.

Now in 2025, he has led Tulane to an 8-2 overall record and a 5-1 record in the AAC. The Tulane Green Wave has gone 17-7 overall (12-2 in AAC) in Jon Sumrall’s second season in New Orleans. The Aggies’ rush offense ranked 2nd in the SEC last season and 26th in the nation, while the offensive line ranked 10th in the country. He had immense success with the Wildcats in his first full season as offensive coordinator, leading Kansas State to a Big 12 title in 2022.