PHOTOS: Dykes On Bikes And The Legacy Of Lesbian Motorcyclists In Chicago

CHICAGO — The Pride Parade has changed a lot over the years, but for parade attendees there is one constant that keeps them coming back: Dykes on Bikes.

The story of Dykes on Bikes began in 1976 in San Francisco, when a group of two dozen women, tired of marching behind gay men, rode their bikes from the back of the march to claim space in the front. The group has been leading the way at parades ever since, a symbol of feminism, defiance, liberation and community.

While the official Dykes on Bikes organization is based in San Francisco, riders across the country align themselves with the group, whether through official chapters or just by celebrating queer women on motorcycles.

In Chicago, motorcycle-riding lesbians were first spotted at the 1987 Pride Parade, when a CTA bus driver named Antonia “Tata” Flores rode her Harley-Davidson with two friends.

We spoke to riders at the 2026 Pride Parade about why they ride — and what keeps them coming back year after year.

Trish Akers-Bailey

“Sometimes the moments that inspire us become the dreams we live. I first saw Dykes on Bikes in 1999. Today, in 2026, I have the privilege of riding beside them. What an incredible honor and a bucket list dream come true.”

Hollie Conroy

For many people who participate in the parade, it is a full circle life moment to participate. “I’m a late bloomer, I had my own queer awakening at a parade,” said 41-year-old Hollie Conroy, who rode with Steph Cole, 42.

Debby Rijos

In 1987, a CTA bus driver named Antonia “Tata” Flores rode her Harley-Davidson alongside two friends at Chicago’s Pride Parade, starting the era of Dykes on Bikes in Chicago — for riders affiliated and not affiliated with the San Francisco group. Flores passed away in 2008 and today her niece, Debby Rijos, carries on her legacy at the parade. Approximately 30 riders from various riding groups participated in this year’s parade.

Beyond carrying on her aunt’s legacy, Rijos cited visibility, community and creating spaces where women who ride feel safe as reasons to ride.

“There’s so many reasons why I ride. I do it for community. It’s about celebrations. The roaring of the bikes reminds people we’ve come so far. We’re all equal.” After many years of riding at both the Dyke March and the parade, Rijos said she still gets goosebumps every time.

Inette Arellano

Inette Arellano, 41, and 31-year-old Adrienne Elyse Meters both ride with a local Chicago women’s club called the Bleeders. The couple met when they attended a planned Bleeders meetup at Reggie’s in the South Loop. It was the first time either had explored joining a community of riders.

“Riding gives me confidence,” Arellano said. “It has also made me step out of my comfort zone to explore life on two wheels. I have met many amazing people and built friendships through riding, which I always struggled with before.

“I ride in the parade because there is an empowerment that it gives me, as a queer woman, and hopefully it spreads into the eyes and heart of the spectator when they see me on a motorcycle,” Arellano said. “Also, who doesn’t like being cheered on?”

Adrienne Elyse Meters

Meters has been riding in the parade since 2022.

“I rode to Reggie’s by myself, terrified, and I met Inette,” she said. “As far as riding communities go, we have people from all sorts of backgrounds. It’s become an unexpectedly cool community to be a part of.

“I wanted to do the parade because it sounded fun and also I know how important visibility is. Just being out and proud and joyful and being there for people to see. There’s a value in making sure there’s still people showing up. Queer folks are still here and a large force in a political climate that is nasty to queer people now. In being brave enough to show up even when the tides are turning.”

Sarah Kuchera and Rue Walker

“I came of age in a time where this was not so acceptable,” said 48-year-old rider Sarah Kuchera. “I see how much things have changed and I want it to stay changed for them. I really hope it makes a difference.”

This year’s parade was Rue Walker’s first time on a motorcycle and in the parade.

“I loved it,” the 38 year old said. “I’d never been on a motorcycle before but Sarah made me feel really safe and I got comfortable quickly. I loved finding people in the crowd to wave or compliment. There was an older hetero couple wearing shirts that said something like ‘You are loved’ so I pointed to them and made a heart with my hands to let them know I was glad to see them.

“I saw a teenager who was all decked out and wearing a lesbian pride flag over her shoulders; when I threw her a kiss her whole face lit up,” Walker said. “I figured out I liked girls when I was about her age, and while I was never ashamed of it, it made perfect sense to me, I was afraid of letting people know. I got a little choked up looking around and seeing all of these people who had shown up to see us being ourselves. That girl and I got to experience our queerness as something to be celebrated, to show off the joy that it brings us and share that with others.”

Gianna Cécile Allegro Purcell

Gianna Cécile Allegro Purcell said the community aspect of riding is important.

“Me being a rider has nothing to do with me being gay or wanting to flag that I am gay, but it does bring out a personal power, which does feel like a masculine flex that I like to do as often as possible,” she said. ”Riding in the parade is where I get to connect with other queer riders and do what I love around other queer people since the motorcycle scene is very hetero.

“As a traveler, it’s hard for me to connect to a lot of gays on bikes. And even though it’s just one day and for a few hours, I truly appreciate these two things I love about myself, that I ride and that I’m gay, coming together.”

Tamale Sepp

Entertainer Tamale Sepp has been organizing riders in Chicago for 17 years and organizes the riding group Bikes and Mics, which has been in the parade for more than a decade.

“There’s room for everybody in this community,” Sepp said. “If you’re a woman who rides a motorcycle in this city, there’s something for you here.”

“Bikes and Mics exist because there was a need for a welcoming, fun and collaborative presence in the queer motorcycle community. A place where it was less about bravado and more about ensuring newer riders were encouraged, supported and included. A place where seasoned riders can serve as mentors and discover and deepen their own strengths, through their shared love of riding.”

The group always picks a theme to wear costumes as in the parade, this year’s theme was Favorite Fierce Legends.

Annie Warnick

Annie Warnick, 45, led the Bikes and Mics crew in the parade and channeled Brazilian entertainer and posthumous queer icon Carmen Miranda for her costume.

Warnick has been riding for a decade but it took her awhile to find the community she’s found at Bikes and Mics.

“When I first learned to ride I took the free safety course at the DMV through Harper College and one of the questions on the test was ‘Why do people ride?’ The answer to that is it is a joy to ride. It’s a privilege to ride with Bikes and Mics and it is a joy to ride. I love the motorcycles. Pride is so important and why we’re out here celebrating. Joy is active resistance. With the rolling back of our rights, trampling our civil liberties and worse aims of this administration. We, the people will exist and resist and we’ll do so joyously. For joy itself is resistance.”

Mary Vendiola

Mary Vendiola, 42, honored Tina Turner with her costume in the parade this year. It was her second year riding in the parade.

Jill Sandmire

Another rider creating space for connection within the women’s motorcycle community is 43-year-old Jill Sandmire who founded Babes Moto Lounge, “a community of woman asphalt pirates.”

Beyond the parade, Sandmire is a touring motorcyclist who is currently on a mission to ride around all five of the Great Lakes.

“The thing with riding is you’re putting all your trust into this machine. You have to focus so much on the riding so that you don’t die. That focus is freeing. Your mind goes away. It’s just you and the road. And it’s also community. When I started riding I knew there was a subculture but had no idea how riding motorcycles would change my life in a way that was super positive. The sense of community was something I underestimated and the people that I met have become my family. It took me two years to find women to ride with. I found the Bleeders and boom, so many cool people.”

Priscilla Sahagun

Priscilla Sahagun, 36, rides with the Bleeders and was originally skeptical of riding in the parade, but the experience changed her.

“Riding motorcycles has been one of the most empowering things that I’ve done in my life. It’s given me the opportunity to meet so many independent and strong women who are unapologetically themselves and have inspired me to be the same,” she said. “I didn’t realize how impactful riding in the pride parade would be for me until I did it a few years ago.

“I’m not going to lie, I usually hate parades and am not typically the type of person who has a lot of spirit for this style of celebrating. My mind was quickly changed, however, after seeing the joy that it brought to my community’s faces. It felt so important and I’m grateful that I’ve been able to be a part of it. I also didn’t realize how healing the parade would be for me. Believe it or not, it helped me with my relationship with my parents and their acceptance of who I am.”

Jules Reinhart and Luisa Blaze

Jules Reinhart, 24, and 30-year-old Luisa Blaze both are new to riding motorcycles. They joined the Dyke March and again at the parade in June. Reinhart called the Parade ride “a dream come true.”

“It’s the first time I have ever been public facing for pride and for queer activism. I usually help dolls out behind the scenes. It was fun to be in the limelight for once and with a group as cool as Dykes on Bikes,” Blaze said.

Cheryl Armstrong

Cheryl Armstrong rides for freedom and liberation and said, “I enjoy all of the power and energy that comes with straddling a motorcycle.”

Tomi Dew and Erin Murphy

Tomi Dew, 41 and Erin Murphy, 36, rode both at Dyke March and the pride parade.

When asked why they ride they put it simply: “We’re dykes. We be dyking.”

Christina Crostwaite

Christina Crostwaite, 40, was riding in the parade for the third time last month.

“It’s amazing energy,” she said. “The feel of the crowd. There’s so much positive going on here in a world that is so messed up.”