Min. D. Dyke

Mindy Dyke

Min. D. Dyke [also known as Mindy Dyke] was born Mindy Spitzer in Bronx, New York. She came out as a Lesbian in 1972. She is, and will always be, a womyn born womyn. In New York, Min. D. became active in the Lesbian Switchboard. Through this work, she met Alix Dobkin, Maxine Feldman, and most of the well-known east coast dykes. Min. D., too, wrote her own songs of loving wymyn. Following her love of music, she attended the first ten Michigan Women’s Music Festivals.

At the age of 22, Min. D. Dyke completed training as an x-ray technician. She followed her dad and stepmom to Miami, Florida, in 1975, where she soon found a job and new lesbian friends. She became an active member of the Lesbian Task Force of Miami.

Min. D. Dyke’s teenage dream was to be the first in her family to graduate college and walk across the stage to receive her diploma. While working full time, she completed a few classes. She “burned out” and did not take another class for a few years. At age 55, Min. D. was diagnosed with a spinal disease which led to five surgeries on her spine. After 34 years, she was forced to take medical retirement because she could no longer work in her profession as a radiologic technologist, specializing in mammography.

With 60 transferred credits from junior college, Min. D. Dyke began her 12-year journey at Florida International University (FIU). Her doctor permitted her to return to her studies with the following restrictions: she could take one class per semester, and she could not take any summer classes. While competing for her grades with many students more than half her age, Min. D. successfully graduated summa cum laude.

While at Florida International University, Min. D. Dyke was admitted into the Phi Beta Kappa national honor society. Nominated by a former professor, she received The Real Triumphs award. She earned her bachelor’s degree in women’s studies in May of 2020. Part of her teenage dream came to fruition by becoming the first in her family to graduate college. Although COVID restrictions smashed her dream to walk across the stage, she participated in a graduation ceremony via Zoom. The president of the university promised that when he was given the okay from the state of Florida and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, he would hold in-person graduations for every class that missed their opportunity. One year later, Min. D. walked across that stage to receive her real diploma, realizing the second part of her teenage dream.

Min. D. Dykes’s many interests and hobbies include swimming, singing, playing guitar, and cooking. She is an avid football fan, specifically the Miami Dolphins, the University of Miami Hurricanes, and the Florida International University Panthers. She travels to visit her family in New Jersey, and friends around the country, and to hear live wymyn’s music wherever she can find it. She especially loves the National Women’s Music Festival in Middleton, Wisconsin.

Min. D. Dyke remains a lesbian-feminist activist.