Unclean! Unclean!
by Andrea Appleton, Baltimore City Paper, 12/9/2010
Credit: Honfest.net via Citypaper.com
“She’s finally gone and done it.
Not satisfied with having Disney-fied Hampden, Denise Whiting—owner of Café Hon and creator of Honfest—is going national. She has registered the word “hon” as a federal trademark, according to an article in the Baltimore Messenger. As the self-proclaimed owner of the word, Whiting has a licensing agreement with the Maryland Transit Administration to use “hon” in its ad campaign for fare cards.
Somebody better tell all those working-class women who created the term that it’s time to send in their dues.”
Continue reading post and comments (and you must read the comments!) at Baltimore City Paper.
DISGUSTING! Thanks for taking some of the charm out of the city I love. Old wench.
Hon is the people of Baltimore, created by them, popularized by them, owed by all!
I have been addressed as “Hon” by waitresses all across the continent. This term of endearment is not unique to Baltimore, regardless what the various scammers will claim. And I am frankly offended by the mocking tone of Whitman’s whole shtick.
So “Hon” was filed back in 2006 and no one opposed it in 2007 so she got the right to use it. This is a Baltimore term and should not have allowed to be registered and Baltimore should appeal and ask for a review of the filing and then claim it themselves. The term “Hon” has been around a lot longer then she has been. Hamden or Baltimore should have the rights to it and all royalties should be donated to a charity in the limits of that city.
I think I want to trade mark the name Denise Whiting and have it printed in all the bottom of all urinals and toilets in Baltimore for taking a term of endearment from all of us southern folk.