Del Martin, RIP
Legendary lesbian activist Del Martin died on Wednesday morning at the age
of 87. Her lifelong partner Phyllis Lyon, whom she married legally at last
in California in June, was by her side. Martin and Lyon co-founded the
nation's first national advocacy group for lesbians, the Daughters of
Bilitis, in 1955. Martin and Lyon were the first same-sex couple to legally
wed in San Francisco on June 16 in a ceremony officiated by Mayor Gavin
Newsome at City Hall.
Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon met in Seattle in 1950 while working for a
magazine. The two quickly became fast friends, and two years later, became a
couple. After moving to San Francisco in 1953, Lyon and Martin became active
in the LGBT community there and in 1955, helped to co-launch the lesbian
advocacy group Daughters of Bilitis. Five years later, the organization had
spread nationwide, with chapters all over the country.
After turning over the reins of Daughters of Bilitis in the late 1960's,
Martin and Lyon went on to become active in the National Organization for
Women . Del Martin was the first out lesbian to ever
be elected to NOW. In the late 1980's, the couple joined Old Lesbians
Organizing for Change, a national network of
lesbians over age 60 working to combat ageism. In 1995, Martin and Lyon were
named delegates to the White House Conference on Aging by Senator Dianne
Feinstein and Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi.
Though together in love for over a half-century, Lyon and Martin were never
able to legally recognize their relationship until February 12, 2004. For a
brief moment, the couple shared the joy of an official marriage license from
the city of San Francisco when Mayor Gavin Newsome declared the city must
issue licenses to same-sex couples. That marriage, however, was later
invalidated by the California Supreme Court.
Four years later, Martin and Lyon were able to finally realize their dream
of become legally married. They were the first
same-sex couple to wed in
San Francisco following a historic California Supreme Court ruling that the
ban on gay marriage in California was unconstitutional. Martin and Lyon were
wed in a ceremony at City Hall in San Francisco by Mayor Gavin Newsome.
Sadly, only a few months after finally celebrating the dream of a lifetime,
Del Martin passed away on Wednesday at the age of 87. Kate Kendell,
executive director of the National Center of
Lesbian Rights, announced Martin's death late Wednesday morning. Martin died
at a San Francisco hospital after complications from a broken arm aggravated
her previously existing health problems.
Kendell stated in a press release from NCLR that Phyllis Lyon, Martin's
lifelong partner and spouse, was by her side.
"Martin was one of the nation's first and most visible lesbian rights
activists who dedicated her life to combating homophobia, sexism, violence,
and racism," Kendell stated. "Martin's many contributions to the LGBT
movement will resonate for decades to come."
"Today the LGBT movement lost a real hero," said Kendell. "For all of Del's
life, she was an activist and organizer even before we knew what those terms
meant. Her last act of public activism was her most personal-marrying the
love of her life after 55 years. In the wake of losing her, we recognize
with heightened clarity the most poignant and responsible way to honor her
legacy is to preserve the right of marriage for same-sex couples, thereby
providing the dignity and respect that Del and Phyllis' love deserved."
Gifts in lieu of flowers can be made to honor Martin's life and commitment
and to defeat the proposed California marriage ban amendment through NCLR's
No On 8 PAC at www.nclrights.org/NoOn8.
of 87. Her lifelong partner Phyllis Lyon, whom she married legally at last
in California in June, was by her side. Martin and Lyon co-founded the
nation's first national advocacy group for lesbians, the Daughters of
Bilitis, in 1955. Martin and Lyon were the first same-sex couple to legally
wed in San Francisco on June 16 in a ceremony officiated by Mayor Gavin
Newsome at City Hall.
Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon met in Seattle in 1950 while working for a
magazine. The two quickly became fast friends, and two years later, became a
couple. After moving to San Francisco in 1953, Lyon and Martin became active
in the LGBT community there and in 1955, helped to co-launch the lesbian
advocacy group Daughters of Bilitis. Five years later, the organization had
spread nationwide, with chapters all over the country.
After turning over the reins of Daughters of Bilitis in the late 1960's,
Martin and Lyon went on to become active in the National Organization for
Women . Del Martin was the first out lesbian to ever
be elected to NOW. In the late 1980's, the couple joined Old Lesbians
Organizing for Change, a national network of
lesbians over age 60 working to combat ageism. In 1995, Martin and Lyon were
named delegates to the White House Conference on Aging by Senator Dianne
Feinstein and Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi.
Though together in love for over a half-century, Lyon and Martin were never
able to legally recognize their relationship until February 12, 2004. For a
brief moment, the couple shared the joy of an official marriage license from
the city of San Francisco when Mayor Gavin Newsome declared the city must
issue licenses to same-sex couples. That marriage, however, was later
invalidated by the California Supreme Court.
Four years later, Martin and Lyon were able to finally realize their dream
of become legally married. They were the first
same-sex couple to wed in
San Francisco following a historic California Supreme Court ruling that the
ban on gay marriage in California was unconstitutional. Martin and Lyon were
wed in a ceremony at City Hall in San Francisco by Mayor Gavin Newsome.
Sadly, only a few months after finally celebrating the dream of a lifetime,
Del Martin passed away on Wednesday at the age of 87. Kate Kendell,
executive director of the National Center of
Lesbian Rights, announced Martin's death late Wednesday morning. Martin died
at a San Francisco hospital after complications from a broken arm aggravated
her previously existing health problems.
Kendell stated in a press release from NCLR that Phyllis Lyon, Martin's
lifelong partner and spouse, was by her side.
"Martin was one of the nation's first and most visible lesbian rights
activists who dedicated her life to combating homophobia, sexism, violence,
and racism," Kendell stated. "Martin's many contributions to the LGBT
movement will resonate for decades to come."
"Today the LGBT movement lost a real hero," said Kendell. "For all of Del's
life, she was an activist and organizer even before we knew what those terms
meant. Her last act of public activism was her most personal-marrying the
love of her life after 55 years. In the wake of losing her, we recognize
with heightened clarity the most poignant and responsible way to honor her
legacy is to preserve the right of marriage for same-sex couples, thereby
providing the dignity and respect that Del and Phyllis' love deserved."
Gifts in lieu of flowers can be made to honor Martin's life and commitment
and to defeat the proposed California marriage ban amendment through NCLR's
No On 8 PAC at www.nclrights.org/NoOn8.