Martin and Lyon Marriage

Lesbian activist Del Martin, known worldwide for her marriage in San Francisco's City Hall in 2004 to her life-partner Phyllis Lyon, passed away yesterday in UCSF Hospice.

An eloquent organizer for civil rights, civil liberties and human dignity, Del Martin created and helped shape the modern LGBT and feminist movements. She was a woman of extraordinary courage, persistence, intelligence, humor and fundamental decency who refused to be silenced by fear and never stopped fighting for equality.

Her last public political act, on June 16, 2008, was to marry Phyllis Lyon, her partner of 55 years. They were the first couple to wed in San Francisco after the California Supreme Court recognized that marriage for same-sex couples is a fundamental right in a case brought by plaintiffs including Martin and Lyon. 

Her work, and her activism, reaches back into the middle of the last century, when acts, and activism, were illegal and activists were shunned.

Del Martin met the love of her life, Lyon, in Seattle in 1950 when they worked for the same publication company. They became lovers in 1952 and formalized their partnership on Valentine's Day in 1953 when they moved in together in San Francisco. In 1955, they bought the small home that has been theirs ever since.

In what would prove to be an act that would change history, Martin, Lyon and six other lesbians co-founded the Daughters of Bilitis in San Francisco in 1955. DOB, which was named after an obscure book of lesbian love poetry, initially was organized to provide secret mutual support and social activities. It became the first public and political lesbian rights organization in the United States, laying a foundation for the women's and lesbian and gay liberation movements that flowered in the early 1970s and continue today.

Many organizations felt the steady, insistent push of Martin's and Lyon's active intent to integrate their community as a couple, respected by those around them and treated like any other couple.

As an early member of the National Organization for Women Del Martin worked to counter homophobia within the women's movement. She and Lyon were the first lesbians to insist on joining with a couples' membership rate, and Martin was the first out lesbian on NOW's Board of Directors. Their efforts helped to insure the inclusion of lesbian rights on NOW's agenda in the early 1970s.

"Lesbian/Woman," the book they co-authored in 1972, is one of Martin and Lyon's landmark accomplishments. The book described lesbian lives in a positive, knowledgeable way almost unknown at the time. In 1992, Publishers Weekly chose it as one of the 20 most influential women's books of the last 20 years.

Our Democratic party owes a great deal to Del Martin as well, as she made clear from The City By The Bay that LGBT Democrats were people, too:

Martin's keen political instincts and interests extended her influence into the mainstream Democratic Party. She and Lyon were co-founders, in 1972, of the Alice B. Toklas Democratic Club, the first gay political club in the United States. Martin was appointed chairwoman of the San Francisco Commission on the Status of Women in 1976 and served on the committee until 1979. She worked as a member of many other councils and boards, including the San Francisco Commission on the Status of Women. Throughout the years, many politicians recognized their stature as community leaders and sought advice and endorsement from Martin and Lyon.

Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon were re-married on June 16, 2008. What courage and grace Del lived her life with! What a hole her parting leaves in all our hearts. Our condolences to her wife Phyllis on her loss.

UPDATE: Yesterday's statement from Mayor Gavin Newsom follows.

Today, San Francisco lost a local and national leader, Del Martin.

For over half a century, Del Martin, along with her loving spouse, Phyllis Lyon, served as an activist for women's rights and the LGBT community.  The marriage of Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon on June 16, 2008, marked an historic milestone on our country's road to true freedom and equality.  Del laid the groundwork for all those who want a life of dignity, and we are forever in her debt.  The greatest way we can honor the life work of Del Martin, is to continue to fight and never give up, until we have achieved equality for all.

Our deepest sympathies go out to Del's family, her spouse, Phyllis, her daughter, Kendra, and all those who mourn the loss of this great and pioneering woman.

As a mark of respect for Del Martin, I have ordered the flags at City Hall and the LGBT Pride Flag on Market and Castro Streets to be flown at half-staff from now until sunset, on Thursday, August 28, 2008. 

UPDATE TWO: From the Obama campaign, there is this (my bold):

Statement from Senator Obama on the passing of Civil Rights Activist Del Martin
August 27, 2008

Today, Senator Barack Obama made the following statement on the passing of civil rights activist Del Martin:

“Michelle and I were deeply saddened to hear that Del Martin had passed. Del committed her life to fighting discrimination and promoting equality. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her spouse Phyllis Lyon, and all those who were touched by her life.”