Lesbian Rights Activist Del Martin Dead

Martin, 87, Was Honored With Her Partner As The First Gay Couple To Legally Exchange Vows

(CBS/ AP)  Pioneering lesbian rights activist Del Martin, who married her lifelong partner in June on the first day that same-sex couples here gained that right, has died. She was 87.

Kate Kendell, executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, said Martin died at a San Francisco hospital Wednesday morning, two weeks after a broken arm exacerbated her existing health problems.

Her wife, Phyllis Lyon, was by her side, Kendell said.

"I am so lucky to have known her, loved her and been her partner in all things. I am devastated, but I take some solace in knowing we were able to enjoy the ultimate rite of love and commitment before she passed," Lyon said.

Along with six other women, they founded a San Francisco social club for lesbians in 1955 called the Daughters of Bilitis. Under their leadership, the group evolved into the nation's first lesbian advocacy organization.

The couple were married at San Francisco City Hall on June 16. Mayor Gavin Newsom, who officiated the wedding, singled them out to be the first gay couple to legally exchange vows in the city, in recognition of their activism.

The two were among the two dozen couples who served as plaintiffs in the lawsuits that led the state Supreme Court to overturn California's ban on gay marriage in May.

The Daughters of Bilitis was named after book of lesbian erotic poetry first published in Paris in 1894.

Martin and Lyon also became active in the National Organization for Women in 1967, and Martin became the first openly gay woman elected to the group's board in 1971, reports CBS affiliate KPIX-TV in San Francisco.

San Francisco Superior Court Judge Donna Hitchens, a founder of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, said, "Del lived her life with great compassion, wit, tenacity, generosity and valor. She inspired thousands of us to be more courageous and energetic than we thought possible."

Martin was born in San Francisco in 1921 as Dorothy L. Taliaferro and attended George Washington High School, the University of California at Berkeley and San Francisco State College. She married James Martin at age 19 and had a daughter, Kendra, two years later.

The marriage ended in divorce after four years and she met Lyon in Seattle in 1950 when both were working for the same magazine. The two began sharing a household together in San Francisco on Valentine's Day in 1953.

In 1995, U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, named Martin and Lyon as delegates for the White House Conference on Aging.

[garbagestopr]

Hopefully she repented before dying.

[honestabe8]

Free men (or women) do not need to repent. They do not need salvation from your petty punk in the sky.

[garbagestopr]

Free men (or women) do not need to repent. They do not need salvation from your petty punk in the sky.
Posted by honestabe8 at 05:57 PM : Aug 27, 2008

Christ demands we repent. You''re not His authority.

[honestabe8]

GarbageStopr: I do not subscribe to your Christian fairy tale. Frankly, I don''t know how anyone believes it.

[myopinion381]

Nancy_Native: Completely agree with you. Seems that GarbageStopr picked a perfect screen name.

One thing, at least two people truly in love after so many years were able to marry before Del passed away.

[dbstevens]

I''m so happy that Phyllis and Del were able to be married before Del passed away. It must bring some sweetness to the grief for Phyllis. Blessings to her and Del both.

[mensarino]

Garbagestopr-----Have you or your brand of god have no shame!

[garbagestopr]

One thing, at least two people truly in love after so many years were able to marry before Del passed away.

Posted by MyOpinion381 at 06:48 PM : Aug 27, 2008

Would you say the same thing about 2 pedophiles? What about 2 incests? What about polygamists?

Just love you think homosexuality is somehow moral but all the other sexual perversions are not.

[garbagestopr]

MyOpinion, if a human being "loves" an animal, and wants to have *** with an animal, should they be allowed to marry the animal, as well?

Should polygamists have rights to marry 11 year old girls?

[mensarino]

Garbagestopr---You clearly lack a brain---animals and 11 yr. olds can''t give consent, you imbecile.

[andsab]

honestabe8,

Christianity is not a fairy tale. One day you will see, I hope for your sake that it''s not too late.

[mensarino]

christianity may be ok as far as religions go but so many of you are horrible ambassadors for your faith.A woman has died and all you can do is wonder what has happened to her soul.Have some respect and don''t use your religion as an excuse for your raging homophobia. In this way and so many others,I find christians of your kind so vile and despicable.Besides ,her fate is between her and god---no need for you to but in and spray your venom.

[honestabe8]

andsab: it most certainly is. but, believe whatever floats your boat.

[no2zeebas]

buh-bye...

[mensarino]

no2zeebas--I have seen your comments on many posts and one consistent theme is that you are devoid of human compassion.You appeal to the lowest common denominator.What a pathetic,sad and lonely figure you are.I bet that your only friend is your computer so that you can vomit your hate.You are a vile and contemptible excuse of a human being.

[no2zeebas]

no2zeebas--I have seen your comments on many posts and one consistent theme is that you are devoid of human compassion

Yep...no compassion for trash here...

[mensarino]

no2zeebas----Then you must hate yourself because you are trash from the word go!! I pity you for your miserable existence.

[amvanman]

Tears are streaming down my cheeks as I write this. Because of these two ladies my partner and I returned to the U.S. and married early this month in San Francisco. Their fearless commitment to what is right and what is true shows that love will win this battle. Do not worry about what the evil posters say. They are but the rantings of lunatics and waste not your precious energy on them. Keep your eyes on what is good and what is right because that is what these ladies did and look what miracles happened because of it.

[messiahx4eve]

GarbageStopr, if they took your brain out of your head and laid it on a razor blade, it would be like a BB rolling down a four lane highway. Somebody just needs to shove their fist up your *** and grab your tongue, jerk it back down through the same *** and play you like a yo-yo for few days. Someone should have told you that your parents are not supposed to be brother and sister, get a life. as for your christian mythology beliefs, jam on em.....

[messiahx4eve]

OMG, you can''t spell O*R*I*F*C*E here????

[messiahx4eve]

I meant o*r*i*f*i*c*e, correct spelling

[jankebenz]

Tears are streaming down my cheeks as I write this. Because of these two ladies my partner and I returned to the U.S. and married early this month in San Francisco. Their fearless commitment to what is right and what is true shows that love will win this battle. Do not worry about what the evil posters say. They are but the rantings of lunatics and waste not your precious energy on them. Keep your eyes on what is good and what is right because that is what these ladies did and look what miracles happened because of it.

Posted by amvanman at 12:46 AM : Aug 28, 2008

Your absurd ideology of what constitutes right and good is nothing short of blasphemy. What these two did to promote homosexuality and perversion is by no means any miracle but just a self destructing pathological exercise in evil and sin. The consequences for unrepentfull sin is bad enough, the consequences for promoting sin and evil is indescribable.

[amvanman]

Tears are streaming down my cheeks as I write this. Because of these two ladies my partner and I returned to the U.S. and married early this month in San Francisco. Their fearless commitment to what is right and what is true shows that love will win this battle. Do not worry about what the evil posters say. They are but the rantings of lunatics and waste not your precious energy on them. Keep your eyes on what is good and what is right because that is what these ladies did and look what miracles happened because of it.

[amvanman]

Tears are streaming down my cheeks as I write this. Because of these two ladies my partner and I returned to the U.S. and married early this month in San Francisco. Their fearless commitment to what is right and what is true shows that love will win this battle. Do not worry about what the evil posters say. They are but the rantings of lunatics and waste not your precious energy on them. Keep your eyes on what is good and what is right because that is what these ladies did and look what miracles happened because of it.

[honestabe8]

I see that the pious of us are warning of consequences for these ladies. Perhaps they should let God take care of them. Of course, it would involve keeping their opinions to themselves, and they could not signal God they are on his side. Pompous freaks is what they are.

[rixmix98]

Posted by amvanman at 03:03 AM : Aug 28, 2008

Congratulations to you and your partner. Your post is one of the most intelligent writings I''ve read in quite some time.

I''ve come to realize that the "evil posters" on this site have problems they cannot resolve, so they try and project their problems in others by pointing things out they do not agree with.

[patriot12436]

garbagestopr
As a christain you shuld realize that a relationship betwqeen God and a person is a very personal thing. She has met God in the way she thought was right . As a christain are you not taught not to judge and to be forgiving. She must answer to her God for any sins she committed and to no one else. As a christain you should be praying for her soul.

[crazycwp]

I am a Christian, as a Christian I know what the bible says. True Christians do not judge other people, that is God''s job. NO ONE knows the mind of God, nor are they supposed to. I''m compassionate to the loss of a loved one, so my condolences go out to Mrs. Lyons. To find a love that lasts that many years is incredible and wonderful. For all the so-called Christians on here spewing hate towards these two ladies, ya''ll know you will have to answer for that, don''t you? Godspeed Del

[xmanborg]

Lesbians Rule !!!!!

[honestabe8]

Voltaire: jankebenz is a punk.

[jankebenz]

I am a Christian, as a Christian I know what the bible says. True Christians do not judge other people, that is God''''s job. NO ONE knows the mind of God, nor are they supposed to. I''''m compassionate to the loss of a loved one, so my condolences go out to Mrs. Lyons. To find a love that lasts that many years is incredible and wonderful. For all the so-called Christians on here spewing hate towards these two ladies, ya''''ll know you will have to answer for that, don''''t you? Godspeed Del

Posted by crazycwp at 10:02 AM : Aug 28, 2000

Your''re a christian and yet don''t know what Gods word and instruction are? The scriptures are very clear on how we are to live our lives, on how to shun evil,and how we are to stand for what is true, right and good . The bible also says that if on is not for Jesus and his precepts, then you are against him." No man can serve two masters", "choose you this day whom you will serve." The final judge is of course God,but we are to judge a person on their walk in life and are responsible to show them the error of their ways if they are on the wrong road. The choice of which path to follow is up to them. According to her bioghrapy, Mrs. Martin chose to defy biblical instructions and persued her "desires of the flesh", for her its too late, one can only hope and pray her partner heeds god''s word and repents.

[no2zeebas]

Tears are streaming down my cheeks as I write this. Because of these two ladies my partner and I returned to the U.S. and married early this month in San Francisco. Their fearless commitment to what is right and what is true shows that love will win this battle. Do not worry about what the evil posters say. They are but the rantings of lunatics and waste not your precious energy on them. Keep your eyes on what is good and what is right because that is what these ladies did and look what miracles happened because of it.

Posted by amvanman at 03:03 AM : Aug 28, 2008


Ohboohoohoo...Cry like a sissy now will ya...

[xxunknown]

I wish I was gay. Lesbians do rule.

[xxunknown]

Stop taking the word punk in vain! Sheesh.

[jankebenz]

If you are an example of christianity, I want no part of it.

Posted by Voltaire777 at 12:59 PM : Aug 28, 2008

You never did want any part of it, nothing new.I don,hate anyone including you,Mrs Martin,anti christians, ect, but I do take a stand for Jesus Christ , morality, truth and righteouness. Mrs. Martin stood for and promoted homosexuality, which is both biblicaly and morally wrong.

[displeased]

Mrs. Martin stood for and promoted homosexuality, which is both biblicaly and morally wrong.
Posted by jankeben

There''s nothing wrong with a couple of women rubbing each other off. There are certainly much worse atrocities committed in this world that we should be concerned about.

[honestabe8]

biblically and morally? so, you acknowldge morality outside of biblical prohibitions, eh?

take a stand for jesus? what, do you get brownie points for standing up?

[displeased]

Your''''re a christian and yet don''''t know what Gods word and instruction are? The scriptures are very clear on how we are to live our lives, on how to shun evil,and how we are to stand for what is true, right and good...
Posted by jankebenz

Spoken by a true religious nutcase. You know, what you and everybody else chooses to believe is fine, but you don''t sound intelligent enough to be skeptical. Humans are not capable of knowing for certain what happens after death.

This person most likely lived a happy life and was more moral than most of you so called hateful christians.

[honestabe8]

I think Jankebenz is a poser. Just like Singinrick. If he were truly a Christian, he would live his life morally and not bother those who don''t want to hear it. But, nooooo...he and rickyboy just have to harangue people. I think they think Jesus will favor them later for being pains in the gluteals here on earth. Oh well, he is entertaining in a "watch-the-geek" sort of sense.

[hypnotoad72]

My condolences to her family. Especially after recent events.

Death is one subject I won''t shovel peanut gallery politics into. She wasn''t Hitler. Not even Jessica Spears.

[mensarino]

Voltaire777---I,too, reject the hateful brand of christianity that jankebenz spews like so much putrid vomit on these sites.With friends like him,christianity needs no enemies.

[dmhphils]

What an honor! She could have received the key to the city of Sodom......born too late though.

[dmhphils]

The Daughters of Bilitis was named after book of lesbian erotic poetry first published in Paris in 1894.

Perverted no matter how you twist it.

[rixmix98]

To all the supposed Christians who condemn gay people:
Guess what? I am gay and I''m also a Christian.

Now,

Do you tell people that reap the harvest of their land that if they do so to the very edge and those that pick up the stray ears of grain that they%u2019re going to hell?

Do you tell those that pick their vineyards bare or those that gather the grapes that have fallen from the vine that they%u2019re going to hell?

Do you tell people that plant fruit trees and eat the fruit before the fourth year that they%u2019re going to hell?

Do you tell those that trim their hair at the temples and the men that shave that they%u2019re going to hell?

Do you tell those that have piercings that they%u2019re going to hell or those that have tattoos?

I didn%u2019t think so, so go back to the drawing board and try to come up with something believable.

[dmhphils]

Along with six other women, they founded a San Francisco social club for lesbians in 1955 called the Daughters of Bilitis. Under their leadership, the group evolved into the nation''s first lesbian advocacy organization.

Geeze......what a legacy.

God is love, but that is not all He is. He is holy! He is not like someone''s Grandpa living in the sky.

[dmhphils]

To all the supposed Christians who condemn gay people:
Guess what? I am gay and I''''m also a Christian.
Posted by rixmix98 at 08:17 PM : Aug 28, 2008

You just think you''re a Christian and have made God into your own image, the way you would like Him to be.

The bible clearly states that the "children of God and the children of the devil" are clearly manifested in that those who practice unrighteousness are children of the devil. God cannot be contrary to His own word.

Jesus loves homosexuals, thieves, adulterers, liars etc. etc., but commands them to repent, to turn away from their sinning lifestyle to Him with ALL their hearts and they will be saved. If not, they remain condemned. The world is already condemned and Jesus is the only escape, on His terms, not yours.

[rixmix98]

Just as I thought. You couldn''t answer my questions. Oh well, I''m not surprised.

[dmhphils]

like the foul inhumane, unchristian and disgusting dog that you are. Again, jankenbenz, have you no decency at all?


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Posted by Voltaire777 at 08:27 PM : Aug 28, 2008

Ahhhhh......now what were you saying about "decency" ?

[dmhphils]

Yep, anyone who would publicly denigrate an honorable woman like Del this way while her body is still warm and her partner of 55 years is grieving, is a low and disgusting dog. I said it, and I stand by it. I suppose you would spit in the face of her grieving partner, but some of us have what''''s called "compassion" for our fellow human beings.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by Voltaire777 at 08:39 PM : Aug 28, 2008

Your remarks toward jankebenz are worse than anything he said about this woman''s behavior,(it is her behavior he is talking about), so your attitude toward jankebenz is worthy of condemnation.

[jankebenz]

So you fervently believe, but this article is about her death, and instead of offering your condolences to her grieving partner like any decent human being would do, you publicly denigrate her though she is not here to defend herself, like the foul inhumane, unchristian and disgusting dog that you are. Again, jankenbenz, have you no decency at all?

Posted by Voltaire777 at 08:27 PM : Aug 28, 2008

Slander away, I as a christian can expect to attacked by those that defy and reject God. The fact of the matter rermains that Mrs.Martin worked against sound morals and principles for over a halve century thereby doing much damage to the family unit and society. She had plenty of time to defend herself when she lived, but now its too late, now she''ll stand in front of her maker to give account of her life. The only condolences I can offer her family is that I hope God will be mercifull to her, and pray that they have or will find Jesus. How about you? will you find truth before its too late? you never know what tomorrow has in store for you.