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Lesbian icon Del Martin dies
News Update Wed. Aug. 27, 2008
2008-08-27
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This article shared 5027 times since Wed Aug 27, 2008
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Del Martin—the legendary lesbian activist who married her love of 55 years, Phyllis Lyon, June 16 in California—died Aug. 27 in San Francisco, Calif., according to a release from the National Center for Lesbian Rights ( NCLR ) . Martin was 87.
Pictured: Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon at a 2005 Gerber/Hart Library benefit in Chicago. Martin has the grey hair. They are pictured cutting a cake to honor the 50th anniversary of Daughters of Bilitis, and with Chicagoan Chuck Renslow. Photos by Mel Ferrand
Martin and Lyon met in Seattle in 1950 and formally became partners three years later. In 1955, they were among those who started the Daughters of Bilitis, the first lesbian rights organization. The following year, they launched 'The Ladder,' the first lesbian newsletter.
Years later, Martin was the first out lesbian elected to the board of the National Organization of Women ( NOW ) , according to the NCLR release. In 1971, she urged the board to pass a resolution that made lesbian issues feminist topics.
When Martin and Lyon wed this year, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, who officiated the wedding, recognized them as the first gay couple to legally exchange vows in the city, The Mercury News reported. They previously wed in 2004, but the courts overturned that marriage.
'Today the LGBT movement lost a real hero,' said Kate Kendell, NCLR's executive director, in the organization's statement. 'For all of Del's life, she was an activist and organizer even before we knew what those terms meant.'
In another statement, Human Rights President Joe Solmonese said, 'The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community has lost one of its bravest and most admired activists. Del Martin dared for decades to fight to marry her beloved Phyllis, and by doing so became an iconic hero the LGBT community. Her death is a great loss to all of us, but her life is an inspiration.'
Gifts can be made to honor Martin's life and commitment, and to defeat the California marriage ban, through NCLR's 'No On 8' PAC at www.nclrights.org/NoOn8. A public memorial and tribute celebrating Martin's life will be planned in the next several weeks. |
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This article shared 5027 times since Wed Aug 27, 2008
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