My heart is hurting right now. I just got this. I am happy and grateful that Del and Phyllis were blessed with the privelege of marriage even though it was only 2 short months. :tears: It is with great sadness that I share with you that today, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community lost an iconic leader and a beloved friend. Del Martin, 87, passed away in San Francisco with Phyllis Lyon, her lifelong partner and spouse, 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. Martin’s many contributions to the LGBT movement will resonate for decades to come. We are saddened to lose such a wonderful friend to our community and our love goes out to Phyllis and her family during this most difficult time. We would not be at this incredible moment in history, where all couples have equal rights under California law, if it had not been for Del’s lifetime of courage and leadership. Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon were married in California on June 16, 2008 after 55 years together. EQCA honored Del and Phyllis with the Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon Marriage Equality Award in 2003, an award the organization gives every year in their honor. Del's obituary can be accessed here: http://www.eqca.org/site/pp.asp?c=kuLRJ9MRKrH&b=4445141 Gifts in lieu of flowers can be made to honor Del’s life and commitment and to defeat the California marriage ban through the National Center for Lesbian Rights NO on 8 committee at www.nclrights.org/NoOn8. Our community will forever honor Del’s life and legacy. Respectfully, Geoff Kors Executive Director Equality California
I don't know who Del Martin was but she seems like a really great lady. I am sorry for your loss and the loss for the homosexual community in general who have lost a guiding light in their fight for equality. :icon_sad:
That's really too bad to hear. But at least she got to experience marriage, if only for a short while.
Oh, that's so sad. When I saw their marriage, I remember thinking "Thank goodness - they can't have much more in them!". She lived a wonderful life, one her wife can be proud of.
I never knew her very well, but it makes me sad to think that she just barely caught the marriage train. Two months is better than no months, I guess, but a year and two months, or ten years and two months...more encouragement to keep pressing on for equal rights across the country.
Del's New York Times tribute: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/28/us/28martin.html?_r=2&ref=obituaries&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
She and Phyllis are one of the main reasons you have marriage equality in California. They were not afraid to live their lives openly. I have the San Francisco newspaper on the day that marriage was legal in California with their front page love story. A friend picked it up for me as she travelled through San Francisco.
Lesbian activist and same-sex marriage pioneer Del Martin passed away. http://www.nbc11.com/news/17314013/detail.html?treets=bay&tml=bay_break&ts=T&tmi=bay_break_1_01470208272008 Rest in Peace....At least she still got married legally..
I'm glad she got to get married to Phyllis before she passed. But this is very sad news. I remember reading of her marriage.
Re: Lesbian activist and same-sex marriage pioneer Del Martin passed away. http://www.emptyclosets.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14342 Becky already made a thread for her ^.^
