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Some sad news, folks. Lesbian rights activist Del Martin -- who married her wife Phyllis Lyon at City Hall this past June on the first day that same-sex couples gained the right -- died this morning at a San Francisco hospital. She as 87. (Read more about her legacy and recent passing here.)
Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, if you recall, were the first queer couple to get married at City Hall. Mayor Gavin Newsom officiated the ceremony. Martin founded the Daughters of Bilitis, the country's first lesbian advocacy group, back in 1955. 1955, people!
(Oh, and one way to honor Martin's tireless work and lasting activism would be to Stop8.org to find out how you too can stop the ban on same-sex marriage.)
Image: Del and Phyllis back then.
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Sad. And yet, not.
Del Martin was a native San Franciscan, and embodied everything that is great about San Francisco. She and Phyllis are both giants in the history of human rights, and she will be missed.
RIP. Glad she made it to be married once again; I hope her legacy will be cemented with a resounding failure for prop 8 this fall. Wish she could have seen that.
Thank you for your work, Del. You were and are a great woman and will be missed. RIP.
I'm hope you got much of what you wanted in this life.
*** STATEMENT ***
MAYOR GAVIN NEWSOM'S STATEMENT ON THE PASSING OF DEL MARTINToday, 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.
This is a deeply sad day.