Comments on: Obitfilter: Del Martin

Obitfilter: Del Martin

gingerbeer — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:25:43 -0800

Del Martin, with her partner Phyllis Lyon, were pioneers in so many fields that it's hard to do justice to all of it in one post.

In 1955, the two of them, with four friends, founded the Daughters of Bilitis, the first major lesbian rights organization in the country. They fought for lesbian inclusion and visibility in the National Organization of Women (NOW). Del founded battered women's shelters, LGBT political groups, and spoke out on many social justice issues. Most recently, Del and Phyllis were the first queer couple to get legally married in San Francisco, reprising their role from 2004. Among the many honors given them, perhaps the best was naming the local women's health clinic after them: the Lyon-Martin Health Center, where I got my health care in my first few uninsured years here in the city. She died earlier today, with her partner by her side. From her obituary: "Del Martin identified her own legacy in 1984 when she said that her most important contribution was "being able to help make changes in the way lesbians and gay men view themselves and how the larger society views lesbians and gay men." She had the courage to be true to herself when the world offered only condemnation for lesbians. Martin showed all of us how to have what she called "self-acceptance and a good sense of my own self-worth." Del Martin never backed down from her insistence on full equality for all people and, even at 87 years old, she kept moving all of us closer to her ideal." She and Phyllis managed to be heroes and pioneers for every generation, from the 50's to today. The world is a little quieter without her.

By: magstheaxe

magstheaxe — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:28:50 -0800

By: deadmessenger

deadmessenger — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:29:17 -0800

Wow. I remember being so very moved looking at the news photos of their wedding earlier this year. 55 years is a very long time to wait for a small measure of acceptance. .

By: gingerbeer

gingerbeer — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:32:45 -0800

Her obituary in the SF Chronicle.

By: languagehat

languagehat — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:34:07 -0800

I'm really, really glad she made it to her remarriage and lived to see such widespread (if not universal) acceptance. Thanks for the post.

By: batmonkey

batmonkey — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:34:45 -0800

I know it'll happen for all who have persevered and inspired. It doesn't make it hurt less. Blessings and strength to Phyllis Lyon and all of Del's mourners. May her work and passion inspire even in her absence. .

By: ikahime

ikahime — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:35:48 -0800

Thanks for leading the way. .

By: evilangela

evilangela — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:44:00 -0800

By: the_bone

the_bone — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:45:03 -0800

By: Tholian

Tholian — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:03:02 -0800

By: Tehanu

Tehanu — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:05:47 -0800

. and ♥

By: fiercecupcake

fiercecupcake — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:07:40 -0800

. Thank you, Del Martin. We owe you so much. My thoughts are with Phyllis.

By: flapjax at midnite

flapjax at midnite — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:15:31 -0800

By: jokeefe

jokeefe — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:15:36 -0800

Bless her. .

By: ottereroticist

ottereroticist — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:22:20 -0800

By: louche mustachio

louche mustachio — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:26:03 -0800

By: ericb

ericb — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:33:12 -0800

λ.

By: humannaire

humannaire — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:41:35 -0800

Gifts in lieu of flowers may 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 PAC at www.nclrights.org/NoOn8. .

By: Falconetti

Falconetti — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:46:51 -0800

By: clarahamster

clarahamster — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:47:45 -0800

By: rtha

rtha — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:48:43 -0800

By: LobsterMitten

LobsterMitten — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:48:43 -0800

By: kuppajava

kuppajava — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:49:33 -0800

By: numinous

numinous — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:49:59 -0800

. . . (an ellipsis instead of a single '.' - because although she has passed on, the effort she exerted in furthering the recognition of human dignity and equality have had such a huge impact here in California that her presence will certainly continue to be felt by many. Here's to a remarkable woman.)

By: saffry

saffry — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:51:00 -0800

By: jtron

jtron — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:51:07 -0800

By: numinous

numinous — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:51:12 -0800

ugh, "has had." Sorry, Del!

By: orthogonality

orthogonality — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:54:16 -0800

. Such an inspirational woman. Gratifying she was finally able to marry. Twice.

By: Trakker

Trakker — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:02:54 -0800

By: Sassenach

Sassenach — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:13:33 -0800

A life well lived.

By: rmd1023

rmd1023 — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:22:31 -0800

previously. I'm glad she got the chance to actually marry. My condolences to her widow.

By: Guy Smiley

Guy Smiley — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:23:36 -0800

From the LA Times obituary: "Her wife, Phyllis Lyon, was by her side, Kendell said." .

By: Blazecock Pileon

Blazecock Pileon — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:26:02 -0800

By: scody

scody — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:41:41 -0800

There's something about this wedding picture of the two of them... it's just the truest expression of love and dignity I think I've ever seen. I can never look at it without starting to cry. As a CA resident, I earnestly ask everyone who's been moved by this story and who can spare something to donate to the NO ON 8 campaign -- and please, fellow residents, please come out to the polls in November to keep marriage equal. I can think of no better way to honor the grace, courage, and compassion of these two great heroes who spent their lives fighting for civil and human rights.

By: ltracey

ltracey — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:45:46 -0800

I had the pleasure of meeting the brides a fair time ago as a newly out 14 year old, and their lives are an inspiration that never left me. My thoughts are with Phyllis as well. .

By: padraigin

padraigin — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:50:21 -0800

Oh, bless her.

By: ardgedee

ardgedee — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:59:58 -0800

By: sonascope

sonascope — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:08:48 -0800

By: Stewriffic

Stewriffic — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:14:04 -0800

By: bitter-girl.com

bitter-girl.com — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:16:07 -0800

By: Saxon Kane

Saxon Kane — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:16:55 -0800

By: jonp72

jonp72 — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:59:23 -0800

By: pomegranate

pomegranate — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:00:23 -0800

Damn it! I was so hoping they could enjoy their marriage for a while to come. This really breaks my heart. They were such a beautiful couple.

By: cmgonzalez

cmgonzalez — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:01:09 -0800

I am so happy that she lived long enough to see the day she was able to marry Phyllis. I cried when pictures of their ceremony were released. I never understood how someone could can relegate such obvious love and devotion to second-class citizen territory. (Tears are stinging my eyes as I type this.) What a pioneer and an incredible fighter for civil rights. She will be missed.

By: cmgonzalez

cmgonzalez — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:04:50 -0800

~~can~~

By: cadge

cadge — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:09:17 -0800

By: dinty_moore

dinty_moore — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:29:53 -0800

By: matty

matty — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:41:37 -0800

By: treepour

treepour — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:43:25 -0800

By: allen.spaulding

allen.spaulding — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:50:31 -0800

By: palmcorder_yajna

palmcorder_yajna — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:51:05 -0800

It's both inspiring and humbling to think about just how much Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon have done to improve the world over the course of their lives together. Damnit, we need more people like Del Martin in the world-- not fewer. .

By: desjardins

desjardins — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:52:24 -0800

she was an inspiration to this sexually confused teenager. .

By: cybercoitus interruptus

cybercoitus interruptus — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:16:10 -0800

By: blucevalo

blucevalo — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:30:42 -0800

If there's such a thing as real heroism, she personified it.

By: serazin

serazin — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 21:06:40 -0800

Few of us can say we found true love and stuck with it for more than 50 years. Few can say we made fundamental improvements to human rights and dignity for all. What a life to have lived! Thank you Del!

By: longsleeves

longsleeves — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:47:05 -0800

By: polexa

polexa — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:54:41 -0800

By: smartyboots

smartyboots — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 23:22:35 -0800

By: needs more cowbell

needs more cowbell — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 23:49:03 -0800

By: cookie-k

cookie-k — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:01:14 -0800

By: Dreama

Dreama — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:04:15 -0800

By: kzin602

kzin602 — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 01:08:21 -0800

. indeed. Unfortunately when talking about this to my (aged 20 something) friends and co-workers that are gay, none of them knew who she was. That's what really broke my heart.

By: goofyfoot

goofyfoot — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 03:23:28 -0800

. I'm so sorry to hear this. Wouldn't it have been great if she and her wife Phyllis Lyon lived to see the last gasp of the California anti-civil-rights re marriage laws defeated this fall? But she wouldn't have needed that to know that she was in the right. Gingerbeer, I'm so glad you referenced the health center named after them.

By: sperose

sperose — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 05:12:17 -0800

By: Morrigan

Morrigan — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 06:12:20 -0800

Guy Smiley, Did the LA Times link say "wife" when you linked it? It does not now; it says partner. Some stories, including this CBS/AP one *are* using "wife." I'm very interested in watching the evolution of what I assume is an editorial decision. . and ♥ for Del Martin, a true hero; my heart goes out to Phyllis Lyon for her loss.

By: pointystick

pointystick — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 06:13:57 -0800

. and ♥ indeed

By: Guy_Inamonkeysuit

Guy_Inamonkeysuit — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 06:44:26 -0800

By: Faint of Butt

Faint of Butt — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 07:12:28 -0800

By: mcbeth

mcbeth — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 07:18:15 -0800

By: Halloween Jack

Halloween Jack — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 07:37:04 -0800

By: notashroom

notashroom — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 08:32:36 -0800

She was a hero in a world that's sadly lacking heroes.

By: scody

scody — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 08:58:46 -0800

Did the LA Times link say "wife" when you linked it? It does not now; it says partner. Wow, you're right -- they did take it out. (The took out the whole sentence referring to Phyllis being by her side when she died, in fact.) Don't know if there's something nefarious afoot in the editorial offices of the LA Times, or if that sentence just went by the wayside when they updated the obit after it first went up.

By: By The Grace of God

By The Grace of God — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:40:58 -0800

By: desuetude

desuetude — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 10:16:52 -0800

By: Guy Smiley

Guy Smiley — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 11:58:51 -0800

I think this CBS/AP story is the same text that was in my original LAT link. The Times now has its own staff-written obituary.

By: merelyglib

merelyglib — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:36:36 -0800

By: tepidmonkey

tepidmonkey — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:41:23 -0800

. ♥

By: desjardins

desjardins — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:48:56 -0800

♀♀

By: jepler

jepler — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 06:01:55 -0800