The Trailblazing Life of Del Martin

Lesbian/Woman, Gay Rights Activist, and Agent for Social Change

Sep 13, 2008

Activist. Pioneer. Wife. Mother. Lesbian. Woman. These are just a few of the words used to describe Del Martin.

A spit-fire agent for social change, Martin worked tirelessly to bring attention to issues affecting the gay and lesbian community and fought ceaselessly to bring equality to a marginalized population. Her passing on August 27, 2008 was a loss for the nation, particularly the lesbian community, yet the spirit of her activism and perseverance lives on.

Early Years and a Budding Romance

Del Martin, born Dorothy Taliaferro, entered the world on May 5, 1921. She studied journalism at UC Berkeley and San Francisco State College before marrying her college sweetheart, James Martin, at age 19. That marriage ultimately ended in divorce, but before its dissolution, Del gave birth to her only child, a daughter named Kendra Mon.

In 1950, Martin met the love of her life, Phyllis Lyon, while working as a journalist for a trade publication. On Valentine’s Day in 1953, Martin and Lyon moved in together in the Castro District of San Francisco. Their relationship, which lasted more than a half-century, combined with Martin’s tenacious attitude, spawned some of the most radical lesbian activism that the US had witnessed.

A Spirit of Activism

In 1955, Martin and Lyon helped create the nation’s first lesbian advocacy group, the Daughters of Bilitis, which took its name from a collection of French lesbian poetry. In the 1960s, Martin helped found the Council on Religion and the Homosexual, which was intended to overturn discriminatory laws and end police harassment of gays and lesbians. The following decade, she co-authored the book Lesbian/Woman with Lyon, giving an in-depth account of lesbian relationships and arguing that there is much more to lesbians than just their sexuality.

In addition to these undertakings, Martin led the charge to have homosexuality removed from the American Psychiatric Association’s list of mental illnesses and become the first out lesbian to serve on the Board of Directors of the National Organization for Women (NOW). In her later years, Martin served as a delegate to the White House Conference on Aging where she and Lyon highlighted the health needs of aging gays and lesbians.

Marriage Controversy and Confirmation

But, it was in 2004 when Martin and Lyon accomplished their seemingly greatest and most personal triumph. That year, they publicly exchanged vows when San Francisco city officials began allowing gay couples to wed. When their marriage was later nullified, the couple joined a lawsuit to overturn the ban on gay marriage in California.

In May 2008, the ban was overturned and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom asked Martin and Lyon to be the first gay couple to legally wed when the ruling took effect on June 16. At 5:07 p.m., Martin (age 87) and Lyon (age 84), exchanged vows, again cementing their relationship and securing their place in history.

Del Martin’s Legacy

Throughout the years, Martin never failed to persevere as she overcame discrimination, marginalization, and the revocation of her first marriage ceremony to Lyon. It was a testament to her philosophy that “nothing was ever accomplished by hiding in a dark corner.”

In the wake of her passing, Martin's life and legacy was honored, not only by her wife and family, but also by those far and wide. Out of reverence for her struggle and achievement, Mayor Gavin Newsom ordered the American flags at San Francisco's City Hall and the rainbow flag in the Castro District to fly at half mast, noting that "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."

Sources

The copyright of the article The Trailblazing Life of Del Martin in Famous Activists is owned by Kristin Krogh. Permission to republish The Trailblazing Life of Del Martin in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.