The little good news about this issue today is that the 18,000 or so couples who got married before voters passed Prop 8 are still legally married. They had been together 55 years. Their accomplishments as activists and the love they shared have become a symbol of perseverance, strength, and hope for the LGBTQ community. Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon were married by the mayor of San Francisco — twice.
On June 16, 2008 lesbian rights pioneers Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon were married in the first same-sex marriage ceremony since the California Supreme Court ruled in May that it was unconstitutional for the state to deny the right to marry to gay or lesbian couples. San Francisco’s mayor ordered that the flags at City Hall be flown at half mast in her honor.
Del Martin died on Aug. 27, 2008, ten weeks after she and Phyllis Lyon made headlines and history as the iconic lesbian couple legally married by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom on June 16, 2008. Lyon was at Martin’s side when she died at age 87.
Sadly, Del Martin, 87, passed away in August, just six weeks after her wedding. She has passed away at the age of 95 after over 50 years of LGBT+ activism.
... Lyon (in the above photo on the left) and her Partner Del Martin were major names in the lesbian community. Same-sex Couples in California Get Married ** FILE** In this March 3, 2008 file photo, Phyllis Lyon, left, and Del Martin are photographed at home in San Francisco. Phyllis Lyon, right, and Del Martin getting married—for a second time—following the California Supreme Court issuing a ruling in favor of marriage equality in 2008. The couple became well-known advocates who fought for decades to legalize gay marriage. Lesbian Activist Phyllis Lyon Has Died. And back to that love story about Phyllis and Del, on June 16, 2008, Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin became the first same-sex couple to be legally married in San Francisco. Phyllis Lyon, who joined forces with her late wife, Del Martin, to become a pioneering lesbian activist years before the Stonewall uprising, died on April 9 at the age of 95. Phyllis Lyon (right) prepares to cut their wedding cake as Del Martin looks on after the couple was married by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom on June 16, 2008. Del Martin (born May 5, 1921) and Phyllis Lyon (born 10 November 1924) are an American lesbian couple known as feminist and gay-rights activists. Del Martin, (Dorothy L. Taliaferro), American gay rights activist (born May 5, 1921, San Francisco, Calif.—died Aug. 27, 2008, San Francisco), was in the forefront of the battle for lesbian and gay rights for more than 50 years.After a brief early marriage, she found that she was attracted to women. Phyllis and Del get married. Phyllis Lyon and her late wife were among the first same-sex couples to get married in the US state of California. On Feb. 12, 2004, more than 50 years after they met and fell in love, Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin were married, the first gay couple legally wed … One such story is that of Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin, who ushered in the modern lesbian movement and made history by becoming the first same-sex couple married in San Francisco - twice. Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon in the 1970s. The pair began dating in 1952 and moved in together just a year later on Valentine’s Day 1953. Photo: Jane Philomen Cleland. They were married on June 16, 2008 in the first same-sex wedding to take place in San Francisco after the California Supreme Court's decision in In re Marriage Cases legalized same-sex marriage in California.
Del Martin, her full name, Dorothy Louise Taliaferro Martin, died on August 27, 2008 with her legal wife of two months, Phyllis Ann Lyon at her side. A few months later, Del passed away at age 87 with Phyllis right by her side as always. The first of those couples in San Francisco was Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin, together for 50 years when they were legally wed on June 16, 2008.
She was 87. Lesbian rights pioneer Del Martin dies at 87 ... Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon in the 1970s. Lyon is still a beacon of strength, wit and charm as she reminisced about her younger years.