In honor of Mother's Day, I thought we would focus on two of the founding mothers of the gay rights movement- Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon. Lyon and Martin met in Seattle in 1950 when they were working for the same magazine. They formalized their partnership in 1953 when they decided to move to San Francisco together. I love what they say about their first year together-
"We really only had problems our first year together. Del would leave her shoes in the middle of the room, and I'd throw them out the window," said Lyon, to which Martin responded, "You'd have an argument with me and try to storm out the door. I had to teach you to fight back."
In 1955, Martin and Lyon were part of a group of lesbians who formed the Daughters of Bilitis, the first major lesbian organization in the U. S. Lyon was the first editor of the group's newsletter, The Ladder. They worked with DOB until the late '60s. The group disbanded shortly after the women left.
Lyon and Martin began working with the National Organization for Women (NOW) in 1967. The women worked to combat the homophobia they perceived in NOW. They advocated strongly that lesbian issues were feminist issues. Also during this time, Lyon and Martin helped found the Alice B. Toklas Gay and Lesbian Democratic Club, a group working to support gay friendly politicians in getting elected.
In 1979, Lyon-Martin Health Services was opened. This is a health clinic for low-income lesbian, bisexual, and transgender women seeking culturally sensitive health care. The clinic provides case management and recently added sliding scale mental health services. It was started by a group of health professionals and named for Lyon and Martin. It is still in operation today and is considered a model of culturally sensitive health care.
More recently, the couple has worked on issues related to aging. In 1995, they were named to the White House Conference on Aging. They have also done work with the group Old Lesbians Organizing for Change.
The women have written three books- Lesbian/Woman, Lesbian Love and Liberation, and Battered Wives. They were also the subjects of a documentary film by Joan E. Biren released in 2003 called No Secret Anymore: The Times of Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon. Joan E. Biren is also known as JEB, and is a noted documentary artist, known for both photos and films depicting real queer lives.
On February 12, 2004, Lyon and Martin were the first same-sex couple given a marriage license in the U. S. Those licenses were then voided by the courts 6 months later. Lyon had this to say-
Del is 83 years old and I am 79. After being together for more than 50 years, it is a terrible blow to have the rights and protections of marriage taken away from us. At our age, we do not have the luxury of time.
A picture of Lyon and Martin on their wedding day. I remember how moved I was when I first saw this picture, and it still has the same effect now. I almost can't stand how cute they are!
Del and Phyllis marry
Lyon and Martin in their early years together. Okay, I'll say it- these women are HOT!
What is amazing to me is how much work this couple has done, the length of time they have done it for, that they were among the first to do this work, and that they continue to do relevant activist work today. They are incredible women and OMG is proud to salute them on Mother's Day.
Happy Mother's Day to all you mothers out there, whether your children are of the 2-legged or 4-legged variety!
