Phyllis Lyon, with her partner Del Martin were two of the early lesbian rights activists in the United States. They were the first couple married in San Francisco in both 2004 and 2008. Phyllis Ann Lyon (born November 10, 1924) met Martin in 1950, became lovers in 1952, and moved in together on Valentine's Day 1953 in an apartment on Castro Street in San Francisco. They had been together for three years when they founded the Daughters of Bilitis (DOB) in San Francisco in 1955, which became the first social and political organization
for lesbians in the United States. They both acted as president and editor of The Ladder until 1963, and remained involved in the DOB until joining the National Organization for Women (NOW) as the first lesbian couple to do so.

"We've come a long way from our goal in the 1950s, part of which was to get laws against sexual activity between consenting adults of the same sex wiped off the books. The other part was to be considered part of society. We wanted our full rights and responsibilities," Lyons told The Noe Valley Voice in February 2003.

"On her long-lasting relationship with Del Martin: "If we had a secret, we would have written a book and made a million dollars. We love each other, we have similar interests. Our lives were very similar even before we met." Also quoted in the Noe Valley Voice.

Tags: Famous Lesbian Phyllis Lyon