Dorothy Louise Taliaferro "Del" Martin and Phyllis Ann Lyon were an American lesbian couple known as feminist and gay-rights activists. They were a couple until Del Martin's death on August 27, 2008 since 1952.

In 1955, with Phyllis and several other women, Del Martin formed Daughters of Bilitis (DOB), the first national organization for lesbians in the United States. DOB was formed because the women felt that their causes were not being dealt with in the male-dominated gay rights groups of the time. DOB created a space for lesbians to meet outside of the bars and work for equality.


Both women worked to form the Council on Religion and the Homosexual (CRH) in northern California to persuade ministers to accept homosexuals into churches, and used their influence to decriminalize homosexuality in the late 1960s and early 1970s. They became politically active in San Francisco's first gay political organization, the Alice B. Toklas Democratic Club, which influenced Dianne Feinstein to sponsor a citywide bill to outlaw employment discrimination for gays and lesbians. Both served in the White House Conference on Aging in 1995.

Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon became the first couple to legally marry in the United States on February 12, 2004 in San Francisco, California. They married again in 2008, when California became the second state to legally recognize same-sex marriage.

Del Martin died August 27, 2008 with her wife Phyllis Lyon at her side from complications of an arm bone fracture in San Francisco. She was 87 years old.

Upon her death, Phyllis said, “Ever since I met Del 55 years ago, I could never imagine a day would come when she wouldn’t be by my side. I am so lucky to have known her, loved her, and been her partner in all things. I also never imagined there would be a day that we would actually be able to get married. I am devastated, but I take some solace in knowing we were able to enjoy the ultimate rite of love and commitment before she passed.”


Tags: Famous Lesbians Del Martin