Avengers of the Week | Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin, LGBTQ Activists

In 1955, Phyllis Lyon (1924–2020) and her eventual wife, Del Martin (1921–2008), founded the Daughters of Bilitis, which was the first lesbian rights organization in the United States, and later became the first lesbian couple to join the National Organization for Women (NOW). They fought for equal rights for lesbian and gay people in the church, San Francisco city government, and later served on the White House Conference on Aging.

Theirs was the first same-sex marriage to be performed in San Francisco in 2004, but that was voided six months later by the state of California, which gave them the opportunity to be joined in the first same-sex marriage again four years later when the California Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage statewide.

“Before cellphones they always had their phone number listed in the phone book in case any young or terrified LGBTQ person needed help or support,” she said. “And they fielded dozens of calls over the years.” —Kate Kendell, longtime friend

Phyllis Lyon passed away on April 9th, and the LGBTQ community lost a brave and noteworthy leader.

The #LGBTQ community lost a brave and noteworthy leader on April 9th with the passing of Phyllis Lyon. She and her late wife, Del Martin, are the @GenderAvenger #AvengerOfTheWeek 👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩 #GenderAvenger https://www.genderavenger.com/blog/avengers-of-the-week-phyllis-lyon-and-del-martin