Slog - Comments on Del Martin http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin Del Martin—a pioneer in the gay rights movement, the co-founder in 1955 of the Daughters of Bilitis, one of the first lesbian-rights organizations in the country/world—died today at 87. Martin married her partner of 55 years, Phyllis Lyon, in California on June 16, 2008, the day that same-sex marriage became legal in that state. (Martin is on the left in the photo above.) "Today the LGBT movement lost a real hero," Kate Kendell, Executive Director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, said in a statement released moments ago. "Her last act of public activism was her most personal—marrying... Copyright 2008 Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:41:43 -0800 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 08:17:18 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by hillpagan Wow how great that she was able to marry and leave the partner who stood by her for all those years with the status of widow. Anyone who could want to take that away from her... it boggles the mind.

]]> hillpagan http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1114839 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1114839 Homo Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:51:06 -0800 Comment by should have turned the comments off Now let's imagine them in their scissor form.

]]> should have turned the comments off http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1114840 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1114840 Homo Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:51:12 -0800 Comment by Original Monique Wow. This is absolutely heartbreaking.

I think we should all donate more money to California in her memory to help keep same sex marriage legal.

What a true hero. RIP.

]]> Original Monique http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1114845 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1114845 Homo Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:52:36 -0800 Comment by Original Monique @2: Don't be an ass Poe.

]]> Original Monique http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1114847 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1114847 Homo Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:54:34 -0800 Comment by ReverendZ Strangely enough, the most optimistic line of this story is also the saddest:

"Our sympathies go out Mrs. Martin’s widow."

]]> ReverendZ http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1114848 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1114848 Homo Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:54:57 -0800 Comment by LDP It's sad, and Phyllis Lyons certainly deserves sympathies, as any widow or widower would.

Is it really "heartbreaking," though? Martin was 87 years old; that's a pretty long life.

]]> LDP http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1114849 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1114849 Homo Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:57:03 -0800 Comment by leek Aww man. I was reading their story from a few different sources after their marriage. It sounded like Del wasn't doing too well then... sad. Yet great that they were able to be married (and it damn well better not be rescinded in November).

]]> leek http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1114850 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1114850 Homo Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:58:07 -0800 Comment by Darcy She was a great lady.

]]> Darcy http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1114851 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1114851 Homo Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:58:28 -0800 Comment by Scott Thanks Del, I'm glad you ended your life as a married woman and were able to spend your final moments with your wife.

You deserved all the happiness in the world.

]]> Scott http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1114853 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1114853 Homo Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:04:06 -0800 Comment by should have turned the comments off I will beMr. Poe" for the day.

]]> should have turned the comments off http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1114854 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1114854 Homo Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:05:02 -0800 Comment by Mr. Poe That guy in the middle is cute. Sympathies.

]]> Mr. Poe http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1114855 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1114855 Homo Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:05:05 -0800 Comment by ryan This is a reminder that we should be fighting for marriage equality everywhere. Not every couple is lucky enough to live in one of the two states where same-sex marriage is available, and many people will die without ever having the chance to marry the person they spend their lives with. As personally sad as I am that such a courageous woman has died, I'm even sadder thinking of all the people that will never have this chance in their lifetimes.

]]> ryan http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1114857 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1114857 Homo Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:07:10 -0800 Comment by inkweary She must have been very gratified to go out on such a high note. She was able to participate in part of the equality she spent her life trying to achieve before she died.

]]> inkweary http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1114860 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1114860 Homo Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:08:29 -0800 Comment by Fnarf I think we should celebrate Del Martin's life and achievement, as we mourn her passing. At 87, her death is not a huge surprise nor a huge tragedy. We'll all go someday. But most of us won't have stood for something for as long as she did. We should honor her memory for that. 1955 was a long, long time ago. I'm so glad she was able to have her marriage recognized by the state at long last before she went. It's a great legacy.

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1114879 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1114879 Homo Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:23:09 -0800 Comment by James God rest her soul.

]]> James http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1114885 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1114885 Homo Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:28:06 -0800 Comment by violet_dagrinder "Widow"

Maybe the world doesn't entirely suck.


]]> violet_dagrinder http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1114895 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1114895 Homo Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:33:09 -0800 Comment by rob I can't stop looking at that picture. People who live their lives fully, wrapped in love and with all the courage of their convictions, just seem to emanate light and strength, even as their physical forms bow and shrink with age.

She looks like she could bear the weight of the world on her shoulders, and in important ways she has been carrying 4-10% of us.

Deep gratitude to her and her wife.

]]> rob http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1114943 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1114943 Homo Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:05:26 -0800 Comment by rob Would be nice if Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon could get a shout-out from the rostrum at the Democratic convention, but that'll never happen.

]]> rob http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1114984 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1114984 Homo Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:26:26 -0800 Comment by Bellevue Ave weight of the world? She has fucking osteoporosis. Her sweater probably caused unbearable pain and strain on her back.

]]> Bellevue Ave http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1115012 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1115012 Homo Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:47:32 -0800 Comment by Jubilation T. Cornball OH NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:-(

Thank you, Del Martin, for doing 1000 things for me I was too much of a pussy to ever do for myself. Giant leaders aren't all speaking from a podium in Denver...I hope there's a heaven and you're in it tonight.

Condolences to Phyllis.

]]> Jubilation T. Cornball http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1115071 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1115071 Homo Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:36:11 -0800 Comment by rob @19: Look at her eyes and her smile, man. Have you no sense of the transcendent?

]]> rob http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1115130 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1115130 Homo Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:29:49 -0800 Comment by Ben Lyon Anyone know where to send a bereavement gift?

]]> Ben Lyon http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1115165 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1115165 Homo Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:49:42 -0800 Comment by a.m. @22: The NoOn8 campaign sent the following in a statement:

As was her wish, in lieu of flowers, gifts can be made to honor Del's life and commitment by defeating the California marriage ban. To make a gift, please click here:

http://www.NoOnProp8.com/contribute


]]> a.m. http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1115244 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1115244 Homo Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:48:09 -0800 Comment by Jenny @11: That guy looks like San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom.

]]> Jenny http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1115319 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1115319 Homo Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:47:44 -0800 Comment by Shelley @17 & 21: I can't stop looking at that picture. People who live their lives fully, wrapped in love and with all the courage of their convictions, just seem to emanate light and strength, even as their physical forms bow and shrink with age.

I was thinking the same thing, but you said it much more eloquently than anything I could muster. She is radiantly beautiful in that picture (and an incredible inspiration.) My condolences to her widow.

]]> Shelley http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1115334 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1115334 Homo Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:57:27 -0800 Comment by Ben Lyon Thanks 23...

]]> Ben Lyon http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1115538 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/del_martin#c1115538 Homo Thu, 28 Aug 2008 08:17:18 -0800