Emotional Newsom praises Del Martin, rips anti-marriage Democrats

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Del Martin passes away

Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon

Del Martin, who married her sweetheart of 55 years, Phyllis Lyon, in June of this year after the California Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage, passed away this morning in San Francisco. She had been ailing in recent weeks.

The San Francisco Chronicle has coverage.

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                    [She] did look far
                    Into the service of the time and was
                    Discipled of the bravest: [s]he lasted long;
                    But on us both did... age steal on
                    And wore us out of act.

                         -- William Shakespeare; All's Well That Ends Well; I, 2

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San Francisco couple ready to be first again

Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, the first couple married by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom after he authorized same-sex marriages in that city in 2004, will be the first to be married when same-sex marriage becomes legal next week across California. The 2004 San Francisco marriages were subsequently nullified when a state court ruled that the mayor had overstepped his authority.

Lyon and Martin met in 1950, and in 1955 they were among the eight founders of the Daughters of Bilitis, the first major lesbian organization in the U.S. Founded in San Francisco, the organization eventually had chapters in several cities across the country.

The two were involved in many early LGBT organizations and efforts, including being early members of the Alice B. Toklas Gay and Lesbian Democratic Club.

Del Martin was born 05 May 1921 and Phyllis Lyon was born 10 November 1924. They will be married at 5p, 16 Jun 2008, fifty-eight years after they first met.