Thursday, August 28, 2008

Rest in Peace Del Martin

The sad news is reported today that lesbian activist Del Martin, at the forefront of the battle for same-sex marriage in California, died Wednesday in San Francisco. She was 87.

Martin's partner of 55 years, Phyllis Lyon, was by her side at the UCSF hospice, the National Center for Lesbian Rights said.

Martin and Lyon, 84, tied the knot June 16 in a ceremony officiated by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom.

These are courageous people who have struggled to overcome prejudice and misunderstanding. But more importantly, these are people, like George Takei, who have demonstrated the ability to maintain a committed relationship for decades, in the case of Phyllis and Del, for half a century. For me, that's worthy of respect and admiration.

Feel free to leave a comment with your opinion.

6 comments:

  1. This is so heartbreaking.

    I read their book years ago, LESBIAN/WOMAN, back in the 70s. They have been activists (together) forever and I think might have been the first lesbians on the Phil Donahue show.

    Del will be greatly missed.

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  2. "These are courageous people who have struggled to overcome prejudice and misunderstanding. But more importantly, these are people, like George Takei, who have demonstrated the ability to maintain a committed relationship for decades, in the case of Phyllis and Del, for half a century. For me, that's worthy of respect and admiration."

    +1! This is why I think gay marriage is a CONSERVATIVE issue. Anything that helps people maintain committed relationships, and raise children (if they so desire of course), its nothing but good for society in general...and it makes me smile!

    ONE thing my state got right!

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  3. Weer'd, not to mention it's one thing we agree on. I knew there'd be something.

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  4. How about people not involving the STATE in their personal relationships and fighting for that?

    If people didn't get breaks for being married, which they shouldn't, gay marriage would be a NON-ISSUE.

    If I had a dollar for every time I wanted to involve the STATE in my life more than it already is, I'd be bankrupt thirty times over and in some sort of debtor's prison.

    A career of wrong-headed STATISM does not a hero make.

    Good for her for finding a life partner she could stick with. Bad for her to further encourage state involvement in people's lives.

    Bay Aryans have a hard time thinking outside the box and realizing that maybe it'd be better to be more FREE instead of have more laws. I know. I've lived there and have friends still there that wear the same statist/fascist blinders.

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  5. Hey, Mike, I grew up a Liberal and later saw the flaws of my ways...doesn't mean it was all wrong. So essentially I've picked and chosen from both sides of what I personally stand for...so we might have a lot more in common than you'd think!

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  6. weerd, heh --- i've moved noticeably leftwards in my opinions since coming to the USA. after seeing how laissez-faire capitalism works out without a social safety net, i've begun to call myself a socialist --- a label i never used to apply to myself before.

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