Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon
Pioneers in the Lesbian Movement

Del & Phyllis in 1954	Del & Phyllis in 1998

In the early 1950s, the word "lesbian" wasn't spoken in polite circles. People knew that they existed, but the lesbians of that time were mostly closeted. In this time of invisibility, eight women decided that they had had enough of hiding. They talked and organized and, in 1955, created the Daughters of Bilitis (D.O.B.). This group was the first national organization for lesbians in the United States. It was a huge step foward for the lesbian movement. These brave souls were the first to say "we are gay and we are not ashamed".

Two of the eight women who founded the historic group were a couple by the names of Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon. They met in 1950 in Seattle and started out as friends. Del was a lesbian and Phyllis her "straight friend". In 1952, they became lovers and in 1953 they moved together to San Francisco. Two years later, they and their friends began the organization which quickly became a driving force in the lesbian movement. The D.O.B. provided lesbians a place to meet outside of bars, a way to document their lives and a forum to promote civil rights. The group put out a national newsletter for their members, with Phyllis as the editor, called The Ladder. It was the begining of the ongoing battle lesbians face to be recognized as "legitimate couples".

Del and Phyllis did not stop their push for equality and recognition with the founding of D.O.B.. It's been almost 50 years and these two women continue to work as activists for the lesbian community, as well as for the aging community in general. They are still together, still in love and still living in San Francisco. They continue to attend conferences and speak out on the causes they believe in. They are the co-authors of a book,Lesbian/Woman, which documents the history of the lesbian movement up to the date it was published (1972). Del also wrote a later book on domestic violence, Battered Women.

It is with deep and heartfelt thanks to Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, and women like them, that the lesbians of today are no longer seen as criminals or mentally ill. They were persecuted and harrassed during the early years of the battle, but they can look at the world today and be proud of what has been accomplished. They laid the groundwork for us and we will always be in debt to them.

Information & photos provided by:
PlanetOut
Ripe Magazine
After8 GLBT Resource Group