Background: Del Martin was born Dorothy L. Taliaferro, and was briefly married before meeting her life long partner Phyllis Lyon. She has a daughter, Kendra Mon.
The two women met in 1950, in San Francisco. They were friends for two years before becoming lovers in 1952. A year later, they settled together in San Francisco.

Work: Frustrated at their relationship being widely unaccepted by society, and having to remain largely closeted about their sexuality, Lyon and Martin and a number of their friends formed an organisation, in 1955, to combat this attitude to lesbianism, and gain more rights for gay women. It was called 'The Daughters of Bilitis' or D.O.B. and it was the first group of its kind in the US. The women felt that their plight was not being addressed by the mainly male gay rights groups of that era.
In 2003, Lyon what progress they had originally wanted at the start of the D.O.B. - "We've come a long way from our goal in the 1950s, part of which was to get laws against sexual activity between consenting adults of the same sex wiped off the books. The other part was to be considered part of society. We wanted our full rights and responsibilities."
The group served not only as a gay rights movement, but also as a place for gay women to meet and talk in places other than bars, and as a vocal forum for them say 'We are gay, and we are not ashamed'. This was a particularly important role for the D.O.B. to play at a time when lesbianism was largely perceived as criminal, or a mental disorder.
Lyon was the editor of the group's national newsletter, The Ladder, which reached many lesbians all over America. The San Francisco based organisation had grown into a national movement, which still exists today, and of which Martin and Lyon are still a driving force.
Their literary contributions were also an important part of lesbians' fight for recognition as legitimate couples. In 1972, they wrote 'Lesbian/Woman' together, which was a history of lesbianism up to the date of publication. In 1976, Martin went on to write 'Battered Wives', a book about domestic violence, much respected in the feminist movement, of which Martin is also heavily involved. In fact, in 1967, she was the first out lesbian to join the National Organization for Women (NOW).
Martin also founded other lesbian and feminist movements, notably the Alice B. Toklas Lesbian/Gay Democratic Club and Old Lesbians Organizing for Change - a group dedicated to fighting ageism as well as homophobia.
Lyon graduated from the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality with a Doctor of Education in Human Sexuality. From 1976-1987, she taught at the same institute as a professor.
She was appointed to the San Francisco Human Rights Commission (HRC) in 1976, by San Francisco Mayor George Moscone. She became Chair of the organisation in 1982 - 1983, and was also Chair of the Commission's Lesbian/Gay Advisory committee.

Friends & Relationships: The couple made a historic move in 2004, certainly appropriate for their lifelong achievements; On 12th Febr uary 2004, Lyon and Martin were the first same-sex couple to have a legal marriage ceremony (though an act of civil disobedience, against California State law) in San Francisco. The ceremony allowed them the same rights as a heterosexual married couple, however this was voided by the government on the 12th August 2004. Lyon said of their circumstances after this: "Del is 83 years old and I am 79. After being together for more than 50 years, it is a terrible blow to have the rights and protections of marriage taken away from us. At our age, we do not have the luxury of time."

Greatest Achievements: In 1979, The Lyon-Martin Women's Health Services was founded in San Francisco and named after them.
In 1995 Martin and Lyon were made delegates to the White House Conference on Aging. Martin by Senator Dianne Feinstein and Lyon by Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi.
Their lifelong struggle and dedication to the cause of gay rights is recognised and respected by lesbians all over the world. One pride site has written of them: "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." (Original source)
Lyon and Martin's openly gay partnership of over 50 years is also an inspiration for gay women.

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