Del Martin–Activist & Risktaker
Posted on August 30, 2008Del Martin
May 5, 1921- August 27, 2008
Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon were partners for over 50 years. Martin died this past week at the age of 87 after a life-time as activist campaigning for the rights of women and lesbians.
Shortly after moving in with my female lover, I found the couple in a book entitled Women Together: Portraits of Love, Commitment, and Life. I was euphoric and confused by my new found status as lesbian and delighted to find a book with beautiful images of female couples.
No such book existed when Del and Phyllis were new lovers, but they paved the way for the kind of books I found in libraries and books stores when I first came out.
The two women were journalists. They were writers and human beings who spoke honestly and bravely in a time when such frankness was risky. Julie Enszer writes an in depth tribute to Martin on her blog if you’d like to know more about this remarkable woman. For my part, I simply want to emulate this pioneer in speaking the truth.
May I always choose honesty over safety.
May I remember Del Martin in moments when my confidence wavers.
photo of Phyllis and Del from: www.women-vision.org
