Dorothy L. "Del" Martin: An American Heroine

Back when Dorothy L. "Del" Martin founded the Daughters of Bilitis -- a San Francisco social network for lesbians -- in 1955, it was downright dangerous to be gay or lesbian in the United States. Gays and lesbians were hounded, harassed, threatened, beaten, fired from their jobs, intimidated, spied on by the FBI and other law enforcement agencies, and generally made to feel like outcasts and pariahs. In a few extreme instances, they were even murdered in cold blood, and the killers usually got away with it.

Fifty-three years ago, when Del Martin founded the Daughters of Bilitis, she could have not have anticipated that her courage -- at a time when so many other gays and lesbians lived in round-the-clock fear (or, worse yet, repressed their identity to fit into society) -- would help create a more open and tolerant America.

Sadly, Del Martin passed away today in San Francisco. She lived a long, rich life, finally slipping away peacefully at age 87.

And while her death is a tragedy -- the lesbian rights movement lost its equivalent of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. -- she did live long enough to see the results of her years of hard work, sacrifice and activism. On June 16 of this year, Del married Phyllis Lyon. The two women met and fell in love back in 1950. Fifty-eight years later, they were able to exchange wedding vows and enjoy the same rights as heterosexual Americans. But they paid a big price to get there. Here they are (right) pictured with San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom. Del is in the wheelchair.

Gays and lesbians across the country are mourning Del's passing. Farewell ceremonies are planned, Bloggers are paying tribute and people all over are remembering her courage in the face of overwhelming odds. What a fitting honor that there is a clinic in San Francisco called Lyon-Martin Health Services, which "provides personalized health care and support services to women and transgender people who lack access to quality care."

About five years ago, PBS made a fantastic documentary about Martin and Lyon called No Secret Anymore: The Times of Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon. If it happens to come on again, do yourself a favor: Watch it from start to finish.

Del Martin, along with her companion Phyllis Lyon, dedicated her life to fighting the good fight for people who were being savagely repressed solely because of their sexual identity. And America is a better, freer nation because of her decades of hard work.

Below: After struggling for more than a half century, Phyllis Lyon (left) and Del Martin are finally married, June 16, 2008.