Life Power Now - for gay men

On the evening of Wednesday, August 27, 2008 the gay men participating in my seminar: "The Call," gathered for our fourth session. I am always honored and humbled with the opportunity I get to lead gay men on a journey of self-discovery and authenticity. However, on this evening I was particularly moved. I was also feeling melancholy. Just hours before the beginning of our session the news was delivered that Del Martin had made her transition. I was particularly struck by the fact that the men gathering for my seminar were doing so out and in the open. Del Martin, and her partner of 55 years Phyllis Lyon, founded the Daughters of Bilitis in 1953. It was one of the first true Lesbian and Gay Rights organizations. However, when they met it had to be in secret for fear of being caught breaking the law and being arrested. It was vividly apparent that as a result of the work of our lesbian ancestor, Del Martin, that me and the men of my seminar could do our work freely. Lyon and Martin are known as the mothers of the Gay and Lesbian rights movement. They were doing their work long before anyone ever heard of Stonewall.

Del Martin was significantly engaged in activism throughout her life. In the '70's she and Lyon joined National Organization for Women. She was a member of the Alice B. Toklas Democratic Club and Old Lesbians Organizing for Change. In 1995 Senator Diane Feinstein and Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi appointed both her and Martin as delegates to the White House Conference on Aging. In 2003 Joan E. Biren released a documentary about the couple, No Secret Anymore: The Times of Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon (available from Framline).

Del Martin and her partner Phyllis Lyon played an integral role in the freedom to marry that gays and lesbians now have in California. They were the first couple to be issued a marriage license by Gavin Newsome in 2004 and the only couple Newsome married in June after the court overturned the ban. Lyon and Martin graced the cover of the New York Times on that celebratory day in June just two months ago. I never met Del Martin in person. I first met her in my Gay and Lesbians in Society course at Rutgers University where she was very present in the readings. Since then I have only known her in the media. However, it seems she lived a full, authentic, and courageous life. When she died yesterday she was 87 years old. What I find most sad about her passing is that after 55 years with her partner they only had two months as a legally married couple.

Phyllis Lyon told the Associated Press, "I am so lucky to have known her, loved her and been her partner in all things. I am devastated, but I take some solace in knowing we were able to enjoy the ultimate rite of love and commitment before she passed."

you can contact Jason Mannino @ info@jmannino.com