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Pelosi Statement on Passing of Del Martin
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Contact:Brendan Daly/Nadeam Elshami, 202-226-7616
Washington, D.C. — Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today on the passing of Del Martin, a pioneering lesbian and gay rights activist who died today. She and her lifelong partner, Phyllis Lyon, were married in San Francisco in June on the first day same-sex couples could legally marry.
"The loss of Del Martin is a great loss for me personally, and for our entire community.
“Del was an extraordinary woman. Her grace, courage and commitment were a source of strength to all who knew her. My heart goes out to her wife Phyllis, who was her devoted partner for more than 50 years.
“We would not have marriage equality in California if it weren’t for Del and Phyllis. They fought and triumphed in many battles, beginning when they first bought a home together in San Francisco in 1955.
“Through it all, their love and commitment to each other was an inspiration to all who knew them.
“The clinic that is named for Del and Phyllis, Lyon-Martin Health Services, provides quality care to women and transgender people. It will long stand as a testament to their generous spirits and pioneering activism.
“I hope it is a comfort to Phyllis, Del and Phyllis’s daughter Kendra Mon, their grandchildren and their many friends that so many people mourn their loss and are praying for them at this sad time."
