I have been meaning to write about this for a bit now, but it was just too early for me to talk about and write about.

There a few people who come into your life that really leave an impact on you that last forever. Del Martin was one of those people as was Phyllis Lyon. While I was still living in San Francisco I got the great honor to meet and get to know these amazing women.

They are what I consider to be the front runners for the lesbian advocacy the work they did was amazing and brave. In the mid 50′s they started The Daughters of Blitis the first lesbian advocacy group. Together these two who have been together for 50 years campaigned endlessly for Gay Rights, and especially their right to marry. In their work they also created the Lyon Martin clinic One of the first health clinics specifically for women, that was open minded and acceptining of lesbian women.

I cried as I read of their marriage on June 16th, thinking finally they got what they were fighting for. Those would not to be the last tears shed for Del, I got a call from a mutal friend August27th(tech it was the 28th here). The voice on the other end was choked up and soaked with tears “Brooklynne, Del died today.” I was stunned I couldn’t believe it I mean yes she was 87 years old but for some reason I thought she would live on forever, I mean she was Del lesbian superhero. As I hung up I was struck with grief over the loss of her and with concern for Phyl, I couldn’t imagine losing a partner after 50 years together. I realized how lucky I was to meet these wonderful women and have them in my life. I am so thankful for the times we shared together the dinners we had the stories they shared with me of being a lesbian in the 50′s and the stories I shared.

The Potawatomi believe that when a person dies they pass onto a greater place, a place where they join nature and can be heard in the rustle of the leaves and felt in the whisper of the wind.

Del I can feel your hugs in the wind and hear your laugh in the trees, thank you for enriching my life and sharing a piece of yours with me.