Martin died at a San Francisco hospital Wednesday morning with her wife by her side, two weeks after a broken arm exacerbated her existing health problems.

The couple were married at San Francisco City Hall on June 16. Mayor Gavin Newsom, who officiated the wedding, singled them out to be the first gay couple to legally exchange vows in the city, in recognition of their activism.

Martin and Lyon founded a San Francisco social club for lesbians in 1955 called the Daughters of Bilitis, named after a French book of lesbian erotic poetry published in 1894. Under their leadership, the group evolved into the nation's first lesbian advocacy organization.

Our thoughts go out to Martin's wife, friends, and relatives. Our gratitude goes out to this remarkable woman and to the judges, whose brave decision to lift California's marriage ban enabled Martin to have her greatest wish - to marry her lifelong partner - fulfilled before she passed away.

Last update: 01-29-2009 18:29