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Rainbow Honor Walk Honoree Phyllis Lyon

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Rainbow Honor Walk Honoree Phyllis Lyon

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Today on the anniversary of her birth, we celebrate the life and legacy of Rainbow Honor Walk honoree Phyllis Ann Lyon (November 10, 1924 – April 9, 2020). A pioneering lesbian activist, writer, and feminist, Lyon co-founded the Daughters of Bilitis in 1955 — the first social and political organization for lesbians in the United States — alongside her lifelong partner, Del Martin. Together, they advanced LGBTQ+ visibility and equality through decades of advocacy, journalism, and leadership, paving the way for generations to come.

Read the tribute below in SF Bay Times by longtime close friend of the couple, Kate Kendell.

The Loss of a ‘Lyon’: Phyllis Lyon November 10, 1924 – April 9, 2020