55 Years Until You're Able To Get Married?
Phyllis and Del
On June 16th, Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin wanted to be the first in line to receive a same sex marriage license in California, San Francisco.
They both fell in love in a time period where they could risk being arrested, fired from their jobs and sent to receive electroshock treatment.
On June 16th, it had been more then half a century since they fell in love and they planned to be the first in line to say their marriage vows to each other.
Phyllis stated, "It was something you wanted to know, 'Is it really going to happen?' And now it happened, and maybe it can continue to happen".
The mayor of San Francisco picked Phyllis and Del to be the first in line because of their history with the gay rights movement and their long relationship of fifty-five years.
Phyllis and Del founded a social club for lesbians along with six other women in 19555 called the Daughters of Bilitis. Due to them, it evolved into the nations first lesbian advocacy organization. FBI files can prove it.
The marriage ceremony on Monday will actually be a marriage do-over.
In 2004 when a new mayor decided to challenge the marriage laws by marrying same-sex couples his advisers and gay rights activist knew right away which couple put the most compelling human face on the issue.
They don't mind getting married again. They already know they already are.
"We get along well", Phyllis said. "And we love each other".
"I love you, too", Del told her back.
This is a story about a couple that's truly in love and sometimes true love is hard to find.
