[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 183 (Friday, November 15, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1449]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             CELEBRATING THE 95TH BIRTHDAY OF PHYLLIS LYON

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. NANCY PELOSI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 15, 2019

  Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, I rise with joy to recognize an icon of 
San Francisco, a trailblazer in the fight for civil rights and a dear 
friend, Phyllis Lyon, who recently celebrated her 95th birthday.
  Beginning in the 1950s, Phyllis and her late wife, Del Martin, were 
on the vanguard in the fight to make real the promise of equality for 
LGBTQ Americans, forming our nation's first lesbian civil rights 
organization, Daughter of Bilitis, and establishing the first 
nationally distributed lesbian newsletter, the Ladder. They worked 
tirelessly to ensure that every woman could live without fear of 
violence or persecution.
  As a journalist, community organizer and clarion voice for justice 
and equality, Phyllis has dedicated her entire life to uniting diverse 
communities to create fundamental change. From working to decriminalize 
homosexuality, successfully advocating to outlaw employment 
discrimination in San Francisco and ensuring that our city respected 
the dignity of everyone, Phyllis's work has had a powerful impact that 
has strengthened our communities and our democracy.
  For 40 years, the Lyon-Martin Health Services, named in honor of 
their dedication to the health and well-being of all women, has been a 
model for community-based health care that provides lifesaving 
services, case management and care for women of every age, race, 
disability, socio-economic condition and sexual orientation. Phyllis' 
unwavering commitment to caring for our most vulnerable continued as my 
appointee to the 1995 White House Conference on Aging, where she was a 
strong voice for the rights of lesbian seniors and all women.
  Phyllis and Del's relationship and service to our community has been 
a source of inspiration to me and all who are fortunate enough to know 
them. In 1996, during the Floor debate on the so-called Defense of 
Marriage Act, I was privileged to display their picture, asking my 
colleagues, ``If you knew Phyllis and Del . . . why would you not want 
them to be treated equally?'' This year, I once again recognized them 
on the House Floor as we voted to pass the landmark Equality Act to 
finally, fully end discrimination against LGBTQ individuals and 
guarantee the civil rights of all Americans, regardless of who they are 
or whom the love.
  Phyllis and Del's marriage in 2004, the first same-sex wedding to be 
recognized in San Francisco, was a joyous celebration. When the 
California Supreme Court voided their marriage, they recommitted to the 
fight for equality until the decision was finally overturned in 2008, 
when they became the first LGBTQ couple to be legally married in 
California.
  While Del sadly passed away a few months later, Phyllis continues to 
be a blessing to our community, using her vision, values and voice to 
build a brighter future for San Franciscans and all Americans. On 
behalf of the House of Representatives, it is a pleasure to wish 
Phyllis Lyon a happy 95th birthday and a year filled with peace, love 
and joy.

                          ____________________