Feminist Trailblazers; The Daughters of Bilitis

Women’s History Month may be over, but feminism is a never-ending movement. This month’s article is the refreshing and motivating story of the Daughters of Bilitis, the first lesbian rights group in the United States.

The group was co-founded in 1955 by journalists Del Martin and Phyliss Lyon in San Francisco. The idea behind the group was to promote LGBTQ+ rights and create an inclusive environment as an alternative to gay bars. Gay bars were unable to provide a safe space for LGBTQ+ people due to frequent police raids. Officers would conduct excessive ‘inspections’ on the bars, searching for anything that could warrant a shutdown. Some officers would even prosecute bar-goers without probable cause. 

However, their most notable achievement was the creation of The Ladder in 1956. The Ladder was the first lesbian magazine distributed nationally, and it served as the group’s platform for publishing about civil and political rights issues. The magazine gained quite an audience and circulated throughout many towns until it shut down in 1972. 

Following the shutdown of The Ladder, Del and Phyliss published a book called Lesbian/Woman.  Goodreads describes the book as “document[ing] the Lesbian attitudes, lifestyles, and problems in a heterosexual social structure.” The book is loved by many and considered one of the primary components of early lesbian culture.

Phyliss and Del wed on February 12, 2004, following an order that declared marriage licenses be provided for same-sex couples in San Francisco. Their marriage was later deemed invalid by the California Supreme Court on August 12, 2004. But no law can stop love, so they kept trying. 

“Del is 83 years old and I am 79,” Lyon said. “After being together for more than 50 years, it is a terrible blow to have the rights and protections of marriage taken away from us. At our age, we do not have the luxury of time.”

Finally, on June 16, 2008, the couple celebrated their marriage for the final time. Unfortunately, Del passed away two months later due to medical complications. Phyliss also passed away a few years later, on April 9, 2020. 

Del and Phyliss may not be with us today, but their legacies live on. They will forever be known as the pioneers of the lesbian rights movement. Let their story motivate you to spark change, encourage the impossible, and never give up! 

-Lyn Jones

*Author’s note: Happy April readers! Spring has sprung, creating the perfect opportunity for growth. Utilize the spirit of growth to take a few more steps toward your highest self and have fun along the way! Happy change-making!