The faces of same-sex marriage

Posted at 2:27 PM on June 17, 2008 by Bob Collins (8 Comments)

Why has this picture generated so much interest around the country today?

It's a picture of Del Martin (left) and Phyllis Lyon (right), who exchanged rings in San Francisco yesterday. They were the first couple to be married in San Francisco as same-sex marriages become legal in California.

They are, their Wikipedia page suggests, a different face of same-sex marriage -- the face of a 50-year commitment:

Martin and Lyon met in Seattle in 1950 when they began working for the same magazine. They became lovers in 1952 and entered into a formal partnership in 1953 when they moved to San Francisco together although unable to legally marry.[2][5][3] Many years later, Lyon and Martin recalled how they learned to live together in 1953. "We really only had problems our first year together. Del would leave her shoes in the middle of the room, and I'd throw them out the window," said Lyon, to which Martin responded, "You'd have an argument with me and try to storm out the door. I had to teach you to fight back."[6]

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Comments (8)

Pass the cake!

Posted by HH | June 17, 2008 3:22 PM

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Congratulations Del and Phyllis!

Posted by Andy | June 17, 2008 3:25 PM

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Yes, Congratulations Del and Phyllis. It would be nice to think that, after the world doesn't end tomorrow, some people would drop their opposition to such unions.

Posted by bsimon | June 17, 2008 3:51 PM

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I don't know, I think I can almost see the sinister twinkle in these two women's eyes as they now plot to take over the world and "infect" the rest of us heterosexuals...

I'm kidding by the way.

Posted by Joel | June 17, 2008 4:10 PM

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A grand day for all!
Congratulations to all the newlyweds.

Posted by Lily | June 17, 2008 9:47 PM

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Yeah!

This reminds me of our weddingA. During the sermon, the priest invited all those couples married at least 50 years, there were 3 in attendance, to find us at the reception and give us advice on how to make it that long. Clearly we would have plenty to learn about marriage from these women who have only been officially married a couple of days.

Posted by Alison | June 18, 2008 5:26 AM

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It's a great story. And my marriage hasn't been threatened in the slightest way.

Posted by Zeb | June 18, 2008 12:03 PM

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I know it's late, but congratulation. I hope that everything is well and Good Luck!

The minister is not bad looking either.

Posted by Mona | April 19, 2009 7:51 AM

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