Del Martin Tribute

Del Martin, a leading figure in the US women's movement, died at a San Francisco hospice. Her wife and partner of 55 years, Phyllis Lyon, was at her side.

The couple, who in 1955 along with six other women co-founded America's first advocacy group for lesbians, the Daughters of Bilitis, were married at San Francisco City Hall on June 16 by Gavin Newsom, the city's mayor.

He chose them to be the first gay couple legally to exchange vows in the city after in recognition of their activism.

Ms Martin and Ms Lyon were among the plaintiffs in the landmark lawsuit which led to the May 2008 ruling by the California Supreme Court that the state constitution provides a right for same-sex couples to marry.

Over the years the couple campaigned for causes including gay rights, advocacy on behalf of battered women and issues facing elderly Americans. They also wrote three books.

The Daughters of Bilitis was named after a book of lesbian erotic poetry first published in Paris in 1894.

As well as her wife, Ms Martin, who was born Dorothy Taliaferro in San Francisco in 1921, is survived by her daughter from her first marriage, son-in-law, grandchildren and a sister-in-law.