Phyllis Lyon on 55 years with Del Martin

When lesbian activist Del Martin died last month at age 87, she left behind a record of unparalleled achievements in fighting for gay rights.

She also left behind her wife, Phyllis Lyon.

But the 83-year-old widow said she’s “doing all right” despite Martin’s death Aug. 27, in part because she has “an awful lot of friends around” and has received “incredible” support.

“I’ve gotten cards from people we knew, and then some from people we didn’t know from anywhere,” she said. “This response just goes to show that there were a whole lot of people who knew about her even if they didn’t know her.”

In her first extensive interview since Martin’s death, Lyon discussed her 55 years with Martin, from their 1950 meeting in Seattle to their 2004 wedding in San Francisco. See the interview Phyllis Lyon on 55 years with Del Martin @ SoVo