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It’s official! The historic home at 651 Duncan Street, San Francisco, is officially becoming a lesbian landmark. Not only that, but it’s expected to be the first lesbian landmark in the western United States ever.
The house was home to Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin, two lesbian activists who were the first San Francisco lesbian couple to be married before same-sex marriage was even legal. Despite the legal hurdles, Lyon and Martin got then-mayor Newsom to issue them marriage licenses anyway (can you say badass?). In fact, the two were married at the Duncan house itself.
As if that’s not cool enough, the Lyon-Martin house was also the unofficial headquarters of the Daughters of Bilitis, a prominent lesbian rights organization. A political powerhouse, the Daughters of Bilitis was the first of its kind and played a significant role in reshaping society to be more tolerant, accepting, and welcoming of lesbians across America.
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But 651 Duncan Street was more than a political powerhouse: it was also a gathering place for lesbians, where women could come together and exist in peace. It acted as a refuge for lesbians to socialize and form a community without fear of retaliation from police, as was a big problem with gay and lesbian bars in the ’50s through ’60s (hello, Stonewall).
While Lyon and Martin have passed, their legacy will now live on forever in a place that represents lesbian power, love, and family.
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