In response to the passing of iconic LGBTQ activist and journalist Phyllis Lyon, who co-founded the nation’s first lesbian organization Daughters of Bilitis, Center Chief of Staff Darrel Cummings issued the following statement:
“There are many who can rightfully claim that they helped build the modern movement for LGBTQ rights. But among those many pioneers, there are few who can claim so central a role as Phyllis Lyon and her wife Del. While the loss of Phyllis makes this a profoundly sad day, I hope we can focus on the groundbreaking impact she and Del had on our community from the founding of the Daughters of Bilitis to their hard-fought battles to transform the National Organization for Women (NOW) into a lesbian-inclusive organization and their activism on behalf of LGBTQ seniors.
“We will miss Phyllis to be sure, but we will always feel her presence in the continuing march toward full equality and justice for the LGBTQ community.”