Del Martin Dies

The news is just hours old, that Del Martin has passed away. Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon were the first same-sex couple to be married by Gavin Newsom at San Francisco City Hall in June of this year. Flags in San Francisco will be flown at half mast until Thursday at sundown.

Word of Martin's death comes as the San Francisco Chronicle reports on the momentum and the people behind Proposition 8 -- the prop that seeks to prohibit gay couples from marrying in California.

In support of Del Martin and in opposition to the marriage ban, the Vote No on Prop 8 group issued this statement: "As was her wish, in lieu of flowers, gifts can be made to honor Del's life and commitment by defeating the California marriage ban." Check out Vote No on Prop 8 for more information on how to protect the right of same-sex couples to marry.

Read more about Del Martin in Kathy Belge's biography of Martin and also in Kathy's profile of Martin and Lyon (About.com: Lesbian Life).

^{Pictured: Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, Married by Mayor Gavin Newsom
Getty Images}