Where women made history.
The Lyon-Martin House left an indelible footprint on LGBTQ+ and women’s history.
The Lyon-Martin House
Nestled on a hilly street in San Francisco’s Noe Valley neighborhood, the small house on Duncan Street gives no hint of its outsized role in influencing more than 50 years of LGBTQ history.
From the moment they purchased the property in 1955, partners, advocates, and authors Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin energized the San Francisco LGBTQ community by offering their home as a safe space for lesbian women not only to socialize, but also to come together to champion their rights.
Del Martin and Pyllis Lyon
Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon were trailblazers for LGBTQ+ rights and women’s rights. They broke through barriers with unwavering courage. Their love and activism led to pivotal changes in society, from marriage equality to civil rights. These two extraordinary women continue to inspire countless individuals to fight for justice, acceptance, and equality.
“Over many decades, the couple organized San Franciscans to validate and decriminalize lesbian identity, shape anti-violence and anti-discrimination policies, and promote marriage equality. Women congregated in the home to form the Daughters of Bilitis, the first lesbian civil rights organization in the United States”
— The National Trust