Del Martin, who died on 27 August, 2008, aged 87, was a lifelong campaigner for Lesbian rights who paved the way for future generations of gay people in more ways than one.

She worked within organisations such as the National Organization for Women, the Alice B Toklas Democratic Club, Lyon-Martin Health Services and Old Lesbians Organizing for Change - as well as the trailblazing Daughters of Bilitis group which she co-founded in 1955 - to provide a voice in society for gay women.

And in 2004 she and her partner of 52 years, Phyllis Lyon, made history when they became the first same-sex couple to wed in the state of California after San Francisco's mayor opened the door for gay marriage.

A protracted legal and human rights battle followed, with the marriage being voided by the Californian Supreme Court later that year. However, in June 2008, two months before Ms Martin's death, they wed again following the decision by California to finally legalise gay weddings.

Dorothy L Taliaferro was born in San Francisco on 5 May, 1921. She was married to a man, James Martin, during her twenties and had a daughter, Kendra. She studied journalism and while working at a Seattle magazine met Phyllis Lyon who shared her feminist viewpoints. They would eventually become lovers.

In 1955 the couple were among eight women who set up the Daughters of Bilitis to campaign for lesbian rights - the first organisation in the US to do so. They named themselves after an obscure alternative name for the Greek poet Sappho - such covertness was necessary to avoid persecution.

By 1960 the organisation had chapters in 10 cities and more than 500 members. Ms Martin and Ms Lyon edited the group's newsletter, The Ladder, which work would later see them inducted into the LGBT Journalists Hall of Fame.

Daughters of Bilitis was disbanded in 1970 in the light of more radical groups superseding it, but Ms Martin continued to promote lesbian rights within other influential pressure groups, helping to usher in decades of reform in politics, law, health and education. By 1995 she and her partner were recognised as delegates to White House conferences.

After her death following a broken arm that exacerbated existing health problems, Ms Lyon said: "I am devastated, but I take some solace in knowing we were able to enjoy the ultimate rite of love and commitment before she passed."