"The Ultimate Rite of Love"

I've not been much of an advocate for Gay Marriage. I believe that the word "marriage" is too closely associated with religion for the majority of Americans to approve of, much less endorse and vote that acceptance into law. Civil Unions? Yes. Gay Marriage? Not now. Not yet.

But even if Gay Marriage in California is overturned, even if the entire country decides that marriage should only be between a man and a woman, even if the Constitution is changed to ensure that homosexuals can never legally be married to one another - - for two months, these two women who loved each other for over 50 years of their lives were able to legally say that they were married.

To me, they've always been married and they always will be married. Always. No matter what.

"Del Martin (on the right in the picture above), a pioneering lesbian rights activist who with her lifelong partner became a symbol for the movement to legalize gay marriage, died Wednesday morning. She was 87.

"Her partner of more than 55 years and wife of just over two months, Phyllis Lyon, was with her.

"'Ever since I met Del 55 years ago, I could never imagine a day would come when she wouldn't be by my side,' Lyon, 83, said in a statement Wednesday.

"'I also never imagined there would be a day that we would actually be able to get married,' she added. '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.'

"Martin and Lyon exchanged vows at San Francisco City Hall on June 16, the first day same-sex couples could legally wed in California, after being together for more than half a century."