Editing Daughters of Bilitis (section)

===Rise of feminism===

Del Martin has written that the Daughters of Bilitis was a feminist organization from the beginning, focusing on the problems of women as well as problems of the female homosexual; however, in the mid-1960s [[feminism]] became a much higher priority to many of the members. In 1966, Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon joined the [[National Organization for Women]], and urged readers of ''The Ladder'' to do the same, reporting they got a family discount.<ref>Tobin, p. 59</ref> 

Historian Martin Meeker notes that the 1966 DOB convention, a 10-day affair joining the DOB with the [[North American Conference of Homophile Organizations]] (NACHO), was the turning point where women's issues in the DOB began to have more importance to its members than gay issues.<ref>Meeker, p. 228-229</ref> It was the largest convention DOB had yet organized, publicized in mass media all over San Francisco, and attended by a large panel of nationally known speakers. Many of the presentations focused on topics that were exclusively male-centered.

In a November 1966 essay by DOB president [[Shirley Willer]], she pointed out differences in problems faced by gay men and lesbians: gay men dealt more with police harassment, [[entrapment]], [[solicitation]], sex in public places, and until recently few women were being arrested for [[cross-dressing]]. Willer noted that problems specific to lesbians were job security and advancement, and family relationships, [[Child custody laws in the United States|child custody]], and visitation.<ref>Willer, Shirley. "What Concrete Steps Can Be taken to Further the Homophile movement?" ''The Ladder'', Nov 1966, Vol. 11 Issue 2, p1.</ref> Feeling as if their issues were not being addressed by homophile organizations, because many members of the DOB felt that homophile organizations did not address their issues, they began to emphasize that lesbians had more in common with heterosexual women than with gay men.<ref name="esterberg">Esterberg, Kristen. "From Accommodation to Liberation: A Social Movement Analysis of Lesbians in the Homophile Movement." ''Gender and Society'', Vol. 8, No. 3,  (Sep. 1994), pp. 424-443.</ref>

The Daughters were also affected by the changing times. Younger members did not share the concerns of older members; they were more moved by revolutionary tactics. (Though not all older members in the DOB were anti-radical; for example, as president of the New York chapter of the DOB, [[Ruth Simpson (activist)|Ruth Simpson]] organized gay rights demonstrations as well as educational programs for DOB members during the period of 1969–71. Several times when NYC police, without warrants, illegally entered DOB's lesbian center in lower Manhattan, Simpson stood between the police and the DOB women. On three occasions she was cited by police and required to go to court appearances.) 

Tensions increased because problems in organization of the national governing board increased, while local chapters were unable to take action on issues important to them without national approval.<ref name="esterberg" /> Some members became disillusioned and left, and younger lesbians were more attracted to feminist organizations. By the time the 1968 convention was held in [[Denver]], fewer than two dozen women attended.<ref>Gallo, p. 142</ref>