Diane Sabin facts for kids

Diane Abbe Sabin (born 1952 in New York City) is an activist who works for the rights and health of the LGBT community in the San Francisco Bay Area. Early in her career, she helped organize music events and stages for San Francisco Pride. She also founded Sabin Chiropractic, a successful health clinic in the Castro. Today, she continues her work to improve healthcare for LGBT people and ensure they are included in health research.

Sabin is the Executive Director of the Lesbian Health & Research Center (LHRC) at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). She also helps lead the National Center of Excellence in Women's Health. She co-founded a group called "100 Lesbians and Our Friends," which encourages people to support their community. She serves on the boards of important organizations like the National Center for Lesbian Rights and the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice. In 2001, she received an award for her activism.

Growing Up and Learning

Sabin was born in New York City to Helene and Alan Sabin. She grew up in a suburb near Chicago. She went to Johnston College at the University of Redlands in Southern California. Later, she earned a doctor of chiropractic degree from Life Chiropractic College West in Hayward, California.

Before moving to California, she lived in Boston, Massachusetts, during a time when many people were working for women's rights. She even joined a group called the Daughters of Bilitis, which was an early organization for lesbian women.

Making a Difference

After moving to the San Francisco Bay Area, Diane Sabin produced many events. She helped organize a tour for the poet Cheryl Clarke. She also played a big part in producing the early San Francisco Pride stages in the 1980s.

For over 15 years, she ran her own chiropractic clinic in the Castro. This clinic became a valuable part of the community.

Today, Sabin leads The Lesbian Health & Research Center at University of California, San Francisco. She manages programs that gather information and teach communities about the health of lesbian, bisexual, and trans women.

Fighting for Marriage Rights

In 2004, Diane Sabin and her partner, Jewelle Gomez, became part of an important lawsuit in California. They were one of twelve gay couples who sued the State of California in a case called Woo v Lockyer. Diane and Jewelle met in 1984 and became friends. They started a romantic relationship in 1993 and later registered as domestic partners under California law.

The lawsuit aimed to win the right to marry for same-sex couples. The couples were represented by the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) and the American Civil Liberties Union. Diane Sabin had previously served as the chairwoman of the NCLR board. She believed the lawsuit was important for ending discrimination.

News outlets often used pictures of Diane and Jewelle to show the issue of same-sex marriage. This was especially true when the 2008 decision that struck down California Proposition 8 was announced. They were at San Francisco City Hall when the news from the U.S. Supreme Court was shared. Their marriage in October 2008 was even reported in The New York Times.