Edith Windsor was an American LGBTQ+ rights advocate whose determination helped transform U.S. marriage equality. After her wife, Thea Spyer, died in 2009, Windsor was required to pay substantial federal estate taxes because their Canadian marriage was not recognized by the U.S. government. She challenged the law, becoming the plaintiff in United States v. Windsor, the 2013 Supreme Court decision that struck down key parts of the Defense of Marriage Act. Windsor’s visibility, warmth, and persistence energized activists, strengthened legal strategy nationwide, and paved the way for Obergefell v. Hodges and inspired countless people to claim dignity in public.
Quote: “There is no same-sex marriage in this country, there is no gay marriage in this country, there is only marriage.”
Photo credit James Estrin
Leave a Reply