Jen Abele
News Editor
Gay rights icon Edith Windsor passed away on Sept. 12 in New York at age 88.
After Windsor’s spouse Thea Clara Spyer passed away in 2009, Windsor obtained the estate, and sought out to obtain the federal estate tax exemptions that are available to surviving spouses. Windsor reclaiming $363,000 in estate taxes led to the Supreme Court case, United States vs. Windsor, which legalized Gay Marriage. Except under DOMA, same sex marriage was not considered marriage. The IRS would not accept the refund for over $300,000. Paving the way for the historic judgement in 2013.
Edith remarried in 2016 to Judith Kasen-Windsor.
“I lost my beloved spouse Edie, and the world lost a tiny but tough as nails fighter for freedom, justice and equality. Edie was the light of my life. She will always be the light for the LGBTQ community which she loved so much and which loved her right back." stated the grieving Kasen-Windsor to CNN.
The world lost an icon in human rights and in the LGBTQ community. Gay marriage is now
attainable thanks to her courageous efforts to seek justice and did not settle for less. No one will forget her fight to obtain her gay marriage, and themselves who fought the same battle.
