Meet The 83-Year-Old Taking On The U.S. Over Same-Sex Marriage

[DriftingCrow]

http://www.npr.org/2013/03/21/174944430/meet-the-83-year-old-taking-on-the-u-s-over-same-sex-marriage
Author: Nina Totenberg Source: National Public Radio

This is an interview with Edith "Edie" Windsor, the 83-year old woman who is challenging the Defense of Marriage Act. She married her long-time partner Thea Spyre after flying from NY to Toronto, Canada. This was before NY legalized same-sex marriage.

Thea eventually died due to MS, leaving Edie with an inheritance. Since the US government doesn't recognize same-sex marriage, Edie had to pay $363,000 in estate taxes, which she would not have needed to pay if her marriage was recognized.  Edie says "If Thea was Theo," she says, "I would not have had to pay" those taxes. "It's heartbreaking," she adds. "It's just a terrible injustice, and I don't expect that from my country. I think it's a mistake that has to get corrected."