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NYC Backs Gay Widow’s Suit Against Marriage Law

Associated Press
Thursday Jun 21, 2012
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Edith Windsor
Edith Windsor  

NEW YORK - New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the speaker of the City Council plan to jointly file a legal brief in support of an 82-year-old woman’s challenge of a federal law denying benefits to partners in a gay marriage.

The mayor and Speaker Christine Quinn announced their intent Wednesday, calling the Defense of Marriage Act "unconstitutional."

Edith Windsor sued the government in November 2010. Her lawyers had argued that the law violates the equal protection guarantee of the U.S. Constitution.

Windsor’s partner died in 2009, two years after they married in Canada. Because of the federal law, Windsor didn’t qualify for the unlimited marital deduction on her late spouse’s estate.

A federal judge in Manhattan ruled in her favor earlier this month. The ruling is now being appealed.

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Comments

  • Oh Jed said:, 2012-06-21 10:11:52

    Sorry for the loss of her partner. She deserves to win her case, her money back, interest and damages (which I don’t think are allowed in this type of case.)


  • GAG’EM, 2012-06-26 16:27:24

    The Gay 1% has successfully rallied a naive gay community around the cause of this very wealthy woman. (In order to have paid inheritance tax, the inheritance had to have been in the millions.) Meanwhile there are hundreds--maybe thousands--of homeless gay teens struggling to survive on the streets of NYC who are virtually ignored by the gay bourgeoisie. If Edie Windsor wants our support, she should pledge to donate the tax refunded to her to build housing for homeless youth. That’s the kind of cause that deserves our support.


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