Today March 27th the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in United States v. Windsor challenge to the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). This case addresses Section 3 of DOMA which denies legally married gay & lesbian couples 1100 rights,
benefits & protections including the ability to file joint tax returns, receive spousal
benefits offered by Social Security, such as survivor compensation & the ability take advantage of estate tax breaks. In Edie Windsor’s case the 83 year old was hit with a federal estate tax
bill of over $363,000, which she was forced to pay when her legally married spouse Thea Spyer
died of multiple sclerosis. Windsor stated, "When Thea & I met nearly 50 years ago, we never could have dreamed that the story of our life together would be before the US Supreme Court as an example of why gay married couples should be treated equally & not like second-class citizens. While Thea is no longer alive, I know how proud she would have been to see this day. The truth is, I never expected any less from my country." The Court will hear about thousands of already married loving, committed gay & lesbian couples whose marriages are respected & celebrated by their families, friends, faith communities & the states they call home. Attorney Robbie Kaplan will show the US Supreme Court on behalf of her client Edie Windsor & all of us that there is no justifiable reason for the federal government to discriminate against these marriages as it now does with DOMA. Updates to Come…:)
AUDIO: Listen To Celebrities Supporting LGBT Equality
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