HRC Blog

On May 22, 2007, Edie Windsor and Thea Spyer legally married after living together as partners for more than 40 years.

The couple had hoped to wait and marry in their home state of New York, but as Thea’s multiple sclerosis took a turn for the worse, they made the decision to fly to Toronto where marriage equality was already in effect. View footage from that joyful day below.

Thea died 21 months after the couple’s marriage, which was legally recognized by the state of New York. But in the height of her grief, Edie also found herself facing a $363,000 estate tax bill because – under the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) – the federal government did not recognize their marriage as valid.

Edie’s challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act has made it all the way to the Supreme Court, and a decision is expected this summer.

Today, six years after Edie and Thea legally married, we thank them for their courage and celebrate their loving commitment.