The $363,000 tax bill that changed Obama's gay-marriage policy

Edith Windsor and Thea Spyer were together for 42 years, but when one died, the other was left with a staggering tax bill she wouldn't have faced if she'd been married to a man

Edie Windsor (right) with Thea Spyer (left) five years before they were married; Windsor's story reportedly led Obama to change his gay-marriage policy.
(Image credit: Facebook)

President Obama last week directed the Justice Department to stop defending a 1996 law that bars federal recognition of gay marriages. In explaining the decision, Attorney General Eric Holder cited two lawsuits challenging the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). One was the case of Edith "Edie" Windsor, an 81-year-old widow. Here, a guide to her case:

Why did Windsor file suit?

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up