June 26, 2013
'Joyous' Plaintiff Cried at Gay Marriage Ruling
Jason St. Amand READ TIME: 1 MIN.
The plaintiff in the historic gay marriage case before the Supreme Court says she cried when she heard the ruling.
Edith Windsor said Wednesday's ruling made her feel "joyous, just joyous."
Windsor sued over the federal government's insistence in the Defense of Marriage Act that a marriage can only be defined as a relationship between a man and a woman. The rule left her owing $363,053 in taxes after spouse Thea Clara Spyer died.
The Supreme Court ruled in Windsor's favor. It struck down the provision of the law denying federal benefits to married gay couples.
The 83-year-old Windsor entered a New York City news conference to applause from supporters.
She called the ruling the "beginning of the end of stigma, lying about who we are."
