Edith Windsor facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Edith Windsor
Windsor at DC Pride 2017
Born	Edith Schlain (1929-06-20)June 20, 1929 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	September 12, 2017(2017-09-12) (aged 88) New York City, U.S.
Other names	Edie Windsor
Education	Temple University (BA) New York University (MA)
Employer	IBM
Known for	United States v. Windsor
Movement	LGBT rights
Spouse(s)	Thea Clara Spyer ​ ​ (m. 2007; died 2009)​ Judith Kasen ​ (m. 2016)​
Awards	See below

Windsor and Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell

Edith "Edie" Windsor (born Edith Schlain; June 20, 1929 – September 12, 2017) was an American activist for LGBT rights. She also worked as a technology manager at IBM. She was the main person in a very important 2013 Supreme Court of the United States case called United States v. Windsor. This case helped change a law that stopped same-sex couples from having the same rights as other married couples. Because of this decision, the government started giving rights and benefits to married same-sex couples.

Early Life and Education

Edith Windsor was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her parents, James and Celia Schlain, were Jewish immigrants from Russia. They did not have much money. Her family faced hard times during the Great Depression. Her father lost his candy and ice cream store and their home. In school, she sometimes faced unfair treatment because of her Jewish background.

Windsor earned her first degree from Temple University in 1950. In 1955, she started studying for her master's degree in mathematics. She finished this degree at New York University in 1957. After that, she joined IBM, where she worked for 16 years. During her time at IBM, she also studied advanced math at Harvard University with a special scholarship from IBM.

Her Career

While studying at New York University, Windsor worked for the university's math department. She helped enter data into their early computers. She also worked as a programmer at Combustion Engineering, Inc. There, she worked with scientists and computers.

In 1958, after getting her master's degree, Windsor began working at IBM. She held important technical and management jobs. Her main work at IBM was designing and building computer operating systems and programs that understood human language. She started as a programmer for large computers. By 1968, she reached the highest technical position at IBM, as a senior systems programmer. Windsor was known at IBM for her excellent skills in fixing computer problems. She even received the first IBM PC delivered in New York City. However, IBM would not let her name her partner, Thea Spyer, as a beneficiary for her insurance.

In 1975, Windsor left IBM. She became the first president of PC Classics, a company that helped develop computer software. While working as a consultant, Windsor helped many LGBTQ groups learn about technology. She helped them set up their computer mail systems.

Personal Life

Edith Windsor met Thea Spyer in 1963 in Greenwich Village, New York City. Thea was a psychologist from Amsterdam. They started dating in 1965. In 1967, Thea asked Edie to marry her. At that time, it was not legal for same-sex couples to marry anywhere in the United States. Thea gave Edie a special diamond pin instead of a traditional engagement ring. This was so that Edie's co-workers would not find out about their relationship.

Six months after getting engaged, Edie and Thea moved into an apartment together. In 1968, they bought a small house on Long Island. They spent 40 summers there on vacation. The couple loved to travel both in the U.S. and to other countries. They also often had friends over at their home.

In 1977, Thea was diagnosed with a disease called multiple sclerosis. This disease slowly caused her to become paralyzed. Windsor retired early to become Thea's full-time caregiver. They continued to adjust their lives to help Thea.

In 1993, Windsor and Spyer registered as domestic partners in New York City. They were one of the first couples to do so.

In 2007, Thea's doctors said she had less than a year to live. Since same-sex marriage was not yet legal in New York, they decided to get married in Toronto, Canada. They married on May 22, 2007. A Canadian judge, Justice Harvey Brownstone, led their wedding. Their wedding was even announced in The New York Times. Thea passed away on February 5, 2009. After Thea's death, Windsor became very ill from stress.

On September 26, 2016, Windsor married Judith Kasen at New York City Hall. At the time, Windsor was 87 years old and Kasen was 51.

Windsor was also a member of the Congregation Beit Simchat Torah synagogue. This synagogue is known as the world's largest LGBT synagogue.

In 2019, a book about Windsor's life, called A Wild and Precious Life, was published. She started writing it before she died, and her co-author, Joshua Lyon, finished it.

Her Activism

Windsor with Carolyn Maloney in 2016

In June 1969, Windsor and Spyer returned from a trip to Italy. They found out that the Stonewall Riots had just started. In the years that followed, the couple openly took part in LGBT marches and events. They even lent their car to LGBT rights groups.

After leaving IBM in 1975, she became more involved with LGBT organizations. She volunteered for groups like the Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders and the LGBT Community Center. She also helped start a group called Old Queers Acting Up. This group used short plays to talk about social justice issues. She was on the board of SAGE (Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders) for several years.

Windsor continued to speak out for same-sex marriage after her Supreme Court case. She helped politicians introduce the Respect for Marriage Act in 2011. She also supported an Israeli LGBT rights group called A Wider Bridge. In 2013, Time magazine chose Windsor as a finalist for their Person of the Year award. She was only beaten by Pope Francis. Later in her life, she became a big supporter of New York City's largest LGBTQ+ band, the Lesbian & Gay Big Apple Corps. They even performed a concert in her honor in 2018.

United States v. Windsor

When Thea Spyer died in 2009, Edith Windsor was the only person who would inherit Thea's property. Windsor had to pay $363,053 in federal taxes on this inheritance. If federal law had recognized their marriage, Windsor would not have had to pay these taxes. This is because married couples usually do not pay taxes on inheritances from their spouse.

Windsor wanted to use the tax exemption for surviving spouses. But Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) said that "spouse" only meant a marriage between a man and a woman. The government's tax agency said the exemption did not apply to same-sex marriages. So, they made Windsor pay the $363,053 in taxes.

In 2010, Windsor sued the federal government. She asked for her money back. She argued that DOMA treated legally married same-sex couples unfairly. In 2012, a judge ruled that Section 3 of DOMA was against the U.S. Constitution. The judge ordered the government to give Windsor her tax money back. Another court later agreed with this decision.

The Supreme Court of the United States heard the case in March 2013. On June 26, 2013, the Supreme Court decided that Section 3 of DOMA was unconstitutional. This was a very important decision for same-sex marriage rights in the United States.

Recognition

Windsor was honored in 1987 as a "pioneer in operating systems" for her work in computing.

For Windsor's 70th birthday in 1999, Thea and their friends created the Edie Windsor Fund for Old Lesbians. This fund helps support projects for and by older lesbians.

A 2009 movie called Edie & Thea: A Very Long Engagement tells the story of Windsor and Spyer's life and wedding.

She was the main leader of the 2013 New York City LGBT Pride March.

She was a runner-up for Time magazine's 2013 Person of the Year.

On May 22, 2014, she received an honorary degree from Johns Hopkins University.

In June 2014, Windsor went back to Toronto, Canada, where she married Thea. She received an award at WorldPride there.

In 2016, Lesbians Who Tech started the Edie Windsor Coding Scholarship Fund. This fund helps people learn computer coding.

In 2018, a street in Philadelphia was named Edie Windsor Way.

In June 2019, Windsor was one of the first 50 American "pioneers, trailblazers, and heroes" honored on the National LGBTQ Wall of Honor. This wall is inside the Stonewall National Monument in New York City. The monument is the first U.S. national monument dedicated to LGBTQ rights and history.

Awards

Windsor received many awards for her work in technology and LGBT activism.

Death

Edith Windsor passed away on September 12, 2017, in Manhattan. Her wife, Judith Kasen-Windsor, confirmed her death. Many famous people and politicians, like former US President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, shared tributes to her.

See also

• LGBT rights in the United States