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November 10, 2010

Lesbian Activist Challenges Federal Gay Marriage Ban
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A prominent lesbian activist has filed another federal lawsuit against
the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which bars federal recognition of
same-sex couples. Edith Windsor of New York says she was forced to pay
over $350,000 in estate taxes because her marriage to Thea Spyer wasn’t
recognized under federal law. Spyer died in 2009. The two married in
Canada in 2007 after 41 years as a couple. The suit says the gay
marriage ban effectively imposes a new tax on gay and lesbian couples.



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