Gay Marriage Icon​ ​Edie Windsor ​Leaves $50K To Loft LGBT Center

WHITE PLAINS, NY — Edie Windsor, whose landmark civil rights case led to the overturn of the Defense of Marriage Act, left $50,000 to the LOFT LGBT Community Center in White Plains. The organization made the announcement Monday. Windsor, who died on Sept. 12, 2017, at age 88, was committed to The LOFT, a non-profit, for supporting her gay rights activism.

Windsor was the plaintiff in the landmark 2013 civil rights case in which the Supreme Court held that restricting U.S. federal interpretation of “marriage” and “spouse” can apply only to opposite-sex unions is unconstitutional. She and her spouse, Thea Spyer, who pre-deceased her in 2009, bequeathed the money to the organization.

In 2012, the LOFT honored Edie and Spyer, whose 40-year love story was the catalyst for marriage equality in the United States, according to a spokesperson for the LOFT.

“This gift is a tremendous acknowledgement of how much the beloved LOFT community meant to Edie and Thea. It is a tribute that we believe will inspire others to get involved in LGBT causes and build off of Edie and Thea’s legacy,” said Judith Kasen-Windsor, whom Edie married in 2016.

“Edie was not only an LGBT icon, she was our treasured friend. We are committed to using Edie's generous donation in a way that will directly impact our community and celebrate Edie's legacy. We look forward to continuing her great work in partnership with Judith," said Judy Troilo, executive director of The LOFT LGBT Community Center.

The funds are unrestricted and plans for their use will be announced later in 2018.

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