Gay rights trailblazer Edith Windsor dies

Angel

Gay rights activist Edith Windsor, whose same-sex marriage fight led to a landmark US ruling, has died aged 88.

Her death was confirmed to the New York Times by her wife Judith Kasen-Windsor.

Ms Windsor's Supreme Court case struck down the Defense of Marriage Act in 2013, granting same-sex married couples federal recognition for the first time.

She had sued the US government after being ordered to pay $363,053 (£224,940) in federal estate tax after her previous wife died.

The couple had been partners for 44 years and had married in Canada in 2007.


Ms Windsor argued that the provision of the law which defined marriage as between a man and a woman prevented her from getting a tax deduction due to married couples - and was unconstitutional.

In a landmark 2013 ruling the US Supreme agreed - and that decision became the basis for a wave of further court rulings increasing the rights of same-sex couples.

 In 2015 another crucial Supreme Court ruling gave same-sex couples the right to marry.

Ms Windsor died in New York. A cause of death was not given, but Ms Windsor had struggled with heart issues for years, the Associated Press news agency reported.

"The world lost a tiny but tough-as-nails fighter for freedom, justice and equality," Judith Kasen-Windsor was quoted as saying.

Former US presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama also paid tribute to Ms Windsor.

Mr Obama said in a statement: "America's long journey towards equality has been guided by countless small acts of persistence and fuelled by the stubborn willingness of quiet heroes to speak out for what's right.

"Few were as small in stature as Edie Windsor - and few made as big a difference to America."

Bill Clinton tweeted that "in standing up for herself, Edie also stood up for millions of Americans and their rights".


Popular Posts

Everything You Need To Know About Baby Immunisation

Angel
Image
   Ensuring your baby receives proper immunisations is essential for their overall health and well-being. Vaccines protect your child from serious illnesses and diseases, helping them stay healthy and happy as they grow.  In this article, we will discuss the importance of baby immunisation, the recommended schedule, and common myths and misconceptions surrounding vaccines. Baby Immunisation: What You Need To Know Baby immunisation plays a vital role in protecting your child from harmful infections and diseases. By receiving vaccines at the recommended ages, your baby builds immunity against various illnesses, reducing the risk of developing serious health complications. It is essential to follow the immunisation schedule provided by healthcare professionals to ensure your child is fully protected. Why Are Vaccines Important? Vaccines help to prevent the spread of infectious diseases in the community by creating herd immunity. This means that when a large percentage o...
Read more

How To Do Cornrow Braids - Learn how to to this simple braiding. .

Angel
Image
Cornrows also(also known as cane rows) are one of the oldest and most popular braid styles ever created. It's so popular in fact that even though it's a traditionally black hair style, it's been adopted by many other ethnic groups. These braids take the least amount of time to put in and take out and it's very easy to customize your own special look. It's one of the few braiding techniques that you can get really creative with. With a little skill and imagination there's almost no limit to the looks you can do! Let's look at how these braids are done and how you can keep them looking good. Cornrow Style and Care Tips Here are some tips for styling and caring for your cornrows. You can either use your own hair or add extension hair to your cornrows. Your hair should be at least 2-3 inches long to create a neat cornrowed hair style. This type of braid style lasts anywhere from 4-6 weeks, depending on how you care for them. Braidi...
Read more

Breastfeeding and Birth Control 101: Which Methods are Compatible?

Angel
Image
Introduction Congratulations on your new bundle of joy! As a new mom, it's important to take care of yourself while also considering your options for birth control. But if you're breastfeeding, you may have some concerns about which methods are compatible with nursing. That's where this article comes in. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through everything you need to know about breastfeeding and birth control compatibility. From hormonal methods like the pill and injections to non-hormonal alternatives such as condoms and IUDs, we'll explore the pros and cons of each option. We'll also provide expert insights on the safety of different birth control methods while breastfeeding, ensuring that you have accurate information to make an informed decision. Whether you're looking for temporary contraception or a long-term solution, this article will equip you with the knowledge to choose the best method that suits your breastfeeding journey. So let's d...
Read more

Three Students From Palestine Were Shot In Vermont. Civil Rights Organizations Are Demanding That The Reason Be Closely Examined

Angel
Image
  Following the shooting of three Palestinian college students in Burlington, Vermont, on Saturday night, civil rights organizations and the relatives of the victims demanded that the attacker's potential bias be investigated by the police. The Burlington Police Department released a news release on Sunday stating that the 20-year-old men are all receiving medical attention. "One has sustained far more serious injuries, while the other two are stable." According to the release, "they were confronted by a white man with a handgun" as the students were strolling down Prospect Street during their Thanksgiving break, while they were visiting a relative in Burlington. Police said, "He fired at least four rounds from the pistol without saying anything and is thought to have fled on foot." Two of the victims, according to the police, are US citizens, and one is a lawful resident. The Palestinian traditional scarves known as keffiyehs were worn by two of the t...
Read more

Tory MPs Join Forces To Depose Boris Johnson In The Wake Of The Lockdown Parties

Angel
Image
Boris Johnson will try to shore up his sagging authority during prime minister's questions today, despite reports that at least ten Conservative MPs elected in 2019 had submitted letters of no confidence in his leadership this morning. More than 20 Conservatives who gained seats in the previous general election met yesterday to discuss how to settle their worries about Johnson's premiership, which has sparked a growing dissent among the party's newest MPs. After prime minister's questions this afternoon, a number of MPs are planning to submit letters of no confidence, but approximately half of them were so enraged by the government's attempt to quell the rebellion that they submitted theirs in this morning, according to one of the MPs.
Read more

U-turn As Schools And Rising Covid Cases Crash Expectation of new year easing

Angel
Image
Government hopes for a new year easing of the Covid pandemic are unravelling, with ministers forced into a U-turn on reopening primary schools and hospitals across the country struggling with rising numbers of severely ill patients. As the crisis escalates, the Nightingale hospital built in London’s ExCeL centre is expected to take Covid patients next week, for the first time since the spring. Hospitals in east London are under extraordinary pressure, while Essex and Buckinghamshire have both declared a major incident, which enables local leaders to seek government support. Other major hospitals around the country are preparing for the worst. Government hopes for a new year easing of the Covid pandemic are unravelling, with ministers forced into a U-turn on reopening primary schools and hospitals across the country struggling with rising numbers of severely ill patients. As the crisis escalates, the Nightingale hospital built in London’s ExCeL centre is expected to take Covid patients ...
Read more

Nigeria: Federal government can't fund road projects

Angel
Image
The chairman, House committee on Works, Hon. Toby Okechukwu has revealed that the Federal  Government is currently is currently indebted to road contractors to the tune of N3 trillion with outstanding liability of N300 billion in the ministry of works. Hon. Okechukwu disclosed this in Abuja while speaking at the just concluded 2017 National Conference and Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Nigerian Institution of High way and Transportation Engineers (NIHTE) with the theme: " Transportation Sector Reform Bills: Tools for the Diversification of Nigerian Economy." With the high debt status, Okechukwu said it would be impossible for government alone to fund the construction of roads as it has a commitment to contractors to the tune of over N3 trillion with only an annual appropriation of only N240 billion. “We are not able to fund the road projects, that is the plain truth. We have an outstanding liability in the Ministry of Work of about N300 billion...
Read more

Supreme Court Upholds Arizona Vote Casting Restrictions

Angel
Image
 The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld balloting restrictions in Arizona in a decision that could make it more difficult to challenge other voting limits put in place by Republican lawmakers following last year's elections. The court, by a conservative-majority 6-3 vote, reversed a lower court ruling in determining that Arizona's rules on who can return early ballots for another individual and for the state's refusal to count ballots cast in the wrong precinct are not racially discriminatory. The federal appeals court in San Francisco had held that the measures disproportionately affected Black, Hispanic and Native American voters in violation of a part of the landmark Voting Rights Act regarded as Section 2. Justice Samuel Alito wrote for the conservative majority that the state's interest in the integrity of elections justified the measures. The court rejected the concept that displaying that a state regulation disproportionately affects minority voters is sufficient t...
Read more

BBNaija 2018: Nigerians react as Miracle emerges winner

Angel
Image
While some viewers said Tobi should have won, others congratulated Miracle for living up to the ‘Double Wahala’ theme. Here are some comment  on Twitter. @Nikisho_ we died here today Captain @Sandra_eji, Miracle deserved it tho …really happy for him @Ife_oluwa, I have to name my kid a positive name. Like Wonders or Success @gold_nne1, with all her drama, obnoxious attitude CeeC went home empty handed. She won nothing. What have you learnt from Cee c @Yusuf_bello, Nigeria has made their decision and Cee-C and Miracle became the best two Big Brother Naija Double Wahala players. Though, they both played polar opposite games, they were strong characters from the one. @Segys_B19, I am glad Miracle won. You can follow his story and learn from it. He had an ambition to become a billionaire. He already had plans for his 45m which was to further his career. When you set goals and target for yourself, hard work will sure pay off. Goo...
Read more

Black Panther — Good film with many lessons for Nigeria

Angel
Image
Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President of Nigeria, has disclosed the lessons he has learnt from the new movie ‘Black Panther’. Atiku Abubakar writes: Over the weekend, I joined my children to watch the much talked about ‘Black Panther’. It was a good film, and I was happy they took me to see it. However, I came out of the movie theater a little upset. When the first scenes came up, and I saw “Sambisa Forest” I was unhappy that the only reference the filmmakers could have for Nigeria was a negative one, but I was later encouraged by the thought of Africans solving African problems. That is a good thing, the kinds of things we used to do. For young people who may not remember, Nigerian civil servants and indeed most able citizens used to contribute money every month to support the struggle against Apartheid in South Africa. Nigeria was the single stabilizing force across West Africa. Helping to restore peace in Liberia and Sierra Leone are examples of the gigantic st...
Read more