The United States Supreme Court Will Decide on Gay Marriage

December 16, 2012

Edie Windsor speaks to reporters at the offices of the New York Civil Liberties Union, in New York City

From VOA Learning English, welcome to THIS IS AMERICA in Special English. I'm Kelly Jean Kelly.

And I'm Christopher Cruise.

This week on our program, we talk about the issue of gay marriage. We also talk about the word “homophobia,” which means an unreasonable fear or dislike of, or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals.

And, we introduce you to a new star at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History that might shine brighter than the Hope Diamond.

Edie Windsor and her wife, Thea Spyer, were a couple for 42 years. They were married in 2007 in Canada, which recognizes same-sex marriage. Ms. Windsor and Ms. Spyer shared an apartment and a house in New York. When Ms. Spyer died a few years ago, Ms. Windsor received the property. But she had to pay about $360,000 in taxes.

Heterosexual couples do not have to pay federal inheritance taxes on property if a husband or a wife dies. But under federal law the government considers Edie Windsor and Thea Spyer to have been just friends.

Ms. Windsor says that law is not fair.

“I look forward to the day when the federal government will recognize the marriages of all Americans. And I am hoping that will happen during my lifetime.”