Following the death of LGBTQ rights activist Edie Windsor yesterday, Former President Barack Obama shared a heartfelt statement in her memory.
In the statement, which was posted to his Facebook page, Obama indicated that he had spoken to Windsor a few days prior to her death to acknowledge the difference she made by speaking up for equal treatment for same-sex couples.
“I had the privilege to speak with Edie a few days ago, and to tell her one more time what a difference she made to this country we love. She was engaged to her partner, Thea, for forty years. After a wedding in Canada, they were married for less than two. But federal law didn’t recognize a marriage like theirs as valid – which meant that they were denied certain federal rights and benefits that other married couples enjoyed. And when Thea passed away, Edie spoke up – not for special treatment, but for equal treatment – so that other legally married same-sex couples could enjoy the same federal rights and benefits as anyone else,” Obama wrote.
You can read Obama’s full statement below.