Town Celebrates Landmark Same-Sex Marriage Decision With Dedication

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — A moving dedication scheduled for Southampton will celebrate the efforts of a pioneer dedicated to the fight for same-sex marriage.

Southampton Town officials will debut the "Edith Windsor Heart Project" memorial at Town Hall on Monday, June 26, at noon on the front lawn of Southampton Town Hall, located at 116 Hampton Road.

The project, which was commenced more than a year ago, involves the construction of a stone heart-shaped memorial on the front lawn of Southampton Town Hall, town officials said.

The memorial has been created with 261 smaller interlocking hearts, each with a personalized engraving, town officials added.

The platform will be used to conduct civil marriage ceremonies, as well as pay tribute to the pioneer plaintiff and seasonal town resident Edith Windsor.

On June 26, 2013, the United States Supreme Court decided 5 to 4 the case of United States v. Windsor, which overturned Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act. The case "challenged the constitutionality of the DOMA, a federal statute that defines marriage for all federal purposes as a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife," according to the New York Civil Liberties Union.

The case was considered a major legal victory and first step toward recognizing same-sex marriages nationwide.

Windsor, who passed away in 2017 at 88, was the lead plaintiff in the case. The town’s opening of the memorial is planned to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the landmark decision, officials said.

Also, according to the NYCLU, "Windsor, who shared her life with her late spouse, Thea Spyer, for 44 years, filed the lawsuit against the federal governmenton Nov. 9, 2010 for refusing to recognize their marriage."

The couple was married in Canada in 2007, the NYCLU said — and were considered married in New York. However, according to the NYCLU, Windsor "was not able to claim the estate tax marital deduction that is available when the surviving spouse is of the opposite sex," due to DOMA.

The tribute is a symbol of the couple's love and Windsor's valiant fight for equality.

Engraved heart stones can still be ordered using the online form.

All funds raised will contribute to construction and maintenance of the memorial, with additional funds supporting the Edith Windsor Health Clinic at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital.

For assistance with completing an order, or other inquiries, please contact Supervisor Jay Schneiderman’s office at 631-283-6055 or email [email protected].