WATCH: Hillary Clinton Honor Edie Windsor's Life

"I know what Edie means to America," Clinton told the mourners.

Neal Broverman

Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.

Read Full Bio

Neal Broverman

September 15 2017 3:25 PM EST

Nbroverman

We need your help
Your support makes The Advocate's original LGBTQ+ reporting possible. Become a member today to help us continue this work.

In front of Edie Windsor's beloved friends and family -- including her widow, Judith Kasen -- presidential candidate/former secretary of State Hillary Clinton helped memorialize the activist's life.

Windsor, who died Tuesday at the age of 88, was the plaintiff who brought down the Defense of Marriage Act and paved the way for national marriage equality. A memorial service took place Friday at New York City's Temple Emanu-El synagogue, where Clinton delivered a memorable speech.

More joyous and rousing than somber and dark, Clinton's speech included Windsor's accomplishments as a working woman and, later, as an activist fighting to honor her first wife, Thea Spyer.

"It is fitting that she will be immortalized in history books in that landmark decision synonymous with equal rights and dignity under the law. But she didn't stop there. She continued to support the needs and the rights of the LGBT community. She helped change hearts and minds, including mine. And we are forever grateful to her for that."

Clinton encouraged the audience to follow Windsor's lead as a trailblazer. "It's easy to grow weary fighting these fights, but remember Edie Windsor took on and won against the U.S. government." Watch below, via Slate.