Edith Windsor, icon of gay rights movement, dies aged 88

American LGBT rights activist, Edith Windsor, who became a gay rights icon when she sued the federal government to recognize her same-sex marriage, has died on Tuesday at the age of 88.

Her death was confirmed to the New York Times by her wife Judith Kasen-Windsor, but she didn't specify a cause. The pair got married in 2016.

The late LGBT rights activist was the lead plaintiff in the 2013 US supreme court case that struck down the Defense of Marriage Act of 1996, giving gay and lesbian couples access to federal benefits and laying the foundation for the landmark decision to legalize same-sex marriage across the country in 2015. The case made history for the United States’ LGBT rights movement.

The LGBT family all over the world are paying tributes to the icon on social media.

In a statement from Windsor's attorney, Roberta Kaplan, he said representing Windsor "was and will always be the greatest honor of my life."

"She will go down in the history books as a true American hero. With Edie's passing, I lost not only a treasured client, but a member of my family. I know that Edie's memory will always be a blessing to Rachel, myself, and Jacob. I also know that her memory will be a blessing not only to every LGBT person on this planet, but to all who believe in the concept of b'tzelem elohim, or equal dignity for all," she said.

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