Ms. Spyer who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1977 and later paralyzed by the disease left her entire estate to Ms. Windsor, who wouldn't have paid any taxes had it not been for the Defense of Marriage Act, a 1996 law that defined "spouse" as "a person of opposite sex" for the purposes of the federal government.

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He cited the repeal of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy and said his administration had dropped support for the Defense of Marriage Act.

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He said Obama has had multiple opportunities to fulfill his promises to the gay and lesbian community -- including by repealing the military's don't ask, don't tell policy and standing against the Justice Department motion filed this month in support of the Defense of Marriage Act.

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That court found, in her favor, that the Defense of Marriage Act violates the Constitution's equal protection clause and thus she shouldn't have had to pay an inheritance tax after her partner's death.

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