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As The Supreme Court Considers Marriage, A Soldier's Wife Speaks Out

Rick Ganley, NHPR

This week the US Supreme Court heard oral arguments on two high-profile cases about gay rights, including a challenge to the federal Defense of Marriage Act, known as DOMA.

In this state, the highest-profile voice against the law was Chief Warrant Officer Charlie Morgan of the New Hampshire National Guard. After coming out on television following the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, Morgan made another announcement: she had stage four breast cancer and that unless DOMA was repealed or struck down, her wife, Karen Morgan, would not receive the federal survivor benefits spouses in straight marriages would receive.

Charlie Morgan passed away in February, not long after leading the pledge of allegiance at Governor Maggie Hassan’s inauguration, but before the high court could take up the Defense of Marriage Act.

Karen Morgan talks with All Things Considered host Brady Carlson about why she and Charlie spoke out against the law and why she continues to do so after Charlie's death.

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