Oral history interview with Roberta A. Kaplan, 2017
Abstract
Roberta Kaplan begins her interview by discussing the influence of family and mentors on her life, especially her grandmother. Kaplan then discusses her time at Harvard University, the love of Russian language that she developed there, methods that she used learning Russian, and her time studying abroad in Russia. She describes her experience coming out to her parents, and details how a negative co ming out experience led her to meet Edie Windsor. Through the majority of the rest of the interview, Kaplan details her experience with the case United States v. Windsor. She details her "rules of the case" and other strategies employed. Kaplan concludes with analysis of the anticipated impact of the election of President Trump will be on the future of LGBTQ laws and court cases
Lawyers; Same-sex marriage--Law and legislation--United States; Gay couples--Legal status, laws, etc.--United States; Kaplan, Roberta A; Windsor, Edie; Columbia University Alumni and alumnae; United States; Defense of Marriage Act
Format
oral histories
Genre
Interviews
Date
2017
Physical Description
43 pages
Note (Biographical)
Roberta Kaplan is a lawyer and founder of Kaplan & Company, LLP. The firm specializes in public interest matters. She is most famous for her defense of gay marriage. As of 2018, Kaplan held a position as a faculty member at Columbia Law School while c ontinuing to run her law firm
Note
Interviewed by Mary Marshall Clark on January 3, 2017
Note (Provenance)
Kaplan, Roberta A., Gift, transferred from Columbia Center for Oral History Research 2018