Roberta Kaplan

Fabulous read for Pride Month -- and any other time you want to read about one of the GLBT movement's major victories. Kaplan was the lead attorney in this case, which overturned a key provision of the Defense of Marriage Act, and she does an outstanding job explaining both the legal implications of such discrimination (it's much easier to follow than Kenji Yoshino's "Speak Now", about the case that overturned Prop 8 in California) and the moving story of the plaintiff, Edie Windsor, and her late spouse. She also details her journey from a closeted young woman to a powerhouse of a lawyer whose advocacy makes a difference not just for her gay clients, but for her own family. Whether it's explaining the intricacies of arguing before the US Supreme Court or opening up about her past insecurities, she does it with honesty and humor, and with a minimum of self-congratulation (even though it'd be warranted). If I ever brought such a case, I'd want Kaplan to be my lawyer -- and then my co-author!… (meer)