426:. Obergefell acted as Arthur's caretaker for the rest of their relationship. By 2013, Arthur became bed bound, and Obergefell and Arthur decided to get married. Same-sex marriage was illegal in their home state of Ohio, so in order to get married, they would have to go to another state. Close friends and family of the couple pooled together to rent a medically equipped plane for the couple to travel for their wedding. On July 11, 2013, the couple got an ambulance to escort Arthur to a private plane that flew Arthur, Obergefell, a nurse, and Arthur's aunt, who performed the ceremony, to
316:, who wrote the majority opinion for the case, stated in the court: “No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family. In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than they once were.” After winning the case, Obergefell stated, "It affirms what millions across the country already know to be true in their hearts: our love is equal. The four words etched onto the front of the Supreme Court 'equal justice under law' apply to us, too."
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291:. A federal judge agreed to hear the case the following court day due to Arthur's illness. The judge ruled in Obergefell's favor, but the state of Ohio appealed to a higher court and won, resulting in Obergefell's appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Arthur died in October 2013, and soon Obergefell devoted his time and became committed to legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide with the Supreme Court case
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new act. When asked about his favorite memory from his time in D.C., Obergefell said, "To be in that courtroom and have it finally sink in as
Justice Kennedy the decision that we won, and that John could finally rest in peace. And that people like us around the country could get married, it's hard to top that." In a 2019 interview with Washington, D.C.-based station
390:
In
February 2016, soon after the court ruling, Obergefell moved to Washington, D.C., to continue pursuing his political endeavors. After three years of activism in Washington, Obergefell decided, in 2019, to move back to Ohio to reclaim his roots, return to his role as an uncle to 17, and announce a
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Prior to his experience in court, Obergefell was a consultant and realtor in Ohio. He consulted along with his partner Arthur. After the case won in the
Supreme Court in 2015, Obergefell spent a year traveling around the globe to speak about the case and his own life. Obergefell has made it clear he
331:
When
Justice Kennedy retired in 2018, Obergefell was very vocal in the media on his opinions of the judge's decision to resign. Obergefell admitted to feeling "despondent" because he believed the loss of Justice Kennedy could have repercussions, especially for the LGBTQ+ community. Obergefell
368:
Obergefell cofounded
Equality Vines after the trial, the first cause-based wine label that supports organizations devoted to civil rights and equality for all. He works with Keppler Speakers as a speaker and an activist. He also co-authored the book
212:. Obergefell had sued the state of Ohio in 2013, due to the state's lack of legal recognition of Obergefell's marriage to his husband, John Arthur (1967–2013). Obergefell was the Democratic nominee for the 89th legislative district of the
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and the Board of
Advisors for the Mattachine Society of Washington, D.C. Obergefell has also been honored by the ACLU of Southern California, the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, and the Santa Clara University School of Law.
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to his eldest sister. At the time, his mother was dead, but the rest of his family was not too surprised by his announcement. While his father was not always supportive, Obergefell found a strong relationship with his aunt
Paulette.
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The two questions that would drive
Obergefell's appeal to court would be: 1) whether it was constitutional for states to discriminate between gay and straight couples in granting marriage licenses, and 2) whether the
450:. The city council of Cincinnati made April 28, the day of the Oral Arguments, John Arthur Day as a tribute to the Supreme Court case from the two men who lived there together for two decades. The mayor of the city,
395:, Obergefell said he was looking forward to working on advancing LGBT and minority rights on a state level, starting with his home state of Ohio, since additional federal progress didn't seem attainable at the time.
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for Ohio's 89th legislative district covering Erie, Huron, and Ottawa counties. In the August 2022 Democratic primaries, Obergefell ran unopposed and won. He was defeated by
Republican incumbent
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336:. Obergefell stated on the issue that "I wouldn't trust any Justice nominated by this president to respect and protect LGBTQ+ rights." Obergefell also was in the press when he was invited by
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did not take his case to court for financial reasons. According to
Obergefell, federal recognition of his marriage means he would only receive $ 255 in additional
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434:, where the marriage ceremony was performed while the plane sat on the tarmac. After 22 years of being together, Arthur died on October 22, 2013.
352:. This core American belief is why the other marriage-equality plaintiffs and I, and so many others before us, stood up to fight for our rights."
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in Cincinnati honored Obergefell with the Everyday Freedom Hero award. The award is given to people whose actions reflect the ideals of the
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also named Obergefell on its 2015 Out 100 list. Obergefell was also appointed to be a member of the National Advisory Board for the
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was decided on Friday, June 26, 2015, with five of the nine Supreme Court justices ruling in Obergefell's favor.
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and client relations management at several companies. After years of being together, Arthur was diagnosed with
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weddings, having officiated at eight same-sex weddings and one opposite-sex wedding after winning his case.
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reached out to congratulate Obergefell and thanked him for "his leadership that has changed our country."
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required every state to recognize legal marriages of same sex couples who were married in another state.
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198:; born July 7, 1966) is an American civil rights activist who was the lead plaintiff in the 2015
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377:. The book explores the lives of the lovers and lawyers who were essential to the victory of
235:, where he earned a degree in secondary education and German. He attended graduate school at
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780:, No. 13-cv-501 (S.D. Ohio December 23, 2013) (complaint filed July 19, 2013). See, also,
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https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/BT2359039968/UHIC?u=athe67392&sid=UHIC&xid=397a5ea8
8:
454:, referred to Obergefell as a "historic figure" for their city and the country. In 2015,
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Verified Complaint for Temporary Restraining Order and Declaratory and Injunctive Relief
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282:, Obergefell could not be listed as Arthur's surviving spouse on his death certificate.
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https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/H1000322825/BIC?u=athe67392&sid=BIC&xid=72c64b3b
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https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/K1650009726/BIC?u=athe67392&sid=BIC&xid=cd8a35a6
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239:. Out of college, he was a high school German teacher. In his mid-twenties, Obergefell
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Obergefell began to attend an Episcopal Church but later declared himself an atheist.
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believes Justice Kennedy's legacy was undermined by his decision to retire during a
1166:"His Husband Died In 2013, But Jim Obergefell Is Still Fighting For Their Marriage"
1069:"His Supreme Court case legalized gay marriage – Now, Jim Obergefell is leaving DC"
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795:"Meet The 'Accidental Activists' Of The Supreme Court's Same-Sex-Marriage Case"
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508:"How Jim Obergefell became the face of the Supreme Court gay marriage case"
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753:"Jim Obergefell: I'm Gay. I'm an Atheist. "And I'm Tired of the Closet.""
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952:"Why it matters where Jim Obergefell sat during the State of the Union"
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887:"Jim Obergefell 'feeling somewhat despondent' over Kennedy retirement"
344:. When asked about why he received the honor to sit in the box of the
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In 2011, Obergefell's longtime partner John Arthur was diagnosed with
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benefits and potentially a small disability benefit when he retires.
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named Obergefell one of its 2015 Global Thinkers. In the same year,
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Hammond, Gretchen R. "Obergefell Recalls Marriage-Equality Fight."
1239:"Gay Marriage Case Caps Cincinnati's Shift From Conservative Past"
853:"Supreme Court Ruling Makes Same-Sex Marriage a Right Nationwide"
32:
534:"Jim Obergefell: The man who helped legalise same-sex marriage"
1215:"Jim Obergefell, Same-Sex Marriage Plaintiff, to be Honored."
1011:"Meet the Man Behind the Supreme Court Same-Sex Marriage Case"
829:"Same-Sex Marriage Supreme Court Decision, June 26, 2015." In
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1115:"Same-sex marriage plaintiff Obergefell runs for Ohio office"
1095:"Gay rights icon Jim Obergefell will run for Ohio House seat"
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270:. In July 2013, Obergefell and a gravely ill Arthur were
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652:"Happy Birthday To American Hero Jim Obergefell (VIDEO)"
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They filed a lawsuit, and the Ohio case became known as
918:"Jim Obergefell Reads from the Book of Justice Kennedy"
1141:"Gay rights icon Jim Obergefell loses Ohio House race"
278:, a civil rights attorney, they were told that due to
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In the early 1990s, at Uncle Woody's, a bar near the
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532:Cabral, Sam; Conley, Grace (November 30, 2022).
398:In January of 2022, Jim Obergefell ran for the
626:"Marriage equality plaintiff to speak in Indy"
210:same-sex marriage throughout the United States
678:"Jim Obergefell: Sandusky's 'Pride' and joy"
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444:National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
224:James Obergefell was born on July 7, 1966.
428:Baltimore/Washington International Airport
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16:American civil rights activist (born 1966)
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1237:Stolberg, Sheryl Gay (April 25, 2015).
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231:in 1984 and went on to attend the
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916:Foggatt, Tyler (July 16, 2018).
885:Samuels, Brett (June 28, 2018).
710:Gale Biography Online Collection
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94:Plaintiff in Supreme Court case
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1349:American LGBTQ rights activists
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996:(accessed September 11, 2019).
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716:(accessed September 11, 2019).
650:Braun, Raymond (July 7, 2015).
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1196:American Civil Liberties Union
851:Liptak, Adam (June 26, 2015).
676:Ouriel, Andy (June 21, 2018).
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274:. However, after meeting with
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835:Gale In Context: U.S. History
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432:Anne Arundel County, Maryland
400:Ohio House of Representatives
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214:Ohio House of Representatives
733:, October 19, 2016, pp. 11.
280:Ohio's same-sex marriage ban
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1219:, October 20, 2016, pp. 9.
992:. Detroit, MI: Gale, 2017.
990:Contemporary Authors Online
833:. Detroit, MI: Gale, 2016.
757:friendlyatheist.patheos.com
712:. Detroit, MI: Gale, 2015.
383:. Obergefell volunteers to
272:legally married in Maryland
10:
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1354:People from Sandusky, Ohio
994:Gale In Context: Biography
714:Gale In Context: Biography
342:State of the Union address
227:Obergefell graduated from
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340:to attend Obama's final
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469:GLBT Historical Society
216:in the 2022 elections.
37:Obergefell outside the
1344:LGBTQ people from Ohio
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988:"Jim Obergefell." In
708:"Jim Obergefell." In
630:The Indianapolis Star
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1339:American gay writers
1278:. September 26, 2018
1042:. September 26, 2018
831:Historic U.S. Events
782:Justia Docket Report
778:Obergefell v. Hodges
448:underground railroad
380:Obergefell v. Hodges
348:, Obergefell said: "
307:Obergefell v. Hodges
294:Obergefell v. Hodges
288:Obergefell v. Kasich
252:Obergefell v. Hodges
229:Sandusky High School
205:Obergefell v. Hodges
136:; died
97:Obergefell v. Hodges
1324:Activists from Ohio
512:The Washington Post
1243:The New York Times
857:The New York Times
580:. January 16, 2014
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208:, which legalized
200:U.S. Supreme Court
39:U.S. Supreme Court
1217:Between the Lines
763:on June 28, 2019.
682:Sandusky Register
327:Media appearances
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