Jim Obergefell, who sued for same-sex marriage, on 10th anniversary : NPR
Applicant Jim Obergefell holds a photo of his late husband John Arthur while talking to the media members after the United States Supreme Court made a decision on homosexual marriage on June 26, 2015 outside the Supreme Court in Washington, DC. The high court judged that the same sex couples had the right to marry in the 50 states.
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Alex Wong / Getty Images from North America
Jim Obergefell’s husband, John Arthur, did not live to see the day when the homosexual marriage was legal and recognized in the 50 states.
However, Arthur played a key role in making this.
“John deserved to die from a married man,” said Obergefell, the plaintiff in a decision of the Supreme Court. Morning edition‘S Leila Fadel.
Today marks the 10th anniversary of the Supreme Court Obergefell against Hodges Decisor that states could not deny marriage with same -sex couples like Obergefell and Arthur.
Arthur had received a diagnosis of SLA, or Lou Gerigh’s disease, two years ago. Obergefell and Arthur, who had been together for more than 20 years, never thought that they could marry, but in 2013, when the Supreme Court partially canceled the Federal Defense of Marriage Law, the two realized that this could change.
“We talked about marriage at the start of our relationship in the mid -90s, but we finally had the opportunity to get married and make the federal government recognize us,” said Obergefell.
Until then, Arthur could no longer walk or move most of his body, which made them difficult for them to go to a state where homosexual marriage was legal. Friends and his family therefore donated more than $ 10,000 for a medically equipped aircraft for the couple in Maryland to marry the Tarmac of Baltimore International Airport Washington.
“In the past 20 years, 6 months and 11 days, it has been love at each sight,” said Obergefell during their marriage wishes.
2013 United States c. Windsor decision It is only necessary to recognize homosexual marriage led by the States and has enabled the States to refuse to recognize homosexual marriages. This meant that if the federal government recognized the marriage of Arthur and Obergefell, its Ohio origin, did not recognize its marriage from Maryland.
Obergefell explained how his legal struggle for equality of marriage began, the future of LGTBQ + rights in the United States, and reflected the 10th anniversary of Obergefell c. Hodges.
This interview has been modified for duration and clarity.
Strengths of the interview
Leila Fadel: When the country finally recognized gay marriage, how was it for you and for so many Americans?
Jim Obergefell: You know, it was this moment to, wait, we exist. We are seen by the highest courtyard in our country and our relationships, our marriages, our families can in fact exist on an equal footing with others.
Fadel: For people who do not know your story, why did you play this fight all these years ago?
Obergefell: This fight is not something that I have ever dreamed that I would do. But it is surprising what you are ready to do and where you can find the motivation and the courage to do something. John, my partner almost 21 years old, was dying of the ALS, and it was only when the Supreme Court canceled the Federal Defense of Marriage Act in their decision in United States against Windsorthat we finally had the opportunity to get married. And that’s what we did.
All we wanted to do was spend the remaining days of John as husband and husband. But then because a local lawyer for civil rights in Cincinnati heard our history, he stretched his hand and said that I would like to meet. And during this meeting, he withdrew a certificate of death in white Ohio and said: “Do you understand the guys? Do you get it when John dies? His last record as Ohioan, his last official record as a person is wrong because your word says the matrimonial state at the time of death.
A reveler has a sign of support for the gay marriage seeker Jim Obergefell during the Cincinnati Pride parade, Saturday June 27, 2015.
John Minchillo / AP
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John Minchillo / AP
Fadel: And it is because you were only married in Maryland where the state recognized it.
Obergefell: Correct. But we have legally married in Maryland. And we deserve that our marriage is recognized by the state that we called here. John deserved to die from a married man. We just wanted dignity. And this is what motivated us to say, yes, let us fight on the state of Ohio. And this is what led to this deposit before the Federal District Court. And that’s what took me to the Supreme Court. We wanted to exist.
Fadel: And today, in the court of public opinion, I mean, LGBTQ + weddings are accepted. They are part of life now. It’s been 10 years since this case. What has changed during this decade?
Obergefell: Well, you know, I like that has changed this perspective. The majority of Americans support equality of marriage. And I like the fact that there are queer children. Over the past 10 years, they have grown up in a world where the only future they see understands the right to marry the person they like whatever happens. And, you know, there are other things in our country that are not so wonderful for the queer community.
Fadel: I want to talk about it. We are also at a time when many rights groups, LGBTQIA + communities are concerned about the decline in the rights for which you have fought. The administration has targeted LGBTQI +services and monuments, such as the cancellation of the Hotline from the LGBTQ +service, by removing the name of Harvey Milk from a ship. There are legislation of states and fighting on legislation concerning sex care for young people for transgender young people and whether it should be prohibited or not. There are schools prohibiting books often linked to race, racism, LGBTQ +communities. What does it look like? As you think about this anniversary.
Obergefell: In a word, it is terrifying to see all these attacks against the queer community, in particular the most marginalized and most vulnerable part of our community, the Trans community. These are people who want nothing more than being authentically who they are and being able to live their life without excuse and without fear. But the entire queer community and in fact, all marginalized communities are attacked under this administration. It is therefore terrifying. There are times when I am incredibly afraid of what the future has in store for us. But I then remember, we have already crossed these things. We have gone through worse moments as a community and have we done? We have always raised our voices to say that we exist, we are here. We are not going to endure this. And that’s what we will continue to do. But I know that these days, there is only additional fear, because in the past, when we got up, you know, the people of Stonewall, all these people in the past who have risen, they did this to earn rights. And what we are living now, what we face now is the probability of losing the rights we have acquired in the past. And that has a much more difficult time for our community, because it is not like we are fighting to obtain rights. We are fighting to maintain and keep the rights we have acquired over the decades.
A person has a sign during a pro-transgender rights manifestation outside the Seattle children’s hospital after the institution has postponed certain surgeries affirming the sexes for minors following a decree by President Donald Trump, Sunday, February 9, 2025, in Seattle.
Lindsey Wasson / AP
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Lindsey Wasson / AP
Fadel: Ten years. When you sit on this anniversary. What comes to mind today?
Obergefell: You know, of course, I think of my late husband, John, and I want us to have more than three months as husband and husband. I hope that we had time together as a couple where we could know that our state or our government, the federal government, did not try to erase our existence. So I still think of John.
I also think of this young woman from the University of Tennessee who told me that if it was not for the equality of marriage, without a trial, without a decision of the Supreme Court, she would have committed suicide. And the fact that this one person told me that I knew there are others who felt the same thing, but she found a reason not to commit suicide. She found a reason to continue to live because she finally, as a closed queer, saw a future that included her. So that’s what I constantly think. This reminds me of how important and significant this decision is and the hope that it gives to people. And I continue to move forward knowing that everything we can do is use our voices and work hard to be included with people.
This digital article was published by Obed Manuel. The radio version was published by Lisa Thomson.
