1. James Obergefell is an American civil rights activist who was the lead plaintiff in the 2015 US Supreme Court case Obergefell v Hodges, which legalized same-sex marriage throughout the United States.
16 Facts About Jim Obergefell
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Jim Obergefell was the Democratic nominee for the 89th legislative district of the Ohio House of Representatives in the 2022 elections.
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Jim Obergefell graduated from Sandusky High School in 1984 and went on to attend the University of Cincinnati, where he earned a degree in secondary education and German.
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Jim Obergefell attended graduate school at Bowling Green State University.
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Jim Obergefell began to attend an Episcopal Church but later declared himself an atheist.
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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 Obergefell v Hodges.
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When Justice Kennedy retired in 2018, Jim Obergefell was very vocal in the media on his opinions of the judge's decision to resign.
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Jim Obergefell admitted to feeling "despondent" because he believed the loss of Justice Kennedy could have repercussions, especially for the LGBTQ+ community.
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Jim Obergefell believes Justice Kennedy's legacy was undermined by his decision to retire during a Trump presidency.
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Jim Obergefell has made it clear he did not take his case to court for financial reasons.
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Jim Obergefell cofounded Equality Vines after the trial, the first cause-based wine label that supports organizations devoted to civil rights and equality for all.
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Jim Obergefell co-authored the book Love Wins with Debbie Cenziper.
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In February 2016, soon after the court ruling, Jim Obergefell moved to Washington, DC, to continue pursuing his political endeavors.
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In January of 2022, Jim Obergefell ran for the Ohio House of Representatives for Ohio's 89th legislative district covering Erie, Huron, and Ottawa counties.
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Jim Obergefell acted as Arthur's caretaker for the rest of their relationship.
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Jim Obergefell was appointed to be a member of the National Advisory Board for the GLBT Historical Society and the Board of Advisors for the Mattachine Society of Washington, DC Jim Obergefell has been honored by the ACLU of Southern California, the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, and the Santa Clara University School of Law.