Plaintiff in marriage equality case to speak at Nebraska

Jim Obergefell, plaintiff in the landmark 2015 U.S. Supreme Court marriage equality case, will speak at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 11 in the Nebraska Union Auditorium.

Obergefell married John Arthur, who was terminally ill with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, in Maryland in July 2013. The Ohio couple wanted the Ohio Registrar to recognize their out-of-state same-sex marriage as legal so Obergefell could be listed as the surviving spouse on Arthur’s death certificate. They filed a lawsuit against the State of Ohio alleging discrimination, and a federal judge ruled in favor of the plaintiffs. The State of Ohio, however, challenged this ruling and won. Meanwhile, other circuit courts delivered pro-same-sex marriage rulings.

The case and five others made their way to the U.S. Supreme Court in Obergefell v. Hodges. On June 26, 2015, the court ruled 5-4 that the fundamental right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples by both the due process clause and the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

On Oct. 11, Obergefell will discuss his inspiring journey of love, loss and commitment, and his ongoing battle for civil rights for all.

The event, cosponsored by UPC Nebraska and the LGBTQA+ Resource Center, is free for students with a valid NCard and $5 for faculty, staff and the public.