Civil Rights Figure. A 2015 United States Supreme Court Ruling on a case involving his same-sex marriage led to the striking down of all state laws that banned same-sex marriage. In 2011, Arthur was diagnosed with ALS. Two years later, his partner of two decades, Jim Obergefell, proposed to him. Their wedding took place on July 11, 2013, in Baltimore, Maryland, because their home state of Ohio had a state constitutional ban on same-sex marriages. Shortly before his death, Obergefell and Arthur sued the state of Ohio and ultimately won in federal court, allowing Obergefell's name to be listed as the surviving spouse on his death certificate. However, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed this decision in 2014, ultimately leading to an appeal to the United States Supreme Court. On June 26, 2015, the United States Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that the Ohio same-sex marriage ban was unconstitutional. Because of this ruling, (Obergefell v. Hodges) the states which still had same-sex marriage bans on their books were made unenforceable, ultimately allowing same-sex couples to be married in all fifty states.
Civil Rights Figure. A 2015 United States Supreme Court Ruling on a case involving his same-sex marriage led to the striking down of all state laws that banned same-sex marriage. In 2011, Arthur was diagnosed with ALS. Two years later, his partner of two decades, Jim Obergefell, proposed to him. Their wedding took place on July 11, 2013, in Baltimore, Maryland, because their home state of Ohio had a state constitutional ban on same-sex marriages. Shortly before his death, Obergefell and Arthur sued the state of Ohio and ultimately won in federal court, allowing Obergefell's name to be listed as the surviving spouse on his death certificate. However, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed this decision in 2014, ultimately leading to an appeal to the United States Supreme Court. On June 26, 2015, the United States Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that the Ohio same-sex marriage ban was unconstitutional. Because of this ruling, (Obergefell v. Hodges) the states which still had same-sex marriage bans on their books were made unenforceable, ultimately allowing same-sex couples to be married in all fifty states.
Bio by: Martin Weybright
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