Tag Archives: Ohio

John Arthur, Terminally Ill Ohio Man Who Challenged Gay Marriage Ban, Dies

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CINCINNATI (AP) — John Arthur, who with his longtime partner helped lead a legal challenge to Ohio’s ban on gay marriage, died early Tuesday, his attorney and a funeral home director said.

With Arthur terminally ill from Lou Gehrig’s disease, he and James Obergefell, both 47, flew to Maryland in June to marry. They then then sued in federal court in Cincinnati for recognition of their marriage in Ohio so they could be buried next to each other in Arthur’s family plot.

“Their love is a model for all of us,” attorney Al Gerhardstein said, praising Arthur for fighting in his last days for the rights of all same-sex couples.

via John Arthur, Terminally Ill Ohio Man Who Challenged Gay Marriage Ban, Dies.

Very sad, but a story of a triumphant outcome of hope. John Arthur continued to fight for recognition until the end. His fight may pave the way for more Ohioans to have their marriages legally recognized.

There’s a video embedded on the jump. Watch it. You’ll cry.

Then There’s This Douchebag….

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Although the governor opposes marriage rights and civil unions for lesbian and gay Ohioans, Nichols said the governor is opposed to discrimination.

“He’s opposed to discrimination against any Ohioan and, while he may have used the term ‘civil union’ loosely in this instance, he recognizes the existing rights of Ohioans to enter into private contracts to manage their personal property and health care issues.”

via Spokesman: Ohio governor misspoke when he said he supported civil unions – LGBTQ Nation.

Translation: I don’t discriminate against anyone that it’s not currently lawful to discriminate against in the state of Ohio.