In 2015, the court made its landmark ruling on Obergefell v Hodges, legalising same-sex marriage across the country and marking the biggest step forward for LGBT+ rights in American history. Just three months and 11 days later, Mr Arthur died and the state of Ohio refused to list his partner of 22 years as his legal spouse on his death certificate due to the ban on same-sex marriage in the state.Ī two-year legal battle ensued, going all the way up to the Supreme Court. They wed inside a medical plane on the airport tarmac as Mr Arthur was gravely ill with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis – a disease of the nervous system. The couple, who lived in Ohio where same-sex marriage was illegal, had to fly to Maryland to be able to marry. Mr Obergefell found himself at the centre of the LGBT+ community’s fight to legalise same-sex marriage back in 2013 when he married his long-term partner John Arthur. We have fought the good fight for too long to be denied our rights now.”
five or six people will determine the law of the land and go against the vast majority of Americans who overwhelmingly support a person’s right to make their own health decisions and a couple’s right to be married.
