Once the opponents in the Supreme Court case who legalized gay marriage, they are now friends

Columbus, Ohio – The case behind the decision of the United States Supreme Court The legalization of homosexual marriage a decade ago is known as Obergefell c. Hodges, but the two Ohio men whose names have become this title were not in disagreement that it would seem, and are now friends.

One year after the decision of the Supreme Court’s decision on June 26, 2015, the principal applicant Jim Obergefell was during an event for a defense organization for LGBTQ defenders when his former director asked if he wanted to meet Rick Hodges, who had been the title of title in his capacity as State Director of State in Ohio, one of the disputed states for not allowing couples of the same sex.

“I don’t know, you tell me. Do I want to meet Rick Hodges?” Obergefell remembers responding.

The two met for a coffee in a hotel and hit him.

Hodges said he wanted to meet Obergefell because he is an “icon”. He said he remembers saying Obergefell something in the sense of: “I don’t know if congratulations are in order because it started with you losing your husband, but I’m glad you have won and I have never been so happy to lose my life.”

Obergefell and John Arthur, who brought an initial legal action, were longtime partners living in Cincinnati. After Arthur was diagnosed with SLA, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, in 2011, Obergefell became Arthur’s caregiver while the incurable condition ravaged his health. They flew to Maryland to marry before Arthur’s death in 2013, and the legal battle began when they learned that their union would not be listed on the death certificate managed by the Ohio Ministry of Health.

Although the role of Hodges as director of health forced him to defend the state, this did not mean that his personal opinions aligned themselves on the position of the State.

“Personally, I supported their efforts, just like some of the people who worked on the case for the state. Professionally, I had a job to do and I did it at best my capacity,” said Hodges.

During the months preceding the court’s decision, Hodges had gathered a group of Ohio lawyers to develop the documents necessary to create the license system for judges to grant marriage licenses of homosexual couple on the day of the decision if the Supreme Court had judged in their favor.

Gerhardstein said that Obergefell and Hodge’s friendship is unusual in a “very positive and exemplary way”.

“We need more models like that because we fight with difficult social problems,” he said.

The duo said they saw themselves two to three times a year and regularly talked together during conferences and panels.

“It’s funny, every time we go to an event together, everyone applauds for him and looks at me as if I am the Prince of Darkness until we finish, then it’s great,” said Hodges.

They are seen more often this year, because it is the 10th anniversary of the decision. Recently, they saw themselves in a symposium of the Northern Kentucky University and during another event, sponsored by Equality Ohio, the same organization which first led to their introduction.

“I cannot think of other cases where the plaintiff and the defendant are friends. They could exist, I do not know them,” said Obergefell. “But I’m really happy that Rick and I are friends.”