MEET
JIM OBERGEFELL
Plaintiff in the Landmark Supreme Court Marriage Equality Case
ABOUT JIM
Jim Obergefell, the named plaintiff from the landmark marriage equality case Obergefell v. Hodges, is a speaker on LGBTQ+ equality and civil rights represented by Keppler Speakers. He co-founded Equality Vines, the world’s first cause-based wine label in Sonoma County, CA that supports equality organizations with premium wines. Jim is also an Executive Producer on the multimedia JustMarried Project, consisting of a coffee table book, podcast series, and documentary series.
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Jim is a member of the Sandusky Cultural Center Board of Directors, and a past member of Board of Directors of Family Equality, Equality Sandusky, and SAGE, as well as the GLBT Historical Society Advisory Board. Jim is also a past Family Equality staff member.
Jim co-authored the book Love Wins with Pulitzer Prize winning investigative journalist Debbie Cenziper, published by William Morrow, and he has authored book forewords, chapters, and afterwords as well as essays and Op-Eds.
He ran for the Ohio House of Representatives in 2022 and had earlier careers as a high school German teacher, corporate trainer, relationship manager, software education consultant, and real estate agent.
A graduate of the University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati resident for more than 30 years, Jim now lives in his hometown of Sandusky, OH. In his free time, Jim enjoys photography, travel, choral singing, reading, painting, and art museums.
Public Affairs & Media
Motivation
TAGS & EXPERTISE
Human Rights • Advocacy • Social Impact • Public Policy • Civil Rights • Leadership • Storytelling • Marriage Equality • LGBTQ+ Advocacy
SPEAKING TOPICS
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As the named plaintiff in the landmark Supreme Court case Obergefell v. Hodges, Jim is in a unique position to share the story of how love, loss, dedication and commitment can lead to a court decision positively impacting our entire nation. From a spontaneous decision to propose to his partner of more than 20 years to a call from President Obama on the plaza of the Supreme Court, Jim takes his audience along on his moving story about living up to his promises and commitments to the man he loved.
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A self-described accidental activist, Jim found himself in the center of the fight for marriage equality not by plan or desire to be an activist, but because he loved his husband. That experience changed Jim into a purposeful activist, now dedicated to the fight for equality for all. From marriage equality to bathroom bills, religious freedom “right to refusal” and conversion therapy, Jim shares his perspective as someone dedicated to the ideals of civil rights and equal justice under law.
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When John, Jim's partner of 18 years, was diagnosed with ALS in 2011, their world was turned upside-down, as it is for all ALS patients and the people who love them. Drawing on John’s never-flagging positive attitude and Jim's commitment, they braved the next 28 months together. Join Jim as he talks about John’s strength of character and the challenges they faced together in the story of love, loss, and dedication in the face of a terrible disease.
FEATURED BOOKS
FEATURED VIDEOS