FORT LAUDERDALE—Jim Obergefell, the lead plaintiff in the US Supreme Court case legalizing same-sex marriage, announced his endorsement for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton last Sunday as the honored guest of Equality Florida’s fundraising gala held in his honor at the Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six. In honor of the event, the Bank of America building in downtown Fort Lauderdale was lighted in rainbow colors in tribute to Obergefell.
“We have fought to not only change laws, but to change hearts, and now we need a President who will help us fight to eliminate the injustices that occur regularly in our community, and the best person to do that is Hillary Clinton,” Obergefell said. “Hillary is a proven leader who will not only ensure that states are implementing marriage equality, but will work to end discrimination in our community whether it’s by passing the Equality Act or through state measures.”
Because same-sex marriage was still outlawed in their home state of Ohio in 2013, Obergefell was forced to marry to partner of 20 years, John Arthur, aboard a medical jet in Maryland. At the time, Arthur was dying from ALS, eventually passing away six months later. Three months earlier, the pair filed their lawsuit to force Ohio to recognize Obergefell as Arthur’s surviving spouse on his death certificate.
The Supreme Court recognized marriage equality nationwide last June after Obergefell and others filed suit with the court to strike down state same-sex marriage bans that barred them from getting married.
“There are still too many places where LGBT Americans are targeted for harassment and violence, and there are too many young people who are uncertain and scared of what their future might hold,” Clinton said Monday after hearing about Obergefell. “Right now in America, you can get married on Saturday and be fired from your job on Monday just because of who you love.”
In reality, Clinton came late to the party, failing to endorse same-sex marriage until 2013. Nevertheless, she has made it a cornerstone of her campaign in addition to endorsing the Equality act, a comprehensive nondiscrimination bill that would provide protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals who are currently not protected by federal law.
On Tuesday, Greg Bourke and Michael DeLeon, two plaintifss in the Supreme Court case from Kentucky, also endorsed Clinton.
“Although Hillary Clinton was late in the support of same sex marriage, she now gets how important equal rights are for LBGT Americans,” they said. “Hillary has broad and deep experience in government. She was an excellent Secretary of State and will be a strong president.”
Photo Credit: lgbtweekly.com