Law Review Lecture
"Finding Friendship in a Contentious Place: A Conversation with Obergefell and Hodges from the Landmark U.S. Supreme Court Case on Same-Sex Marriage"
On Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020, Law Review hosted Jim Obergefell and Rick Hodges in the Doermann Theater at The University of Toledo to discuss the 2015 landmark case, Obergefell v. Hodges. In the case, the U.S. Supreme Court declared that same-sex couples had a fundamental right to marriage as guaranteed by the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment.
Despite being on opposing sides of one of the most important Supreme Court rulings in recent history, Obergefell and Hodges developed an unlikely friendship. This friendship demonstrates that despite our past or perceived differences, we can find common ground and civility. Obergefell and Hodges spoke about their unique roads to becoming the named parties in this landmark ruling.
Jim Obergefell continues his work as an LGBTQA+ activist and serves on the Board of Directors for Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE), the oldest and largest national non-profit organization that advocates for and provides services for LGBTQA+ older Americans. Obergefell co-authored the book "Love Wins" with Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist, Debbie Cenziper.
Rick Hodges is an executive in residence and visiting professor at Ohio University. He is also the director of the Ohio Alliance for Innovation in Population Health (OAIPH). Hodges served as a former member of the Ohio House of Representatives and as director of the Ohio Department of Health. He earned his master's degree in public administration from The University of Toledo.
This free, public lecture was presented by The University of Toledo Law Review. Toledo Law Dean D. Benjamin Barros moderated the conversation. Professor Rob Salem, associate dean for diversity and inclusion and clinical professor of law, provided legal commentary on the challenges same-sex couples still face five years after the decision.
Livestream
The UToledo Alumni Association livestreamed the session. The recording is available to watch on-demand. Law Review also published a transcription of the event.