ArtWorks to dedicate new mural honoring Jim Obergefell, 10th anniversary of same-sex marriage legalization

IN CINCINNATI. ON JUNE 26TH, 2015, JOY EMANATED ON THE STEPS OF THE U.S. SUPREME COURT. AMONG THE CROWD WAS CINCINNATI NATIVE JIM OBERGEFELL. IT’S SO WEIRD TO KNOW THAT WHEN PEOPLE SAY OBERGEFELL, IT’S NOT JUST THIS SHORTHAND FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY. THEY’RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT ME AND MY LATE HUSBAND, JOHN. JIM AND JOHN MARRIED IN MARYLAND IN 2013, AFTER THE SUPREME COURT STRUCK DOWN THE FEDERAL DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT. I HAD TO PROPOSE. I MEAN, IT WAS SPONTANEOUS, AND WE HAD TO JUMP THROUGH SO MANY HOOPS THAT OTHER PEOPLE NEVER HAD TO DO. THEIR BATTLE DIDN’T END THERE. THEIR UNION WOULD NOT BE RECOGNIZED IN OHIO ON OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS. AND JOHN WAS DYING OF ALS. IT MAKES THAT DENIAL OF DIGNITY, THAT DENIAL OF BEING ABLE TO HAVE OUR RELATIONSHIP RECOGNIZED AND CELEBRATED AND LEGALIZED MADE IT MORE HARMFUL. ON A MISSION FOR HIS HUSBAND’S LEGACY TO BE PROPERLY DEFINED ON HIS DEATH CERTIFICATE, OBERGEFELL BATTLED ALL THE WAY TO THE SUPREME COURT. HE WAS AMONG DOZENS OF PLAINTIFFS. THEY WERE PARENTS. THEY THEY WERE MARRIED. THEY WERE SERVICE MEMBERS WHO WANTED TO EXIST IF THEY WERE STATIONED IN ANOTHER STATE. SO THEY ALL HAD EQUALLY COMPELLING STORIES. THE FIGHT FOR EQUALITY IN OHIO DIDN’T STOP. YES. TODAY WE ENJOY MARRIAGE EQUALITY. WE CAN GET A MARRIAGE LICENSE AND GET MARRIED HERE IN OHIO. BUT THAT ISN’T NECESSARILY ALWAYS GOING TO BE IN PLACE BECAUSE THIS SUPREME COURT HAS PROVEN THEY NO LONGER CARE ABOUT PRECEDENT. A BAN LIVES IN OHIO’S CONSTITUTION, MEANING IF THE OBERGEFELL DECISION IS OVERTURNED, THINGS COULD CHANGE FOR OHIOANS. EVERY QUEER PERSON IN THE STATE OF OHIO DESERVES THE RIGHT TO SAY I DO TO THE PERSON THEY LOVE. WELL, HAMILTON COUNTY DECLARED TODAY MARRIAGE EQUALITY DAY, WHILE THE CITY OF CINCINNATI PROCLAIMED JUNE 26TH TO BE KNOWN AS JIM OBERGEFELL DAY. MAYOR AFTAB PUREVAL ALSO GRANTED HIM A KEY TO THE CITY. ASHL

Updated: 3:43 AM EDT Oct 5, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

Updated: 3:43 AM EDT Oct 5, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

ArtWorks Cincinnati is set to unveil a new mural in Over-the-Rhine honoring the 10th anniversary of the Supreme Court's ruling that legalized same-sex marriage.The new mural will be located on top of the Mercer Commons Garage at 5 Mercer Street.The unveiling ceremony will be held between 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Oct. 16.The mural is just steps away from the former home of Cincinnatians Jim Obergefell and his late husband, John Arthur, who were the main plaintiffs in the Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme Court case.Obergefell himself will speak at the unveiling, joined by Mayor Aftab Pureval, the mural's artists and project partners, and other community leaders.The event is free and open to the public, although ArtWorks requests that attendees RSVP beforehand.The 10th anniversary of the case was recently recognized across the nation over the summer, with the decision handed down on June 26, 2015.This included June 26th being recognized as "Jim Obergefell Day" by the city of Cincinnati earlier this year.The 2015 decision stems from Obergefell seeking to have his legally-recognized marriage in Maryland to Arthur also be recognized in the state of Ohio.On the date of the 10-year anniversary, WLWT caught up with Obergefell to talk about the case and the current legal status of same-sex marriage today.“It’s still weird to know that when people say ‘Obergefell,’ it's not just this shorthand for marriage equality. They're also talking about me and my late husband, John,” said Obergefell.He continued, “I'm just thrilled that I was part of helping relieve that and giving every couple who wants to say, ‘I do’ that ability.” The mural will depict the figurehead of Cincinnati's iconic Tyler Davidson Fountain with two rainbow banners streaming from her hands. Five different same-sex couples on their wedding day can be seen depicted in front of the fountain, as confetti falls from the air.Obergefell adds to the list of prominent Cincinnatians that ArtWorks has honored over the years, including former WLWT anchor Jerry Springer, singer James Brown, and astronaut Neil Armstrong.

CINCINNATI —

ArtWorks Cincinnati is set to unveil a new mural in Over-the-Rhine honoring the 10th anniversary of the Supreme Court's ruling that legalized same-sex marriage.

The new mural will be located on top of the Mercer Commons Garage at 5 Mercer Street.

ArtWorks Cincinnati

The new mural honoring Jim Obergefell and the 10th anniversary of the legalization of same-sex marriage, titled "Fountain of Love."

The unveiling ceremony will be held between 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Oct. 16.

The mural is just steps away from the former home of Cincinnatians Jim Obergefell and his late husband, John Arthur, who were the main plaintiffs in the Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme Court case.

Obergefell himself will speak at the unveiling, joined by Mayor Aftab Pureval, the mural's artists and project partners, and other community leaders.

The event is free and open to the public, although ArtWorks requests that attendees RSVP beforehand.

The 10th anniversary of the case was recently recognized across the nation over the summer, with the decision handed down on June 26, 2015.

This included June 26th being recognized as "Jim Obergefell Day" by the city of Cincinnati earlier this year.

The 2015 decision stems from Obergefell seeking to have his legally-recognized marriage in Maryland to Arthur also be recognized in the state of Ohio.

On the date of the 10-year anniversary, WLWT caught up with Obergefell to talk about the case and the current legal status of same-sex marriage today.

“It’s still weird to know that when people say ‘Obergefell,’ it's not just this shorthand for marriage equality. They're also talking about me and my late husband, John,” said Obergefell.

He continued, “I'm just thrilled that I was part of helping relieve that and giving every couple who wants to say, ‘I do’ that ability.”

The mural will depict the figurehead of Cincinnati's iconic Tyler Davidson Fountain with two rainbow banners streaming from her hands. Five different same-sex couples on their wedding day can be seen depicted in front of the fountain, as confetti falls from the air.

Obergefell adds to the list of prominent Cincinnatians that ArtWorks has honored over the years, including former WLWT anchor Jerry Springer, singer James Brown, and astronaut Neil Armstrong.

ArtWorks to dedicate new mural honoring Jim Obergefell, 10th anniversary of same-sex marriage legalization

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