Jim Obergefell was at the Athena Cinema Tuesday night.
It costs a heterosexual couple $44 for a marriage license in Ohio. For Jim Obergefell and his late-husband, John Arthur, who flew to Maryland to legally get married, it cost $13,000 in travel expenses alone.
Obergefell, a plaintiff who has submitted a case for marriage equality, participated in “Marriage Equality and the Supreme Court: The Plaintiffs and Their Stories,” a discussion panel that was held at the Athena Cinema on Tuesday afternoon.
Hannah Botkin-Doty, a lawyer who focuses on same-sex family law, began the discussion by breaking down the political environment and giving a brief background starting with the Windsor decision.
Windsor, which arose against Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act, had a split decision of five to four in favor of Windsor. The act stated for all purposes under federal law, marriage would be defined only as the union of one man and one woman.
“Justice Kennedy was the surprise bird who came down on the side of equality,” said Botkin-Doty.
“It humiliates tens of thousands of children who are now being raised by same-sex couples,” wrote Kennedy in the majority opinion. “The law in question makes it even more difficult for the children to understand the integrity and the closeness of their own family.”
For Kelly McCracken and Kelly Noe, two more plaintiffs who spoke on the panel, this hit close to home.
In June of 2014, Noe had their first child through artificial insemination — a daughter named Ruby.
“My main fear is that Ruby will grow up and feel even a little bit of discrimination,” Noe said. “I don’t want that for her.”
McCracken agreed.
“We go to work everyday. We love each other; there’s nothing odd or different about our family,” she said.
A lot of the panel discussion focused on why the Supreme Court’s decision on marriage equality is such an important issue.
Alex Shell, a junior at OU studying strategic communication, said the fact that there is even doubt is disheartening.
Lack of recognition in regard to health care, insurance and death certificates are among the many rights denied to same-sex couples and given to married couples, Botkin-Doty said.
“I think it was really eye-opening because some of the things that are everyday experiences for me, like even thinking of getting married, don’t have all the obstacles attached,” Shell said.
The rest of the panel was filled with personal stories, present issues, workplace protection and even where to direct activism once the fight for marriage equality has been won.
“It’s not just about marriage equality, it’s about a whole bunch of other rights too,” said Eric Boomershine, a junior studying sociology and criminology and pre-law political science. “And it’s just normal people dealing with this.”
“I think of it more as a war,” said Botkin-Doty of the fight for equality. “Liberty and justice for all. Until that’s true, we’re not done fighting.”
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