Three years ago he was a real estate broker and lived with his partner of twenty years, John. In 2011, when John was diagnosed with ASL the couple decided to go to Maryland and get married. They shortly discovered that in the event of John’s death their marriage would not be recognized by the state of Ohio. Distressed by this reality, they sued the state of Ohio to be legally recognized as spouses. After John’s death, Jim resumed the fight for recognition not only of his love, but also the recognition of love and partnership across the nation. After two years of battling in court, on June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court ruled that same-sex marriage is legal and protected under the United States constitution. Because of Jim’s relentless commitment to his partnership and to equality, same-sex couples throughout the country are now able to celebrate their love and commitment to one another.
