Ohio-born Obergefell backs same-sex marriage, equal rights 2026 ballot efforts

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Organizers of Ohio ballot initiatives to outlaw discrimination and repeal the state's dormant same-sex marriage ban got a boost this month from a leading LGBTQ+ rights activist: Jim Obergefell.

Grassroots organization Ohio Equal Rights announced on social media Oct. 17 that Obergefell, the lead plaintiff in the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court case legalizing same-sex marriage, has endorsed the group's proposed 2026 constitutional amendments. In a statement shared by the group, Obergefell said, "The [Ohio Equal Rights] campaign is working to ensure Ohio treats every person equally, and that is something everyone should support."

The "Right to Marry" initiative, which would reverse another amendment passed in 2004 that says marriage is "only a union between one man and one woman," is imperative, Obergefell said, given the U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to consider a case on Nov. 7 that is calling for the justices to overturn marriage equality. Should that case succeed, Ohio's 2004 amendment would again become law. Watch a previous NBC4 report on the case in the video player above.

"It's up to the people of Ohio to say, 'This is what we believe, this is what we value,'" Obergefell, who was born in Sandusky, said. "If our nation's Constitution becomes a mere suggestion of what rights every person enjoys, subject to the whims of state legislators, then Ohioans must propose and pass laws and amendments to protect those rights."

The "Equal Rights" amendment would prohibit discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy status, disease status, age, disability, recovery status, familial status, ancestry, national origin, or military and veteran status. Obergefell said this initiative "helps ensure that our laws, not just in concept but in practice and reality, protect these rights for everyone, not just some."

"No Ohioan should be evicted from their apartment, fired from their job, denied service in a business open to the public, be prevented from living life on an equal basis denied medical care, or suffer any other indignity because of who they are, whom they love, their age, disability, family status, veteran status, or other reason," Obergefell said. "These amendments will have immediate, positive impacts on Ohioans and their quality of life."

Lis Regula, co-chair of Ohio Equal Rights, said the group is grateful for Obergefell, who has been connecting the organizers with other Ohio advocacy groups to expand the effort to collect the more than 442,000 signatures needed for each proposal to appear on the 2026 ballot. While the backers of the initiatives began collecting those signatures this fall, Regula said that effort will begin in earnest "with all boots on the ground across the state" in January.

"Jim is so identifiable within the marriage equality fight and has strong connections still to Ohio, we wanted to make sure that he was part of the conversation," Regula said. "He's been absolutely great in helping us find additional connections across [Ohio], especially the northern portion of the state, Sandusky and parts of Toledo, and we're just happy to have him on board with this."

Ohio Equal Rights had originally planned for the "Right to Marry" and "Equal Rights" initiatives to appear on the ballot as a single amendment. However, Ohio's Ballot Board voted in July to split the amendment in two. Secretary of State Frank LaRose, chairman of the board, argued during the July meeting, "It would be good to give [voters] those as two separate amendments," and asked, "Is it conceivable that there are voters out there that would support one part of this but not support the other part?"

Now, to qualify for the 2026 ballot, the organization must gather signatures from at least 10% of voters from the last gubernatorial election, spread across at least 44 of Ohio's 88 counties. That means Ohio Equal Rights needs a combined 885,916 signatures. All signatures must be submitted and verified by the secretary of state at least 65 days before the election.

"Most people have been signing both petitions at the same time, and most of our volunteers and coordinating organizations have been circulating at the same time," Regula said. "This is a community effort. We are a grassroots organization that is partnering with other grassroots organizations. This is not about one group or a small number of people trying to dictate what is best for Ohio. This is about Ohioans recognizing how we can do better at protecting ourselves."

If successful, the proposals would follow in the footsteps of other constitutional amendments in recent years. In 2023, voters approved Issues 1 and 2, establishing the right to abortion and legalizing recreational marijuana, each with around 57% support. Another amendment, Issue 1 in 2024, aimed at changing how political districts are drawn, failed by a 53-47 vote.