New Mural in Over-the-Rhine to Commemorate Landmark Supreme Court Ruling Granting Marriage Equality

A bold, new mural commemorating a landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling will soon decorate Over-the-Rhine.

Cincinnati’s ArtWorks’ newest piece of public art will honor the 10th anniversary of the Obergefell v. Hodges ruling, a Supreme Court case that granted marriage equality across the country. The mural will be located at 7 Mercer St., facing the former home of Jim Obergefell and his late husband, John Arthur, whose love story was at the center of the case.

In 2013, after the Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act, a federal law that prohibited the government from recognizing same-sex marriages, Obergefell and Arthur, who was dying from ALS, married on the tarmac of Baltimore’s airport. But days later, the couple learned, because of Ohio’s ban on same-sex marriage, Arthur would be listed as single on his death certificate. This launched the legal battle that would eventually lead to the legalization of same-sex marriage on June 26, 2015.

“It’s especially meaningful for this mural to be in Cincinnati, a city that has moved past its fraught history with the LGBTQIA+ community to become a welcoming and affirming place,” Obergefell said in a press release. “My late husband John’s and my fight for recognition of our marriage began across the street from the mural and ended at the Supreme Court, and our story of love, loss, and the law made our world a better place. I sincerely appreciate Paul Gomez [owner of 7 Mercer St.], ArtWorks, and everyone involved for celebrating love, marriage, and family in such a beautiful way.”

“This mural is a reflection of how public art can honor the past while affirming the present and shaping the future,” said Colleen Houston, CEO and artistic director of ArtWorks. “It’s about uplifting a Cincinnati story that changed the course of history — one rooted in courage, love and the ongoing fight for equality. We are honored to bring this legacy to life, celebrating expanded freedom through the power of art and community.”

Painting of the mural will start in July, with an unveiling and public dedication expected this fall.