More than 275 people gathered in Launer Auditorium or virtually around the country on Thursday, Oct. 23, as Jim Obergefell delivered the 2025 Althea W. and John A. Schiffman Ethics in Society Lecture at Columbia College.
Obergefell, the lead plaintiff in the landmark 2015 Supreme Court marriage equality case, presented a lecture entitled “Purposeful, Ethical Activism: Navigating Complex Moral Terrain in a Divided Society.”
A self-described accidental activist, Obergefell served as the primary caregiver for his partner of more than 20 years, John, as he neared the end of his life due to ALS. An unexpected series of events led to their decision to marry, eventually taking Obergefell to the Supreme Court and the significant decision in Obergefell v. Hodges.
Obergefell and co-author Debbie Cenziper captured Jim and John’s story, as well as the stories of others involved in the case, in the book Love Wins: The Lovers and Lawyers Who Fought the Landmark Case for Marriage Equality. Obergefell serves as an executive producer on the multi-media JustMarried project and is active with several equality organizations, including as a board member with Family Equality and Equality Sandusky.
Prior to Obergefell’s 90-minute lecture and Q&A session, he met with Columbia College students for a master class in New Hall.
The evening concluded with a reception in the Lee Room at Dulany Dining Hall.
The Schiffman Ethics in Society Lecture series is aimed at engaging students, faculty, staff and the community about ethical issues in contemporary society. Additionally, the Schiffman Lecture in Religious Studies is held each year in the spring.
