The Obama Foundation Unveils New Artifacts from Landmark Marriage Equality Case to be Featured at the Obama Presidential Center

In honor of the 10th anniversary of Obergefell v. Hodges, the Foundation shares select artifacts that will be on display at the Center to inspire visitors to bring change home to their own communities

June 26, 2025 at 8:00 AM CDT

CHICAGO – On June 26, 2015, America changed like a thunderbolt  when the Supreme Court held  in favor of marriage equality – ruling same-sex couples had the constitutional right to marry. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of that landmark decision, The Obama Foundation is sharing several personal artifacts tied to the historic case.

These items – on loan and donated by Jim Obergefell, the lead plaintiff in Obergefell v. Hodges – will be part of a larger exhibit that visitors can view inside the Museum at the Obama Presidential Center when it opens in 2026. They include:

  • Jim Obergefell’s wedding ring: This ring is composed of Jim and John’s wedding bands, stacked and fused together. A small notch inside the band holds some of John’s ashes. (On loan from Jim Obergefell)

  • The bow tie Jim Obergefell wore the day of the Supreme Court decision: (On loan from Jim Obergefell)

  • Jim and John’s official marriage certificate: (Donation from Jim Obergefell)

“These mementos are more than historic artifacts. They are symbols that tell the human story behind the landmark Marriage Equality decision by the U.S. Supreme Court  – a story of love, loss, and the relentless pursuit of dignity and equality,” said Valerie Jarrett, CEO of The Obama Foundation. “When visitors come to the Obama Presidential Center and see the Same Sex Marriage exhibit they won’t just learn about its history – they will feel it. We are grateful to Jim for enabling us to share their story with the world. They proved that ordinary people are capable of doing extraordinary things. Jim and John’s love and determination will inspire everyone to bring change home to their own communities.”

“This case meant everything to me and the memory of my late husband, John Arthur. For the first time in my life as an out gay man, I felt like an equal American,” said Jim Obergefell. “I’ve had the joy of allowing several artifacts to be displayed at the Obama Presidential Center Museum. That marriage license — it represents our hopes and dreams of almost 21 years to be able to say, ‘I do,’ and have it mean something. The hope that that gives to younger people that they can marry the person they love.”

A video looking back on this historic day, including never-before-seen interviews with President Obama and Jim Obergefell, can be found HERE (Opens in a new tab) and includes excerpts from a  Museum film.

Photos of the items are attached (Opens in a new tab); photo credit for the marriage certificate is The Obama Foundation and photo credit for the bow tie and rings is Jim Obergefell.

To learn more or explore the Obama Presidential Center, visit: obama.org/presidential-center (Opens in a new tab).

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Contact: Emily Bittner, [email protected]