Ohio gay marriage

Cleveland Same-Sex Marriage Lawyers

Helping You Navigate Gay Marriage Laws in Ohio

Same-sex individuals often face unique challenges when attempting to navigate family law cases. For example, same-sex couples could not get legally married in all states until the legalization of gay marriage by the US Supreme Court in the landmark decision Obergefell v. Hodges. 

At Laubacher & Co., we are familiar with the challenges same-sex couples face when attempting to legalize their unions or pursuing other family law processes, such as adopting a child. We'll help you operate towards an ideal outcome in your legal dispute.

To schedule a consultation with our team, contact us online or via smartphone at () .

Is Gay Marriage Legal in Ohio?

While a constitutional amendment and a state law passed in previously banned same-sex marriages in Ohio, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on June 26, , that all 50 states must both: (i) issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, and (ii) fully recognize same-sex marriages entered into in other states.

Ohio has recognized same-sex marriages fr

Overturning gay marriage ban and adding LGBTQ protections just got harder. Find out why.

  • Ohio Republicans split the Ohio Equal Rights Amendment into two separate ballot issues.
  • One issue addresses overturning Ohio's same-sex marriage ban, while the other expands anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ individuals.
  • This move requires proponents to collect double the signatures or sue the Ohio Ballot Board.

Ohio Republicans added another hurdle for proponents of a measure to overturn Ohio's dormant ban on same-sex marriage and expand anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ residents.

In a party-line vote, Ohio Ballot Board divided the Ohio Equal Rights Amendment into two issues: one to overturn a vote that defined marriage as between one man and one woman and another that would prohibit mention and local government from discriminating against more than a dozen protected groups, including transgender Ohioans.

To make the ballot, proponents will either have to collect double the number of signatures to get both proposals approved or sue the Ohio Ballot Board to overturn its

Curious Cbus: Why is a ban on same-sex marriage still part of the Ohio Revised Code?

In , the U.S. Supreme Court decision of Obergefell v. Hodges cleared the way for legal same-sex marriage across the country. After so many years and tens of thousands of same-sex marriages in Ohio, the letter of the law still states that marriage can only be between one guy and one woman.

This was a surprise to Cory Slack, a disability rights advocate who often spends time reading the Ohio Revised Code as part of his job. One day he was looking at the marriage section and was shocked to see the language was not changed.

When Slack shared his discovery with friends, he learned that many didn’t know the code still said marriage was only for one man and one woman. In fact, they didn’t believe him.

“They were like, ‘No, Cory, you must have been mistaken… they can't have that language if the court ruling says otherwise,’” Slack said.

But Slack knew he was right and wrote into WOSU’s Curious Cbus to ask why same-sex couples are specifically listed in the Ohio Revised Code as people who cannot g

The Ohio Revised Code Doesn’t Acknowledge Same-Sex Marriage

Currently, the Ohio Revised Code is not updated to match the new Federal laws that protect same-sex marriage. Section defines marriage between a man and a woman and doesn’t acknowledge same-sex marriage from Ohio or any other state. 

In June , the Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges, the Federal legalization of same-sex marriage. In April, Obergefell v. Hodges originated in the states of Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, and Tenessee when several same-sex couples filed suits in their abode states' Federal District Courts. The couples claimed that the bans on same-sex marriage in their home states violated their fourteenth amendment by denying the right to marry or have marriages.

The Ohio Revised Code Section was updated on April 8, , four years after same-sex marriage was federally recognized. This means that while the Federal law protects same-sex marriage, the Ohio State law still doesn’t defend same-sex marriage, even though the Supreme Court case Obergefell v. Hodges originated in Ohio. If