VIDEO: 'Accidental activist' Obergefell returns to Sandusky

SANDUSKY — Jim Obergefell, 50, isn't just a well-known "accidental activist" who became the public face of the fight to allow same-sex couples to get married.He's also a Sandusky native and an author promoting his new book, "Love Wins," which gives the history of the fight for marriage equality and Obergefell's part in it.All of those roles will come together when Obergefell speaks Sunday at the Sandusky State Theatre as part of his national book tour on behalf of "Love Wins," written with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Debbie Cenziper of the Washington Post. The book came out on June 14 and a movie based on the book is in development.Obergefell also will appear on "Between the Lines," the public affairs program at the Sandusky Register's website, at 2 p.m. Friday. In interviews and in his book, Obergefell explains that he didn't set out to become a political activist. He simply wanted to be treated fairly and to have his Maryland marriage to his longtime companion, John Arthur, recognized by Ohio.When Arthur was dying of ALS, the two men learned that when Arthur died, Obergefell would not be listed on the death certificate as Arthur's surviving spouse.That spawned a federal court lawsuit, and Obergefell's case and others was taken up by the U.S. Supreme Court, which legalized same sex marriage in all 50 states in its "Obergefell v. Hodges" ruling in June 2015.Obergefell, who lived with Arthur in Cincinnati for many years, now divides his time between Cincy and Washington, D.C.In a phone interview, the 1984 Sandusky High School graduate said he still returns to Sandusky frequently to see relatives and friends. He doesn't go to Cedar Point, but likes to munch on Cameo's pizza and Berardi's French fries and visit the Quarry Hill Winery in Berlin Heights, where an old friend works.Obergefell said work on the book was intense. It began in July and finished in January, so that the book could be released quickly. The two worked hard writing and researching, with Cenziper writing the first draft and the two then trading comments and changes."There was an incredible amount of back and forth," said Obergefell, who said working on the book helped him grieve over Arthur's October 2013 death. Obergefell found himself crying a lot, but also smiling and laughing as he remembered the good times.Although the book focuses on Obergefell and Arthur, the civil rights lawyer who filed the original lawsuit, Al Gerhardstein, also emerges as a major character in the book."That's one of the decisions I made right from the beginning," Obergefell said. "It was really important to include Al as much as we did. He's such a wonderful man, such a champion of human rights." Although Gerhardstein had never argued a case before the U.S. Supreme Court, he gave up his opportunity to argue in the Obergefell v. Hodges case after becoming convinced another lawyer would do a better job."His decision to do what he thought was best for the plaintiff and the case was just another example of what a good man he is, absolutely in character for him," Obergefell said.Fox 2000 bought movie rights to turn "Love Wins" into a major motion picture. The screenwriter for the project, Chris Weitz, is hard at work, Obergefell reports. Obergefell helped Weitz by showing the writer around Cincinnati.Weitz wrote the screenplay for "About a Boy," a Hugh Grant comedy that is one of Obergefell's favorite movies. He also co-wrote the script for "Rogue One," the Star Wars movie that will be released in December.Weitz is supposed to finish the screenplay in August or September, and then the producers will start talking to potential directors, Obergefell said. No decision has been made yet on where to film the picture.We tried to get Obergefell to suggest which Hollywood actors should portray him and Arthur, but he wouldn't bite."For me, it's such an odd thing to think about," he said. "All I care about is the actors who bring the most heart and soul to the parts."Want to Go?WHAT: "An Evening With Jim." Sandusky native Jim Obergefell speaks about his new book, "Love Wins," and his career as an "accidental activist."WHEN: 5 p.m. Sunday, July 17.WHERE: State Room, Sandusky State Theatre, 107 Columbus Ave.COST: Free. Books will be available to be purchased and autographed.Jim Obergefell, wearing one of his trademark bow ties. John Arthur and Jim Obergefell during a 2006 trip to Sweden. The two loved to travel; Obergefell did most of the planning and worrying for such trips. Civil rights attorney Al Gerhardstein, left, with Jim Obergefell shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court decision. Debbie Cenziper, an award-winning journalist at the Washington Post who co-authored "Love Wins."