The Lovers and Lawyers Who Fought the Landmark Case for Marriage Equality
by Debbie Cenziper, Jim Obergefell
Critics' Opinion:
Readers' rating:
Published Jun 2016
304 pages
Genre: History, Current Affairs and Religion
Publication Information
The fascinating and very moving story of the lovers, lawyers, judges and activists behind the groundbreaking Supreme Court case that led to one of the most important, national civil rights victories in decades— - the legalization of same-sex marriage.
In June 2015, the Supreme Court made same-sex marriage the law in all fifty states in a decision as groundbreaking as Roe v Wade and Brown v Board of Education. Through insider accounts and access to key players, this definitive account reveals the dramatic and previously unreported events behind Obergefell v Hodges and the lives at its center. This is a story of law and love - and a promise made to a dying man who wanted to know how he would be remembered.
Twenty years ago, Jim Obergefell and John Arthur fell in love in Cincinnati, Ohio, a place where gays were routinely picked up by police and fired from their jobs. In 2013, the Supreme Court ruled that the federal government had to provide married gay couples all the benefits offered to straight couples. Jim and John - who was dying from ALS - flew to Maryland, where same-sex marriage was legal. But back home, Ohio refused to recognize their union, or even list Jim's name on John's death certificate. Then they met Al Gerhardstein, a courageous attorney who had spent nearly three decades advocating for civil rights and who now saw an opening for the cause that few others had before him.
This forceful and deeply affecting narrative - Part Erin Brockovich, part Milk, part Still Alice - chronicles how this grieving man and his lawyer, against overwhelming odds, introduced the most important gay rights case in U.S. history. It is an urgent and unforgettable account that will inspire readers for many years to come.
"Starred Review. Told with a novel's narrative drive…. Taut, tense, and highly readable.... A remarkably rich portrait of America…. An excellent choice for book groups looking for exciting nonfiction." - Booklist
"This gripping portrayal of the pivotal moment in the fight for marriage equality in Ohio includes childhood memories and romance as well as tense moments in court." - Publishers Weekly
"A fascinating look at the fight for gay marriage and at the experiences of gay couples and families. Recommended for public libraries." - Library Journal
"Uplifting, well-written story of personal courage and political empowerment." - Kirkus
"Th[is] gripping narrative conveys how the fatal illness of one man and the question for justice of another led to the important decision that said the right to marry applies to all Americans." - Los Angeles Times
"Deeply reported, vividly detailed, utterly humane… Grabs the reader and never lets go… an exemplary account that anyone, no matter his or her ideological orientation, might read with both pleasure and insight." - The Charlotte Observer
"Bring the tissues for this powerful tale of the triumph of marriage equality. ... A downright joy to read. It's a rare and special feeling to be alive for moments of world-changing history. " - Washington Post
"It's quite rare that LGBTQ history gets told right the first time. ... To the benefit of every LGBTQ reader and history buff who will enjoy this book, we won't be left questioning its authenticity or intent." - Philadelphia Magazine
"Human details make the book a fascinating read… Its best passages are about the people whose stories launched a movement that changed the law." - Cincinnati Enquirer
"Love Wins is a real winner and expertly crafted. You can tell it's going to make a great movie." - Bob Woodward
"A tender story, inspiring, and ultimately a huge celebration ... You will never forget Jim Obergefell and his lawyer Al Gerhardstein, two men who fought with every ounce of will they could muster. This book will become a classic." - Erin Brockovich
"Rarely does a book of such uncommon beauty come around, one that digs beneath the headlines to its human heart." - John Grogan, author of Marley & Me and The Longest Trip Home
"Beautifully told and carefully researched ... Though love may not always win, America really does stand for liberty and justice for all." - Kathleen Parker, syndicated Washington Post columnist
This information about Love Wins was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Debbie Cenziper, an investigative reporter for the Washington Post, has won major prizes in American journalism including the Pulitzer Prize, the Robert F. Kennedy Award for Journalism, and the Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting. She has held reporting positions at the Miami Herald and the Charlotte Observer, grew up in Philadelphia, and graduated from the University of Florida. She lives in Washington, DC.
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