50 years ago, John Fryer, M.D., uttered the historic words at APA’s Annual Meeting: “I am a homosexual. I am a psychiatrist.”

This watershed moment ultimately led to the removal of homosexuality from the DSM.

At this session, APA CEO and Medical Director Saul Levin, M.D., M.P.A. will honor Dr. Fryer's memory and this moment with an interview with civil rights activist Jim Obergefell, the named plaintiff from the landmark marriage equality case Obergefell v. Hodges.

Obergefell will be presented with the special John Fryer 50^th Anniversary Speech Award for his courage and conviction to equality for LGBTQI Americans, and will share his story. Levin and Obergefell will reflect on John Fryer’s speech and how the spirit of his words—equality for all—still needs to be fully implemented.

About Jim Obergefell

Jim Obergefell, the named plaintiff from the landmark marriage equality case Obergefell v. Hodges, is a speaker represented by Keppler Speakers, and he was previously the Director of Special Events with Family Equality.

He sits on the Board of Advisors of the Mattachine Society of Washington, D.C. and the National Advisory Council of the GLBT Historical Society. Jim also previously served on the Board of Directors of SAGE.

Merging a love of wine with his fight for equality, Jim co-founded Equality Vines, the first cause-based wine label, to support organizations devoted to equality for all.

Jim co-authored the book Love Wins, published by William Morrow, and he has written book forewords, chapters, and afterwords as well as essays and Op-Eds.

After previous careers as a high school German teacher, corporate trainer, relationship manager, software education consultant, and real estate agent, Jim now focuses on the ongoing fight for equality for all.

Born and raised in Sandusky, Ohio, Jim returned to his hometown in 2021 after living in Cincinnati, Ohio; Columbus, Ohio; and Washington, D.C.