Federal Judge Extends Order Recognizing Gay Couple's Marriage

A federal judge has extended a temporary order mandating that the state of Ohio recognize their out-of-state marriage.
The couple, James Obergefell and John Arthur of Cincinnati, married aboard a medical transport plane parked on the tarmac of a Baltimore airport. Arthur is dying from Lou Gehrig's Disease and would like to be buried in a family plot next to his husband.
Judge Timothy Black extended his previous order, set to expire on Monday, until December 31, NBC affiliate WLWT reported. The couple is asking for a permanent order against the state to recognize their marriage. Judge Black will hear oral arguments in the case on December 18.
The order allows Arthur to be listed as married on his death certificate, with Obergefell listed as his surviving spouse.

Arthur and Obergefell, both 47, have been together for more than 20 years. A candlelight vigil in downtown Cincinnati in honor of the couple was held earlier this month.
“It's beyond words,” Obergefell said. “We've been touched by people from across the world. … This is just unbelievable.”
Ohio officials have vowed to defend the state's marriage laws and 2004 constitutional amendment limiting marriage to heterosexual couples.