COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Jim Obergerfell is the lead plaintiff in the gay marriage case and Phil Burris is the leader of the organization that has worked in nearly every state to ban gay marriage.

They are practically neighbors, but they are worlds apart.

“We are born this way. We don’t choose this,” said Obergerfell.

“That’s a bunch of garbage; that you’re born that way. We’re all born heterosexual,” said Burris.

Burris firmly believes gay marriage is wrong and homosexuality is a choice, “We know gender identity confusion is real, and I actually served my wife and I served on a board for four and a half years helping people who wanted to walk away. We saw hundreds of people walk away from homosexuality.”

Obergerfell said being gay is not a choice. The only ‘choice” he made was to marry the love of his life, John Arthur, who was dying from ALS when they flew to Maryland where they could legally marry.

Now Obergerfell wants Ohio to recognize the marriage, so his name can go on his husband’s death certificate.

“We are simply two people who loved each other. All we want and all we are asking for is the same respect, the same responsibilities and the same rights as everyone else. So it’s very hurtful to be told that we don’t deserve it; we’re not natural; we don’t deserve those same things.”

“There is a lot of hatred out there towards us. And that is something we will have to continue to fight,” said Obergerfell.

“We have to stand firm that marriage is between one man and one woman, and if the Supreme Court rules, as far as we are concerned, they are ruling wrong and we will not accept it.”