Because Love Is Worth Fighting For. Always.

Pride Month Reflections - Honoring Our Journey and Fighting for Our Future

Last year, I wrote about marriage equality—what it meant to me personally as a husband and father, and why it still matters in the broader fight for LGBTQ+ rights. That post still holds true. But as we enter Pride Month this year, with anti-LGBTQ+ legislation mounting across the country, I feel called to revisit it—not just to honor the joy of how far we’ve come, but to remind us all that the work for equality is far from over.

In 2006, I met my husband, Derek, at Gold’s Gym in Hollywood. The connection was instant. Ten years later, we were married in Santa Margarita, California. An outdoor June wedding, on Father’s Day, surrounded by friends and family. Even in 106-degree heat, it was still the Best. Day. Ever. That day wasn’t just about love—it was about finally being seen and protected by the law.

Derek & David at their wedding in 2016. Photography by Jeff Newsom

Marriage equality changed everything for us. It gave our family legal grounding and emotional reassurance. We no longer had to explain or justify our relationship to systems that had long ignored us. As gay parents, that legal recognition gave us the peace of mind every family deserves.

Now, our son is 20 years old. We’ve raised him with love, structure, and stability—just like any other family. And while much has changed since those early years of paperwork headaches and awkward questions, we still know what it feels like to be quietly scrutinized, to be assumed “other,” or to be made to explain ourselves in spaces that were never built with us in mind.

That’s why marriage equality still matters—not just for us, but for every couple and every family who deserves to be respected, protected, and seen.

Because those awkward moments? They’re more than just uncomfortable—they’re reminders that marriage equality wasn’t the finish line. It was the foundation.

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Why We Still Need the Equality Act

The Equality Act remains essential. Though it passed the U.S. House of Representatives in 2019 and again in 2021, it stalled in the Senate both times. At its core, this bill would expand existing federal civil rights laws to explicitly protect LGBTQ+ people in employment, housing, education, credit, jury service, and public accommodations.

Right now, whether or not you can be fired, denied housing, or refused service because of who you are often depends on the state you live in. In over half the country, LGBTQ+ people still face legal discrimination in everyday life simply for being who they are. (See the Equality Map)

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And It’s Getting Worse, Not Better

States across the U.S. are passing laws that limit LGBTQ+ rights under the guise of “parental choice” or “religious freedom.” The ACLU is tracking 588 Anti-LGBTQ bills in the U.S. From bans on gender-affirming care to censorship of LGBTQ+ topics in schools, these laws send a clear and chilling message: our identities are up for debate.

In Idaho, lawmakers recently passed a resolution urging the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges—the decision that made marriage equality the law of the land. While mostly symbolic, it’s a stark reminder that the rights many of us fought for and celebrated are still not guaranteed.

Marriage equality gave us protection in one sphere—but not in all. That’s why we still need federal protections like the Equality Act. We shouldn’t have to cross state lines to feel safe, seen, or treated fairly.

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So Here’s What I’ll Add This Year:

Our love deserves not just to be recognized—but to be respected, protected, and treated equally under the law.

And to those trying to erase our stories, our families, or our heroes—know this:

You can strip us from websites.
You can remove books about us from classrooms.
You can rename Navy ships out of spite and bigotry.
But you cannot erase us.

We are here.

As Harvey Milk once said, “Hope will never be silent.”

And neither will we.

This Pride Month, let’s celebrate what we’ve built. Let’s tell our stories. And let’s keep pushing—not just for ourselves, but for every LGBTQ+ person who deserves to live openly, safely, and with dignity.

Because love is worth fighting for. Always.

Now get out there this Pride season, hold your head up high, and shout from the rooftops:

We are here. We are queer. And we are not going anywhere.

Be bold. Be free. Be you.

— David

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Where to Find Up-to-Date LGBTQ+ Law Information

Websites that track LGBTQ+ laws and policies in the U.S. and worldwide. Here are some reliable ones:

1. The Movement Advancement Project (MAP)

   — www.lgbtmap.org

   MAP offers detailed, up-to-date maps and reports on LGBTQ+ laws by state, including non-discrimination protections, relationship recognition, health care, and more.

2. Human Rights Campaign (HRC)

   — www.hrc.org

   HRC tracks state and federal legislation affecting LGBTQ+ rights, with news updates and resources.

3. National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE)

   — transequality.org

   NCTE tracks laws specifically related to transgender rights across the U.S.

4. Lambda Legal

   — www.lambdalegal.org

   Provides legal updates and cases involving LGBTQ+ rights and protections.

5. ACLU LGBTQ Rights

   — www.aclu.org/issues/lgbt-rights

   Tracks major legislative and legal developments affecting LGBTQ+ people.

For quick visual state-by-state breakdowns, the Movement Advancement Project’s Equality Maps is one of the best resources.

Photo by Yoav Hornung on Unsplash