This June, one of our founding partners, Derek Mergele-Rust, is getting married. That alone is reason to celebrate. For Derek, and for so many in the LGBTQ+ community, it’s also a moment that wasn’t always guaranteed.
Just a few years ago, a wedding like his — joyful, legal, and publicly affirmed — would have been unthinkable. The love was always real, but the law refused to recognize it.
We are where we are today because generations of LGBTQ+ people marched, fought, grieved, organized, and demanded more. From the first brick thrown at Stonewall to the decades of advocacy that followed, Pride has never only been about celebration. It began as protest, a radical act of visibility in a society that criminalized queer existence.
The Law Caught Up, Eventually
Pride reminds us that change is not inevitable. It is something we fight for.
In 2003, Lawrence v. Texas struck down sodomy laws across the United States, finally decriminalizing same-sex intimacy. Before that ruling, LGBTQ+ people could still be arrested and prosecuted simply for loving one another, especially in states like Texas.
Then, in 2015, the Supreme Court issued a landmark decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, granting same-sex couples the constitutional right to marry. For the first time, LGBTQ+ Americans could access the same legal protections, benefits, and recognition that heterosexual couples had long taken for granted.
These cases did more than change the law. They changed lives.
They made weddings like Derek’s possible.
They made families more secure.
They gave legal language to love.
“Getting married this year feels both deeply personal and profoundly political,” Derek shared. “I know that I’m standing on the shoulders of people who risked everything to make this moment possible for me and so many others. Pride is about honoring that legacy and protecting it.”
Why Pride Still Matters
Pride is not just a parade or a rainbow logo. It is a reflection of how far we’ve come, and a reminder of how much further we must go.
The rights LGBTQ+ people have today remain under threat. In recent years, we have seen lawmakers attempt to roll back hard-won freedoms, from anti-trans legislation to efforts that undermine marriage equality. Pride is not just a celebration. It is a call to remain vigilant, visible, and vocal.
At DebnamRust, Pride lives in our work. It shows up in how we advocate for chosen families, protect LGBTQ+ parents, and create estate plans and family law strategies that affirm the identities and relationships of every client we serve. For Derek, Pride means being able to say “I do” with both dignity and full legal recognition.
This month, we are not just celebrating a wedding. We are celebrating progress, and the people who made it possible, one act of resistance, one act of visibility, and one act of Pride at a time.
If you are ready to protect your love, your family, or your legacy, we are here to help.
Schedule a consultation with our affirming legal team and let’s make sure your rights are protected, during Pride Month and beyond.