Remember Zach Wahls? He’s the 19-year-old Iowa kid with two moms who gave a speech about family last February that went mega-viral to the tune of 17 million views.
“Our family isn’t so different from any other Iowa family,” he said. “When I’m home, we go to church together. We eat dinner. We go on vacations. But we have our hard times, too. We get in fights. My mom Terry was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2000. It’s a devastating disease that put her in a wheelchair, so we’ve had our struggles.
“But we’re Iowans. We don’t expect anyone to solve our problems for us. We’ll fight our battles.”
Wahls has spent the past year working as an activist and writing a book, My Two Moms, which details what it’s like to grow up with two moms. (Hint: It’s a lot like growing up with one mom and one dad, except the two moms are more likely to have the same color towels.)
Last night, Wahls reemerged on the biggest stage of all, speaking on behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) equality at the Democratic National Convention.
Wahls spoke briefly, but he also spoke poignantly. He told Democratic delegates that he was dismayed to see Republicans consider the idea of same sex marriage to be so radical.
“Governor Romney says he’s against same-sex marriage because every child deserves a mother and a father,” Wahls said. “I think every child deserves a family as loving and committed as mine.
“Because the sense of family comes from the commitment we make to each other to work through the hard times so we can enjoy the good ones. It comes from the love that binds us; that’s what makes a family. Mr. Romney, my family is just as real as yours.
“President Obama understands that. He supports my moms’ marriage. President Obama put his political future on the line to do what was right. Without his leadership, we wouldn’t be here. President Obama is fighting for our families—all of our families. He has our backs. We have his.”
Photo via YouTube
