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Biography & Autobiography. Family & Relationships. Nonfiction. On January 31, 2011, Zach Wahls addressed the Iowa House Judiciary Committee in a public forum regarding civil unions. The nineteen-year-old son of a same-sex couple, Wahls proudly proclaimed, "The sexual orientation of my parents has had zero effect on the content of my character." Hours later, his speech was posted on YouTube, where it went viral, quickly receiving more than two million views. By the end of the week, everyone knew his name and wanted to hear more from the boy with two moms.Same-sex marriage will be a major-possibly the defining-issue in next year's election cycle, and Wahls speaks to that, but also to a broader issue. Sure, he's handsome and athletic, an environmental engineering student, and an Eagle Scout. Yet, growing up with two moms, he knows what it's like to feel different and to fear being made fun of or worse. In the inspirational spirit of It Gets Better edited by Dan Savage and Terry Miller, My Two Moms also delivers a reassuring message to same-sex couples, their kids, and anyone who's ever felt like an outsider: "You are not alone.".… (more)
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But none of this is what gained Zach Wahls the publicity that he's recently enjoyed - an appearance on The Daily Show, a slot at the Democratic National Convention. Zach Wahls became famous when his testimony before the Iowa House of Representatives went viral. Zach was speaking out in favor of marriage equality because he was raised by two moms. Zach has since become an activist for LGBT rights, and he argues for marriage equality like the champion debater he is, putting forth logical arguments to support his points.
But it is his personal experience that really sets this book apart. It is clear that Zach's moms, Terry and Jackie, were excellent parents even while dealing with Terry's struggles with MS. They were not able to be legally married for most of Zach's childhood, but as Zach says that didn't stop them from being a family. ". . . 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." It did stop them from enjoying the rights of a married couple, however, until in 2009, the Iowa Supreme Court struck down the ban on same-sex marriage.