Zach Wahls takes his message of marriage equality national

Zach Wahls, whose impassioned pro-gay marriage speech to Iowa legislators became the most-watched political clip of 2011 on YouTube after going viral twice last year, will soon take his message to the national level.

An entire generation of children raised by LGBT parents is starting to speak up and tell the truth about their families.

Zach Wahls will serve as co-chair for “The Outspoken Generation,” the Family Equality Council’s national youth advocacy initiative involving the young adult children of LGBT parents. Joining him will be Ella Robinson, the daughter of Bishop Gene Robinson who is the first openly gay person to be ordained a bishop in a major Christian denomination.

“A family is a group of people who love each other,” Wahls — whose new book, “My Two Moms,” will be released later this month — says in a video clip about the project. “If you’re willing to put in the blood, sweat, toil and tears…if you’re willing to make the commitment and demonstrate the love that it takes to successfully raise a young, healthy, well-rounded adult… who you are is so much less important than what you do.”

“We are now seeing the first generation of children, who were lovingly raised by LGBT parents, coming into young adulthood,” Family Equality Council Executive Director Jennifer Chrisler said in an email statement. “We know, from our conversations with these young people and from our experience with them, that they are terrific kids who are thriving and succeeding in life by any measure you choose to use. Many of them are now telling us that they are eager to tell the truth about their families. Who better to refute the myths and lies of hate groups like [National Organization for Marriage] than our grown up children?”

Zach is as impressive as you get. If this is the future of America, we’re in great hands.

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Zach Wahls speaks at GLAAD Media Awards NYC 2012

Last night writer & LGBT advocate Zach Wahls took the stage at the GLAAD Media Awards in New York to share anecdotes from his personal journey following his speech in front of the Iowa House of Representatives which was the most-watched political clip of 2011 according to Youtube.

He talked about the impact of his video, including changing the mind of a soldier on marriage equality and building confidence in a lesbian woman to become a mother. He also spoke jokingly about questions he gets asked about growing up with two mothers. Zach was particularly funny in offering his answer to one question about his moms – “which one is the man” – by saying “that’s like looking at chop sticks and asking ‘which one is the fork?'”

“Since that speech went viral back in February of 2011, I’ve been all over the country, from California to New York, down to Florida, continuing to share my story and have this conversation about gay marriage or as I like to call it, marriage,” said Zach Wahls.

I think this guy rocks. Amazing to think he’s so young and yet so articulate.

“My Two Moms: Lessons of Love, Strength, and What Makes a Family” by Zach Wahls

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.”

To be released on April 26th.

Check it out on Amazon.

To remind you how fantastic a man Zach Wahls is, take a look at his amazing speech that made him famous:

Zach Wahls marriage equality speech “Most viewed political video of 2011”

Any reason is a good reason to revisit the impressive Zach Wahls speak on behalf of LGBT families in Iowa.

“Surpassing the President and various presidential hopefuls in views, the #1 video on our list comes from a young man in Iowa speaking candidly to his government. Zach Wahls’ 3 minute speech defending gay marriage has been viewed more than 18 million times.”

Here’s the full list of the most-viewed political videos from the YouTube News and Politics category:

1. Zach Wahls speaks about family
2. President Obama at the 2011 White House Correspondents’ Dinner
3. Strong [Rick Perry ad]
4. President Obama on death of Osama bin Laden
5. Brother, can you spare a trillion? Government gone wild!
6. Seth Meyers remarks at the 2011 White House Correspondents’ Dinner
7. Rick Perry – Proven Leadership
8. Jon Stewart Goes Head-to-Head Bill O’Reilly
9. Now is the time for action! [Herman Cain ad]
10. President Barack Obama’s First Ad of 2012 [NRSC Ad]

In all, the videos on this list account for over 50 million views, demonstrating that there is significant interest in political video on YouTube before the primaries have even begun. For all the key moments in online political video during the coming election, visit YouTube.com/Politics. For more of YouTube’s most-viewed videos of 2011, visit YouTube.com/Rewind.

Zach Wahls & Family Join the NOH8 Campaign

Zach Wahls and his mothers for the NoH8 Campaign – click to enlarge

From the NoH8campaign: University of Iowa student Zach Wahls became a familiar face among the LGBT community earlier this year when a video went viral of Zach delivering an impassioned speech about his family and growing up with gay parents to the Iowa House of Representatives.

Zach’s speech was in response to an Iowa bill that would have ended civil unions in Iowa, and the response to the simple elegance and power of the speech fueled the video to spread throughout the internet overnight, gaining several million hits.

Zach’s mothers were honored at the Eychaner Foundation’s Matthew Shepard Scholarship Awards Dinner. While in attendance, Co-Founders Adam Bouska and Jeff Parshley (who were also headlining the event) had the chance to speak with Terry Wahls and Jacqueline Reger.

As luck would have it, Zach was scheduled to be in town the very next day – so Team NOH8 rented a car and drove out to Iowa City to meet with Zach’s family and photograph them for the campaign.

For anyone who may have missed this young man’s amazing speech, here it is. Watch this 3 minute speech, and feel good about the future of America:

Thomas Roberts catches up with Zach Wahls on MSNBC

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MSNBC’s Thomas Roberts catches up with Iowa teen Zach Wahls as he prepares to accept an award in New York from the Family Equality Council for his February speech to the Iowa legislature in support of marriage equality and his moms.

Click here to see his fantastic speech supporting marriage equality in Iowa at the Iowa Legislature.

I was and continue to be so impressed by this guy. His parents must be beside themselves that he’s so well spoken, thoughtful and articulate.

I want this guy to run for public office! Go Zach!

Zach Wahls – a new American hero

Prepared to be knocked out by Zach Wahls, a 19 year old University of Iowa student.

Zach spoke at the public forum debating the House Joint Resolution 6, which would strip away marriage equality in Iowa. Zach clearly makes his two moms proud. America should be proud to see someone speak so clearly, confidently and securely about who he is, who his family is and what a family really is.

I’m really proud to post this. Remember the name Zach Wahls. We all should.

Now sit back, watch and listen for 3 minutes. THIS is what the future of America can look like. Congratulations to Zach’s moms. Good job.