Fri 4 Feb 2011 In: International News View at Wayback View at NDHA
Zach Wahls A stirring speech by the 19-year-old son of lesbian parents who tried to convince Iowa legislators not to revoke their right to be married has become an internet sensation. Zach Wahls is a University of Iowa engineering student and Eagle Scout whose words have had more than half a million hits on YouTube. He urged Iowa officials not to pass a constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage and civil unions. "In my 19 years, not once have I ever been confronted by an individual who realized independently that I was raised by a gay couple," said Wahls. "And you know why? Because the sexual orientation of my parents has had zero affect on the content of my character." Introducing himself as a "six-generation Iowan," Wahls said he had achieved the Boy Scouts' highest rank and attained a 99th percentile on his college aptitude test. "If I was your son, Mr. Chairman, I believe I would make you very proud," he testified. "I'm not really so different from any of your children, said Wahls. "My family really isn't so different from yours. After all, your family doesn't derive its sense of worth from being told by the state, 'You're married, congratulations!'" However stirring, his speech did not convince legislators to stop progress on the marriage ban. Three Democrats joined 59 Republicans to vote in favour of amending the Constitution to ban gay marriage, which passed by a 62-37 vote. If approved by legislators and voters in 2013, the amendment to the constitution would ban gay marriage, civil unions, domestic partnerships and any government recognition of gay and lesbian couples in the state
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Friday, 4th February 2011 - 11:47am