“I was raised by a gay couple and I’m doing pretty well. I scored in the 99th percentile on the ACT. I’m actually an Eagle Scout, I own and operate my own small business. If I was your son Mr. Chairman, I believe I’d make you very proud.
I’m not really so different from any of your children. My family really isn’t so different from yours. After all, your family doesn’t derive its sense of worth by being told by the state, “You’re married, congratulations.” No, 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 us a family.
So what you’re voting here isn’t to change us. It’s not to change our families. It’s to change how the law views us, how the law treats us. You are voting for the first time in the history of our state to codify discrimination into our constitution… a constitution that, but for the proposed amendment, is the least amended constitution in the United States. You’re telling Iowans that some among you are second-class citizens who do not have the right to marry the person you love.
So will this vote affect my family? Will it affect yours? Over the next two hours, I’m sure we’re going to hear plenty of testimony about how damaging having gay parents is on kids. But 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. And you know why? Because the sexual orientation of my parents has had ZERO effect on the content of my character. Thank you very much. ”
- Zach Wahls, a 19-year-old Univ. of Iowa engineering student, who spoke before the Iowa House of Representatives against a resolution proposing a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage in Iowa. The resolution passed 62-37. Watch the wonderful, riveting three-minute speech here.
Being the child of a gay mom, this speech has me fist pumping SO HARD RIGHT NOW. I remember having similar conversations with my peers in high school over grimy cafeteria lunches. Good for you, Zach Wahls. Thanks for taking a stand.
