In January 2011, then 19-year old Zach Wahls spoke before the Iowa House Judiciary Committee ahead of a vote that would have repealed same-sex marriage in the state. A video of his speech was uploaded to YouTube that evening, and in the hours and days that followed, Wahls found himself thrust into the national gay rights debate.
Wahls has since worked on gay acceptance in the Boy Scouts of America and has toured the country, speaking to students in colleges and high schools. He's also written a New York Times bestseller, “My Two Moms,” which brings him to Atlanta for a June 27 reading at the Friends School, sponsored by Charis Books & More and Atlanta Pride.
GA Voice spoke with Wahls about growing up with two moms, his goals and aspirations for the future, and why it's important to put the toilet seat down.
Students from across the country will protest anti-gay bullying by remaining silent during the Friday, April 19, school day as part of the annual National Day of Silence.
The event, organized by the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) since 2001, is meant to highlight the need for bully-free safe schools for all students, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.
According to GLSEN, nearly nine out of 10 LGBT students experience harassment in American schools each year, while 60 percent of LGBT youth report feeling “unsafe” at school because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.