Speaker discusses equality
“Whenever I tell people I have two moms, I get a lot of questions,” said author and equality activist Zach Wahls. “If it’s a college guy asking me, the question is always, ‘Dude, are your moms hot?’”
Wahls gave a speech entitled “Zach Wahls—What Makes a Family,” on Sept. 24 in UIndy Hall A. The speech focused on Wahls’ experience growing up as the son of lesbians and his biography “My Two Moms: Lessons of Love, Strength, and What Makes a Family.” Wahls also answered questions about LGBT rights, particularly about marriage.
Senior sociology major and President of UIndy PRIDE Josh Ford said that PRIDE and Campus Program Board decided to invite Wahls to UIndy.
“I think bringing him to campus will enable UIndy students to hear a perspective they have not heard before in regards to marriage equality,” Ford said.
In January of 2011, Wahls spoke before the Iowa House of Representatives, which was proposing legislation to ban gay marriage in Iowa. The video of his three-minute speech was filmed and went on YouTube, where it received more than 1.5 million views in two weeks.
Speaker Zach Wahls shows the video that went viral on YouTube, causing him to be known as an activist for marriage equality during his speech in UIndy Hall A. Photo by James Figy.
“An intern had filmed that on a flip phone, then uploaded it to YouTube,” Wahls said. “I had no idea I was being filmed and even 19 months later, it is hard to believe I have gotten so much publicity.”
As a young man, Wahls found he had a love of debate and acting, like his mother Terry Wahls, who acted in college. But he said love for his family is why he speaks.
“I do not personally view myself as an activist, but many do,” Wahls said. “My mothers were and still are very proud of that video, of how on a national level I displayed the love our family has.”
Wahls said that he and his sister were conceived via artificial insemination from the same donor, making them full siblings. Their mother has been with their other mother, Jackie Reger, since 1994. The couple had a wedding ceremony in 1996.
“Everything about that wedding—serving as ring bearer, giving my mom Terry away, even giving the best man’s toast when I told everyone how the first time I met Jackie I got sick on her—is the metaphor of our family,” Wahls said.
Sophomore Spanish major Jessica Angon said that Wahls was dynamic.
“I thought it was very insightful, inspiring and relatable. I would definitely recommend this to a friend,” Angon said.
Director of Engineering for WICR and UIndy TV as well as faculty advisor to UIndy PRIDE Joseph Boehnlein said he enjoyed the speech.
“He was fantastic, well spoken and showed that he is educated on the issues,” Boehnlein said. “I know he makes his parents proud.”
