I’m not sure how I stumbled across this, but the video made…get some dust in my eye. Zach Wahls is a 19 year old engineering major at the University of Iowa and he’s addressing the Iowa House of Representatives about his childhood and his parents. He’s a great speaker.
I think his draw is that he’s so tall/handsome/articulate plus his list of accomplishments. Wouldn’t have worked if he were some little guy. He’s a huge asset; I hope others join him.
He looks and seems like the kid we all want to be our 19 year old son. Handsome, smart, well spoken, considerate, realistic and mature. Not the basket case the “think of the children” set want you to think of when they make the “think of the children” argument over gay marriage. Powerful.
The issue has come into sharper focus for me as I plan my own wedding. My soon to be brother in law is gay, in a long term relationship with his partner, and they are also planning to get married.
My Druidess and I can get married anywhere. People would love to have our business, merchants, vendors all wish us happy tidings, we can have any venue, etc. My soon to be brother in law can’t do those things. There are very few places where he can even get married. His relationship is fundamentally no different than mine…he loves his partner as I do my Druidess. He wants to spend a lifetime with his partner same as I do with mine. But he does not have the same opportunities I do, just because he happens to be gay.
That’s not fair. I hope it changes, soon. I’d be proud to attend his wedding, just as he and his partner will attend mine.
I had heard his speech on the radio driving home from work. Without knowing what he looked like, I was still very impressed by his honesty and his public speaking skills.
If you’re not already in love with him, here’s a short Q&A. He gives a shout out to the other people who spoke that night, supports feminism and calls his biological mom his role model. Someone sweet and good, marry him!