My Two Moms: Lessons of Love, Strength, and What Makes a Family

by Zach Wahls

Overview

A resounding testament to individuality and the power of family in all forms from the young man who “lit up the Internet” (Ellen DeGeneres)

On January 31, 2011, Zach Wahls addressed the Iowa House Judiciary Committee in a public forum regarding full marriage equality. The nineteen-year-old son of a same-sex couple, Wahls proudly proclaimed, “The sexual orientation of my parents has had zero effect on the content of my character.” Hours later, his speech was posted on YouTube, where it went viral, quickly receiving more than two million views. By the end of the week, everyone knew his name and wanted to hear more from the boy with two moms.

Same-sex marriage will be a major—possibly the defining—issue in this year’s election cycle, and Wahls speaks to that, but also to a broader issue.  Sure, he’s handsome and athletic, an environmental engineering student, and an Eagle Scout. Yet, growing up with two moms, he knows what it’s like to feel different and to fear being made fun of or worse. In the inspirational spirit of It Gets Better edited by Dan Savage and Terry Miller, My Two Moms also delivers a reassuring message to same-sex couples, their kids, and anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider: “You are not alone.”

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781101580639
Publisher:	Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date:	04/26/2012
Sold by:	Penguin Group
Format:	eBook
Pages:	256
File size:	2 MB
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Zach Wahls is a twenty-year-old engineering student at the University of Iowa. He lives in Iowa City, Iowa.

Bruce Littlefield is a bestselling author and journalist whose work has appeared in The New York Times, People, and the Chicago Tribune, among other publications. He lives in New York City.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Here he expands on his life story, speaking to all those who feel like outsiders. A needed book, and Wahls is a known quantity." —-Library Journal

Editorial Reviews

This is a wonderful book. You will love it, you will weep at times. It is an incredible demonstration of the power of real values.”—Jon Stewart

“He lit up the Internet when he delivered a passionate plea to the Iowa House of Representatives in support of gay marriage. Take a look at him . . . a hero.”—Ellen DeGeneres

“The most extraordinary thing about his family is its ordinariness and its foundation on that extraordinary substrate called love.”—The Washington Post

“This book is full of so many practical, often simple, commonsense lessons, quotations, and tips on being a parent, on being a kid—frankly, just being a good person.”—The Huffington Post

“Wahls writes an inspirational book about the power of family and love, no matter what form it takes. If this kid is any indication of future generations . . . we are in very good hands.”—Modern Tonic

“Few people have such a moving personal tribute to the power of motherhood.”—The Daily Beast

“Wahls’s heart is in the right place. A sincere first effort that aims to chip away at stereotypes surrounding same-sex parents.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Wahls has a fresh voice, and while still relatively young, his evenhandedness and willingness to use his own experiences to address larger social issues is admirable and will likely appeal to all walks of life.”—Publishers Weekly

“A remarkably engaging, moving story of his experiences, both normal and out of the ordinary. . . . A compelling book that has something for all audiences. All things considered, any reader would be hard-pressed to deny that, if the outcome is any indication, his moms transcended normalcy and did an extraordinary job raising him.”—Windy City Times

“He takes on every argument against marriage equality and calmly topples them. My Two Moms augurs Zach Wahls’ inevitable career in politics. America will be the better for it.”—Chronogram

From the Publisher

He lit up the Internet when he delivered a passionate plea to the Iowa House of Representatives in support of gay marriage. Take a look at him … a hero.”

Ellen DeGeneres

This is a wonderful book. You will love it, you will weep at times. It is an incredible demonstration of the power of real values.”

Jon Stewart

With the assistance of Littlefield (co-author: The Truth Advantage: The 7 Keys to a Happy and Fulfilling Life, 2011, etc.), Wahls writes about growing up as the son of gay parents in the heartland. In January 2011, the author, then a student at the University of Iowa, testified before the Iowa House Judiciary Committee as they considered a state constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. In a short speech, Wahls talked about being raised by two lesbians and how his childhood was no different than those of children raised by heterosexual couples. The speech was aimed at dismantling the myth that kids are damaged by having gay parents, and it was effective: The YouTube video of the speech was viewed more than 18 million times, and Wahls appeared on national TV talk shows, including The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Here the author expands on his speech, discussing the values that his parents helped to instill in him, naming chapters after aspects of the Boy Scout law: "Trustworthy," "Courteous," "Reverent." (Wahls takes pride in his scouting experience, repeatedly mentioning that he is an Eagle Scout, but he disagrees with the Boy Scouts of America's official policy banning gays from leadership positions.) Some of the author's stories are quite moving--particularly those addressing his mother Terry's multiple sclerosis--but many of Wahls' epiphanies are unsurprising: "We are more alike than we are different"; "hate has no hope of ever erasing hate"; etc. The book works best when there's more levity amidst the earnestness, as when the author humorously answers questions he's asked most frequently (e.g., "Which one of your moms is the man?"). Few minds will be changed by this book--it seems unlikely that a homophobe would read something titled My Two Moms--but Wahls' heart is in the right place. A sincere first effort that aims to chip away at stereotypes surrounding same-sex parents.

Kirkus Reviews