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

by Zach Wahls

Overview

In this “moving personal tribute” (The Daily Beast) to the power of family in all its forms, the Iowa State Senator, U.S. Senate candidate, and outspoken marriage equality advocate offers a vital reminder that being yourself is always enough—now with a new afterword

“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

On January 31, 2011, Zach Wahls addressed the Iowa House Judiciary Committee in a public hearing regarding a proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage in Iowa. Then nineteen years old, Wahls—the son of a same-sex couple—proudly proclaimed, “The sexual orientation of my parents has had zero effect on the content of my character.” The video of his speech quickly went viral and became YouTube’s number one political video of the year, racking up more than twenty million hits. Wahls has since championed marriage equality everywhere from The Late Show with David Letterman to the Democratic National Convention.

In My Two Moms, Wahls explores the values his two moms, Terry and Jackie, taught him about love, strength, and family—values driven home by his journey toward Eagle Scout, the Boy Scouts of America’s highest rank. In many ways, his upbringing was very normal—he played sports, was active in Boy Scouts, and led his high school debate team—yet, growing up with two moms, he knows what it’s like to feel different and be treated as inferior.

In My Two Moms, Zach Wahls delivers a reassuring message to same-sex couples, their kids, and anyone who’s ever been called an outsider: You are not alone.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781592407637
Publisher:	Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date:	04/02/2013
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	7.90(w) x 5.30(h) x 0.20(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Zach Wahls serves in the Iowa Senate for the 43rd District. The son of two women and a staunch supporter of LGBTQ rights, Wahls addressed the Iowa House Judiciary Committee in 2011 to oppose a ban on same-sex marriage. The recording of his testimony quickly went viral and inspired him to write his memoir My Two Moms: Lessons of Love, Strength, and What Makes a Family. In 2025, he announced his candidacy for the United States Senate. He lives in Iowa with his wife and son.

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