by Zach Wahls
First published 2012
Zach Wahls opens his memoir by describing the moment he stepped before the Iowa House Judiciary Committee on January 31, 2011. The nineteen year old college student came to speak about marriage equality as the son of a same sex couple. He declared that his parents' sexual orientation had zero impact on his character development. Within hours, his three minute speech appeared on YouTube and attracted over two million views by week's end. Wahls reflects on growing up different in Iowa, navigating the fear of ridicule while excelling as an Eagle Scout and environmental engineering student. He examines how his family structure shaped his perspective on acceptance and belonging. The book addresses both supporters of marriage equality and anyone who has felt like an outsider. Wahls weaves together personal stories about his mothers with broader observations about family diversity. His message centers on the universal need for understanding and the strength found in unconventional families.
Genres: family, memoir, 21st-century, lgbt, adoption, gay
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, outsider
Setting: Iowa
Period: 2011
234 pages · Hardcover · Gotham