Son of Lesbian Moms Tells Romney: “My family is just as real as yours”

Following the speech Tuesday night by gay dad and Colorado Rep. Jared Polis at the Democratic National Convention, Zach Wahls, the former University of Iowa student whose speech about marriage equality to the state House went viral—twice—on YouTube, spoke to the Convention on Thursday, quipping, “People want to know what it’s like having lesbian parents. I’ll let you in on a secret: I’m awesome at putting the seat down.”

On a more serious note, Wahls said, in part:

Governor Romney says he’s against same-sex marriage because every child deserves a mother and a father. I think every child deserves a family as loving and committed as mine. Because the sense of family comes from the commitment we make to each other to work through the hard times so we can enjoy the good ones. It comes from the love that binds us; that’s what makes a family. Mr. Romney, my family is just as real as yours.

President Obama understands that. He supports my moms’ marriage.  President Obama put his political future on the line to do what was right. Without his leadership, we wouldn’t be here. President Obama is fighting for our families — all of our families. He has our backs. We have his.

That’s right. Both a gay dad and the son of lesbian moms spoke at this convention—as well as the openly gay Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), the openly lesbian Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), Gov. Deval Patrick (D-Mass.), who has a lesbian daughter, and many allies who addressed marriage equality. There’s more to LGBT equality than that, of course, but it’s a start.

Watch Wahls’ whole speech below (and if you haven’t read his memoir, My Two Moms: Lessons of Love, Strength, and What Makes a Family, put it on your list).

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