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Zach Wahls Speech: Moving the Nation in Support for Gay Marriage
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Lee Trask is an advocate for women dealing with issues of infertility and miscarriage. Having struggled through more than six years of infertility, three miscarriages, and high-risk pregnancy, she is now happy raising her two…
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Zach Wahls Speech: Moving the Nation in Support for Gay Marriage
Please watch this clip of Zach Wahls, giving a speech to the Iowa Senate, opposing a House Joint Resolution that would ban gay marriage.
The last line of this young man’s speech is absolutely wrong. “{T}he sexual orientation of my parents has had ZERO effect on the content of my character.”
This is a nineteen year old, who is speaking before the Iowa legislature, without a teleprompter, cue cards or notes written on the palm of his hand (cough, Palin). He is poised, well spoken: a gifted orator. He gives a few statistics about himself: Engineering student, scored in the 99th percentile on his ACT, owns and runs his own small business, was an Eagle Scout. He is giving an impassioned speech about family, and about the Iowa law in relation to same sex marriage. I was riveted to this clip; thinking about what a fine young man this is standing there, unafraid, putting himself, his sister, and the two women who raised him, in the public eye for scrutiny.
Here is where the last line of his speech strikes me: I believe the content of his character has everything to do with the sexual orientation of his parents. His parents are two brave women who; knowing their own families might not embrace their unborn child, went ahead and started a same sex family together, in the Bible Belt. These are two women who; I’m sure, faced bigotry, resistance, and ignorance, but taught their son not only to suffer it, but also stand up against it. These women, so sure of who they are at their core, raised a boy with the same confidence in himself, and with a belief that if you speak out, you can change the world.
Same sex marriage is changing how we see families; and like the Civil Rights Movement, will only be truly successful when the last generation that clings to their bigotry has perished. But, to the many same sex couples here on DailyStrength; who are undergoing IVF, surrogacy, or adoption the good news is that there is a generation coming up that has been raised by same sex parents. This generation, will be the first that finds no difference in the way they were raised, and the way I was raised (by a mom and dad.) My sons, who are 6 and 9, think it is perfectly normal to have two moms or two dads, and you know what? They are absolutely right.
- Lee
The last line of this young man’s speech is absolutely wrong. “{T}he sexual orientation of my parents has had ZERO effect on the content of my character.”
This is a nineteen year old, who is speaking before the Iowa legislature, without a teleprompter, cue cards or notes written on the palm of his hand (cough, Palin). He is poised, well spoken: a gifted orator. He gives a few statistics about himself: Engineering student, scored in the 99th percentile on his ACT, owns and runs his own small business, was an Eagle Scout. He is giving an impassioned speech about family, and about the Iowa law in relation to same sex marriage. I was riveted to this clip; thinking about what a fine young man this is standing there, unafraid, putting himself, his sister, and the two women who raised him, in the public eye for scrutiny.
Here is where the last line of his speech strikes me: I believe the content of his character has everything to do with the sexual orientation of his parents. His parents are two brave women who; knowing their own families might not embrace their unborn child, went ahead and started a same sex family together, in the Bible Belt. These are two women who; I’m sure, faced bigotry, resistance, and ignorance, but taught their son not only to suffer it, but also stand up against it. These women, so sure of who they are at their core, raised a boy with the same confidence in himself, and with a belief that if you speak out, you can change the world.
Same sex marriage is changing how we see families; and like the Civil Rights Movement, will only be truly successful when the last generation that clings to their bigotry has perished. But, to the many same sex couples here on DailyStrength; who are undergoing IVF, surrogacy, or adoption the good news is that there is a generation coming up that has been raised by same sex parents. This generation, will be the first that finds no difference in the way they were raised, and the way I was raised (by a mom and dad.) My sons, who are 6 and 9, think it is perfectly normal to have two moms or two dads, and you know what? They are absolutely right.
- Lee
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You still have yet to explain why, as a person who professes to have same-sex attractions, would oppose gay marriage rights. As you appear to be unable or unwilling to disclose your rationale, I guess no one will ever know.
I'd be interested in finding out who else thinks it's obvious that a self-identified ''pansexual'' member of both the "Coming out" and "Bisexuality" support groups on this site would be opposed to same-sex marriage. The only thing obvious to me about it is a conflict of interest. Such a person must struggle with internalized homophobia.
Is the way it is, sorry this keyboard is unresponsive sometimes.
Just try to keep an open mind by not having a open mind, if that confuses you then it means you'll finally figure out why life is they it is. que sera sera
Challenging someone to defend their opinion doesn't amount to guilting them into believing they are a bad person. It's your choice to address these queries or not, but there is no reason to defensively lash out at me.
I am mainly just curious as to how a person can reconcile their anti-gay marriage position with the same-sex aspects of their own sexuality.
I have my opinion and you have yours, calling me a child over it doesn't make you smart nor does trolling up this comment board.
Have a nice day.
I have my opinion and you have yours, calling me a child over it doesn't make you smart nor does trolling up this comment board.
Have a nice day.
I thought government and religion are suppose to be separate.
People quote the bible to back up their beliefs but they forget the bible also says Judge not, that ye be not judged. Matthew 7:1 and of course there is St. Luke 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven
I have a cousin who is gay and she has been with the same woman for over 40 years, why shouldn't she have the same legal rights as me.
The accusation that I take scripture out of context might have some significance if I actually believed in it, which I don't. Thanks though for trying to invite me to fear your supreme being's judgment. Is that what you get out of your belief in God? A sense of superiority?
You also conveniently take scripture out of context, to suit your answers.
Leviticus 11:7-8
"And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he [is] unclean to you. Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they [are] unclean to you."
(also mentioned in Deuteronomy 14:8)
Does your observation of the word of God include abstaining from eating pork? Of course not, because your beliefs, like those of so many religious adherents, are hypocritical; you conveniently believe the portion of the Bible that is consistent with your preferences.
If people choose to live this way, that is their right and their choice but, there are those who do not agree with it and we also have the right to state our views as well.
For the partner who has not legally adopted the bio mom's children, from a legal standpoint, I would strongly advise you to do so. That way, you have authority in the lives of the children in case your partner becomes unexpectedly incapacitated.