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Zach Wahls, Gay Rights Activist, Appears On 'The Daily Show' To Talk New Book (VIDEO)

Posted: 05/01/2012 11:19 am Updated: 05/01/2012 11:21 am

Zach Wahls The Daily Show

Zach Wahls' passionate, viral defense of his parents' same-sex marriage is now available in book form.

Wahls, then a 19-year-old engineering student at the University of Iowa, gave a rousing speech in favor of same sex marriage before the Iowa legislature in 2011. Shortly after, he made appearances on CBS and MSNBC, and MoveOn.org began sharing video of his three-minute testimony to their members.

He discussed "My Two Moms: Lessons of Love, Strength, and What Makes a Family" with Jon Stewart on "The Daily Show" Monday evening.

Wahls has put his college experience on hold to spend more time campaigning for LGBT rights. One of the projects he's promoting is a program called "Out To Dinner," which tries to get straight couples and same-sex couples to have a meal together and get to know each other.

Check out his original testimony from February 2011 below.

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Zach Wahls' passionate, viral defense of his parents' same-sex marriage is now available in book form. Wahls, then a 19-year-old engineering student at the University of Iowa, gave a rousing speec...
Zach Wahls' passionate, viral defense of his parents' same-sex marriage is now available in book form. Wahls, then a 19-year-old engineering student at the University of Iowa, gave a rousing speec...
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04:24 AM on 05/02/2012
To be honest this man is much more impressive than my two sons and my nieces and nephews. All raised by church going straight people. Pretty revealing.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
PapaRocky
Annoying everyone, one fool at a time
06:19 PM on 05/01/2012
This kid should be declared "America's Son". He represents everything good about this country.
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
SteveSFM
Free speech is for everyone.
05:24 PM on 05/01/2012
This guy is the future.

People who oppose full LGBT equality are the past.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Donald Samuels
Facts should never be debated.
03:11 PM on 05/01/2012
John Stewart feels more like an legitimate News station to me than a comedy show. I don't know if that was the original intent but if it was they really nailed it.

The hospital story was really touching. And more and more straight people need to hear stories like it to understand why marriage equality is important. Instead of focusing on our bedrooms. I swear these so called anti-gay people bring up gay sex more often than any gay person ever could.

I remember reading an article about a Brian Fisher and the guy kept raving about how I should picture Barney Frank having sex with Elton John. His entire argument was just based on grossing people out and thus they will think similar to him. What scares me is the possibility that it worked on some of them.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Scott Stevenson
Bless your heart.
02:52 PM on 05/01/2012
I see a bright future for this guy.
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Zippy1169
An Ever Evolving Man
02:45 PM on 05/01/2012
This man is so impressive. He must have had a great Mom and Dad. Oh that's right he came out this good with two Moms.... Go figure.
03:09 PM on 05/01/2012
Now, now. As some conservative poster is sure to point out, Zach came from a mom and a dad because he could ONLY come from a mom and a dad.

The problem with conservatives is they seem to think that's all there is to it.
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Zippy1169
An Ever Evolving Man
05:32 PM on 05/01/2012
Ah but two Mom's raised him. I have never heard him mention a father.

Yeah and you know every child has a right to a mother and father even if the father is an abusive pig. Hmmm does that make any sense....
12:45 PM on 05/01/2012
He's hot.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
lacrosselamore
sick of sacntomony and deluded fools
03:48 PM on 05/01/2012
Incredibly hot.