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

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.

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.