zw seven years ago

Seven years ago today, I woke up early, put on a suit and tie, and went to my classes at the University of Iowa. I was nervous all day, struggling to focus, reviewing in my head over and over the words I had written the night before. After class, I got in my Pontiac Grand Am and drove to Des Moines as a light snow fell.

The call for speakers had gone out a week earlier. Iowa Republicans had decided their top legislative priority was rolling back the unanimous Iowa Supreme Court ruling recognizing marriage equality for same-sex couples like my parents.

When I heard the call, I knew I had to speak because I remembered how scared I had felt in the eighth grade, watching the 2004 Republican National Convention for a homework assignment, and hearing politicians talk about the dangers of terrorism in one breath and families like mine in the next. I knew what it felt like to be afraid of our government. And I remembered how lonely and isolating it felt to not have a voice and not see anybody standing up to fight back. I knew that “eighth grade me” would have been very disappointed in “college sophomore me” if I didn’t speak up.

When I walked into the Capitol, I was overwhelmed by the standing-room-only crowd. The chamber was packed with lawmakers, activists, and reporters. My name was eventually called. My heart was racing. I set my iPod down on the desk in front of me, hit start on the timer, and put my hands in my pockets because they were shaking. I said what I had to say.

Seventy-two hours later, my life was turned upside down as the video of my speech went viral. It was gratifying at first but excitement gave way to terror as I realized that my words had taken on a life of their own. I had a choice to make: do I go back to my relatively normal life as an engineering student or keep fighting?

I’ve spent the last seven years standing up for families like mine and people who have been left behind and left out. I signed on with One Iowa to crisscross our state talking about why marriage equality matters. I campaigned with Justice Not Politics to protect our supreme court judges from right-wing retaliation in 2012.

I co-founded Scouts for Equality, which overturned the Boy Scouts of America’s decades-old ban on gay youth and adults. I led this organization which peaked with over twenty full-time staff and mobilized hundreds of thousands of people to join our movement. And we got it done. Today, no Scout has to worry that he will be rejected because he is gay or transgender or that his family will be excluded or left out because he has two moms.

As Executive Director of the organization, I wore many hats, and I spent weeks at a time traveling all over the country. I had to lead a staff, raise money, represent our campaign in national media, and develop and execute a winning strategy to change the policy of one of America’s preeminent social institutions. Founding and leading Scouts for Equality was the most difficult thing I’ve ever done — until about six weeks ago.

I decided to run for the Iowa state senate because our state has a choice to make. Do we carry on with business as usual or do we choose to stand up together against the continued attacks on health care, education, and workers’ rights? In 2011, I chose to stand and fight for what I believed in. Today, I’m asking for you to rise with me to stand up for the values of our community.

When I think about community, I think about family. And as I said that night at the Capitol, what makes a family is our commitment to each other — to work through the hard times so we can enjoy the good ones. And that’s what makes a community too — our commitment to each other. This is an all-hands-on-deck moment that will determine the future of our state for generations to come. We must choose to do the work it takes to win. That’s what I did seven years ago and what I want to continue to do in the Iowa Senate.

I know many of us feel left behind and left out right now. I’m running for the Iowa Senate because I’ll never forget how it felt to be excluded, or how hard we had to fight to get a seat at the table. I’ll never forget what it felt like that night seven years ago.

I’m standing up again to fight for your family the same way I fought for mine.

  1. Charl Kroeger says:

    You, sir, are an amazing inspiration, and my husband and I both thank you for the tireless work you took on, on behalf of LGBT families, and now ALL families, in the fight for equality and fairness. I wish you well in the campaign, and will happily raise a glass to the New Iowa Senator Wahls!

  2. Joy Warren says:

    I remember this when it first surfaced on Facebook and have listened to it so many times! So excited to see what the future brings. So proud of Zach!

  3. Shirley Underwood says:

    Zach, it reads in the Old Testament book of Joshua 1:7 Only be thou strong and courageous that thou may do according to the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee; turn not from it to the right hand or the left, that thou mayest prosper wheresoever thou goest.

    I say to you keep moving forward and don’t look back. Many are praying for you and as long as you are doing what you do for the best interest of those you serve you will be alright. Whether in the statehouse or on the street corner you will be successful. Stay focused on this journey.
    Shirleyundo

  4. Linda Dellsperger says:

    Love this. I so wished I still lived in Iowa City so I too could vote for you, Zach and all that you stand for. You are an amazing human being.

  5. Jessica Graulty says:

    I am inspired by you Zach. You speak about what family really is about. I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

  6. Don Graff says:

    Proud to bear the Scout for Equality Square Knot on my Scoutmaster Uniform. Thank you sir for leading.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You may use these HTML tags and attributes:

<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.