Moderator: Shane Windmeyer, Executive Director of Campus Pride

Guest Presenter: Zach Wahls, “That Kid from YouTube” and Author of the new book “My Two Moms”

Description:

Zach Wahls, 20, is known as “that kid from YouTube with two moms.” His passionate testimony before the Iowa General Assembly against a proposed anti-LGBT constitutional amendment was the number one YouTube "Political Video" of 2011. Today Zach continues his national advocacy speaking in favor of marriage equality and will release his new memoir titled My Two Moms on April 26, 2012. This webinar will provide a 35,000-foot analysis of the same-sex marriage debate and unpack some of the most common arguments heard from the other side. After assessing the arguments, we’ll look at the most effective ways to counter them (i.e. don’t be afraid to call out someone playing the “as a straight person, my rights are under attack” card.) as well as the least effective ways to counter them. There is an art to argumentation that has to be learned and practiced, and while this workshop certainly won’t teach you everything you need to know, it will give participants of all ages a foundation on which to further build debate and communication skills. It will also offer seasoned spokespeople some tips to further refine their messaging. Wahls will also speak to his own experience and what his journey as a LGBT advocate.

Participants will:

·      Understand the nature and context of the national marriage debate.

·      Be able to respond to the five most frequent arguments against marriage.

·      Learn why sometimes the best argument is one you don’t have to make.

·      Avoid some of the simple mistakes that, as activists, we tend to accidentally make and without realizing we’ve done so.

·      Learn from Wahls story of his family and how his life has been forever changed.

Guest Presenter Biography:

Zach Wahls is a proud Iowa Hawkeye, a former state-championship winning debater, an Eagle Scout and, most recently, “that kid from YouTube with two moms.” Since a video of his testimony before the Iowa General Assembly about the normalcy of his life growing up with lesbian parents, he’s withdrawn from his engineering studies to continue to share his story and to advocate for the advancement of LGBT rights. Wahls is the author of the new book “My Two Moms” to be released on April 26, 2012.