Coming to CSUSB: LGBT Activist and Author Zach Wahls

Cal State San Bernardino’s “Conversations on Diversity” speaker series returns this fall with author and advocate Zach Wahls, on Tuesday, Oct. 20. The presentation, which is free and open to the public, will take place at CSUSB in the Santos Manuel Student Union Events Center from noon-1:30 p.m. Parking is $6 per vehicle. CSUSB professors are encouraged to bring their class(es). Wahls, the son of a same-sex couple from Iowa, is the author of the national best-seller, “My Two Moms: Lessons of Love, Strength, and What Makes a Family.” In 2011, Wahls helped shape the national dialogue surrounding same-sex marriage when he testified before the Iowa House Judiciary Committee about a proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage in his home state. “The sexual orientation of my parents has had zero effect on the content of my character,” Wahls proudly proclaimed during his testimony. A video of his testimony went viral and became the most-watched political video of the year. Since then, Wahls has had a number of accomplishments in addition to publishing his national best-seller. The 24-year-old, who is also an Eagle Scout, is co-founder of Scouts for Equality, an organization challenging the Boy Scouts of America’s ban on gay youth and adults. Under his leadership, the organization won the battle to end BSA’s long-standing ban on gay youth. Wahls has also spoken in prime time at the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C. The activist has been featured on the “Daily Show” with Jon Stewart; “The Late Show” with David Letterman; “The Ellen DeGeneres Show;” CNN’s “The Situation Room” and “Newshour.” The event is sponsored by the CSUSB University Diversity Committee, which, since 2005, has presented speakers on topics of diversity and inclusion each academic quarter to facilitate dialogue among students, staff, faculty and the community. Visit the University Diversty Committee website at http://diversity.csusb.edu for more information.