Zach Wahls family gaining popularity after plea to protect gay marriage

IOWA CITY - Zach Wahls says his family is pretty boring. But that boring Iowa City family of four has garnered more than half a million YouTube views and at least a half-dozen media interviews in the last few days.

The buzz began earlier this week when Wahls, a 19-year old University of Iowa student and Iowa City resident,  spoke before the Iowa House of Representatives and urged lawmakers not to pass legislation which would ban same-sex unions in Iowa. Wahls talked about his own family - he and his younger sister were raised by two moms who were married in 2009.

“Our family really isn't that different from any other Iowa family,” Wahls told the House. “…I was raised by a gay couple and I'm doing pretty well.”

Since then, Wahls' message has gone viral. The YouTube incarnation has garnered more than 560,000 views as of last night, the family has been interviewed by state and national news organizations, and Wahls even got a twitter shout-out from Ellen Degeneres.

“It's been overwhelming,” Wahls said. “I was sitting at work on Tuesday and a coworker walked up and said ‘did you know you're all over Facebook?' I didn't know what she was talking about until I walked over to a computer and I was half of her news feed.”

Despite Wahls' plea, 59 Republicans and three Democrats in the Iowa House on Tuesday approved legislation which would end same-sex unions in Iowa. The bill now goes to the Iowa Senate, where Democratic leaders have vowed to block it. Even if it's passed there, the legislation would need approval by the next legislature and voters around the state before it becomes an amendment to the state constitution.

Even though Tuesday's vote in the House was a loss for the gay rights camp, advocates are hopeful the West High alum's testimony and the attention surrounding it will have lasting impact.

“I think people who are for a constitutional amendment know they have a small window of time because the younger generation - both Republicans and Democrats - don't share their view. The odds are against them,” State Rep. Mary Mascher, D-Iowa City, said.

Both Wahls' parents and his sister struggled to articulate their reactions to the attention they've received and how proud they are of their son and brother.

“He puts a face on what gay families look like,” Terry Wahls said as a camera crew packed up gear in her living room following an interview with MSNBC's The Last Word. “It's easier for people to realize we're just their neighbor.”

The attention has been a bit hectic, the family members admit, but they're glad to help spread their message.

“We lead fairly boring lives. There's not usually a whole lot going on here on a Thursday night,” the 19-year-old said from the family's Iowa City home. “We want people to see we're not scary.”