The Outspoken Generation
The Outspoken Generation program empowers young adults with LGBT parents to speak out about our community’s families. These young advocates will share their stories and advocate for family equality on the local, state, and national levels. For 30 years we've been raising our children to tell the truth, love their country, and be good neighbors. Now they are speaking out, dispelling myths and misinformation about their families, and changing the national dialogue about family values. The Outspoken Generation program is co-chaired by Ella Robinson and Zach Wahls.
2012 Accomplishments:
- The Outspoken Generation members were selected and invited to attend a prestigious annual White House event for Emerging Leaders in the LGBT Community
- The Outspoken Generation members from across the country spoke on panels at Family Week, the Midwest Family Equality Conference, and Families in the Desert
- National Publications, such as The Advocate and Cosmopolitan Magazine shared stories of the Outspoken Generation members
- The Outspoken Generation program received significant media coverage, in outlets including: Huffington Post, Perez Hilton, Towleroad, Good as You, & Joe.My.God.
My Family, My Story
Being raised by two lesbian women isn't typically the norm for children growing up in the United States. However, for me, this has been my blessing. As a child, my parents were very transparent about the ways in which our family was different from others, and they warned me of the possible negative encounters I might endure because of this difference. It is not the gender of my parents that makes me feel unique, however. It is the experiences I’ve lived through the process of fighting to secure equal rights for my family that have greatly influenced my world-view.
Our Family Story
We were living in Minneapolis at the time our son, Benjamin, began kindergarten. We loved our elementary school and especially the kindergarten teacher, who was the perfect person for easing us into public school life as gay dads living in a "non-gay" neighborhood of the Twin Cities.
One afternoon, Benjamin brought home a "back pack" memo stating that it was his turn to be "Star of the Week" . . .
How and Why I Am Outspoken
I have had a very public and unusual opportunity to speak up in support of my gay Dads: we all went on the Today show together. It was after Dad was elected the 9th Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire and I accompanied him, and his then partner (now husband) Mark to chat with Matt Lauer. I was there to dispel the misconceptions that he “abandoned his wife and kids to shack up with a gay lover” as certain newspaper headlines had proclaimed throughout his Bishop Election process. Truth was, my sister and I couldn’t have gotten rid of him if we tried!
Speaking Out
“I'm looking forward to working with The Outspoken Generation and others to dispel misconceptions about what it means to have an LGBT parent or parents."
-Zach Wahls
Check out Zach's Out To Dinner Campaign
Check out Zach's Website and information about his new book "My Two Moms"
