Iowa Wing Ding draws national Democratic speakers

CLEAR LAKE - Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes and gay rights advocate Zach Wahls spoke Friday night at the Iowa Wing Ding, the Democrats' annual fundraiser at the Surf Ballroom.

Griimes, 37, is the youngest female secretary of state in the nation. She recently spoke at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.

Wahls, 25, of Iowa City, is author of 'My Two Moms,” which is about his experience growing up with lesbian parents.

He became nationally known after testifying in support of marriage equality before the Iowa House Judiciary Committee in 2011. A video of his testimony went viral and got millions of views.

Other speakers at the Wing Ding included former Iowa Lt. Gov. Patty Judge, seeking to unseat U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley; and Kim Weaver, who is running against U.S. Rep. Steve King.

President Barack Obama is the recipient of Wing Ding's annual Beacon Award for outstanding service but was not on hand to accept it.