Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz was recently named vice-presidential nominee of Kamala Harris. It is now a well-established fact that he has a legacy tied to his high school years. Media has focused much on his role as a faculty advisor for a Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) club, which he helped establish during his tenure as a teacher and coach. Even Vice President Kamala Harris highlighted Walz’s commitment in her speech. But very few know that Gwen Walz, Tim’s wife, also played an equally pivotal role. As an English teacher at the same school, Gwen's support was crucial for a student named Jacob Reitan, who faced relentless bullying for his sexuality. Reitan recalls bullying and enduring further harassment throughout high school. At age 15, Reitan was deeply impacted when Gwen Walz declared her classroom a “safe space” for LGBTQ students. He said, “I did not know any gay people, and there were no gay people on TV then.” This gesture gave him hope and eventually led him to come out to Gwen and his parents. Gwen Walz's dedication to LGBTQ+ support stems from her Christian faith, emphasizing that “God creates people in the way they are supposed to be, whether that is gay or straight.” Inspired, Reitan founded the GSA at his school with Tim Walz’s support, distributing leaflets to promote the new club. While the nation has recently come to know about the allyship of Tim Walz, Reitan’s story reveals that he was already making a difference long before his current prominence. #Queer Up Politics