BY BTL STAFF
WASHINGTON D.C. — Mitchell Rivard, a graduate of Michigan State University and communications assistant for former Governor Jennifer Granholm, has been named the new lead of the LGBT Congressional Staff Association.
He was the first in his family to attend college and became heavily involved with the college Democrats when the Legislature targeted the merit-based Promise Scholarship in 2009. It was through the "Keep Our Promises" campaign that he befriended Gov. Granholm.
Rivard initially intended to go to law school, but the Hill beckoned and he landed a position as a press intern for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., in 2011. Working as an intern, Rivard joined the LGBT Staff Association and began developing opportunities while moving up the ranks.
Rivard worked in various communications roles in both Washington, D.C. and Michigan. Most recently, he served as a presidential appointee at the U.S. Department of Justice, where he handled public relations for the department's Civil Rights Division.
Rivard works as the deputy chief of staff for Democratic U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee of Michigan's 5th congressional district and assumed his executive position at the association in January. Rivard, along with the board, plans to broaden the organization. Even though many of the members are Democrats, the group holds bipartisan sponsorship between Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., and Jared Polis, D-Colo. The LGBT Association has expanded efforts, such as developing further relationships with the president of the Log Cabin Republicans, an organization that works within the Republican Party to advocate LGBT rights in the U.S.
"The three pillars we're working on are more Republicans, more women and more people of color," Rivard told rollcall.com.
In a statement, Kildee said of Rivard, "I'm proud of his work not only in my office, but also with the LGBT Congressional Staff Association, where he's working with Republicans and Democrats on efforts on Capitol Hill to fight for fairness and equality for everyone."
