by Jessica Carreras
Mike McGuinness is only 25 – but if you're involved in LGBT issues or politics in southeast Michigan, you probably already know his name. The West Bloomfield resident is chair of the Oakland County Democratic Party, assistant to state Rep. Deb Kennedy and is a mainstay at LGBT events, including last months' Pride Banquet, where he took home one of the night's presigious awards.
1) Earlier this month, you won the Rising Star Award at the Pride Banquet. Though your list of accomplishments is already long, what would you say is your biggest one so far?
Serving as the campaign manager for Oakland County Treasurer Andy Meisner's successful bid in the 2008 elections was a very big and gratifying accomplishment. Leading that grassroots team to victory and securing such a pivotal elected office for the Democrats for the first time in 40 years was a personal high.
2) You're only in your mid 20s and already heavily involved in politics. Why is it important for LGBT youth to be so engaged in political issues?
I believe it was Woody Allen who said that 90 percent of winning was showing up. I think there's something to that. If we want to win, we must show up. Politics at its core is people, and so much of what we as a collective community want to accomplish requires bringing increasing numbers of people together. If LGBT youth want a better life experience than present and past LGBT generations, then that requires action. That means organizing, reaching beyond our own community, building coalitions, standing up, getting vocal, being counted … and winning.
3) What LGBT political issues are most important to you and why?
In my capacity as chairman of the Oakland County Democratic Party, and being one of the younger county party chairs in the country, I make it a point to speak to as many classrooms as possible. When I'm addressing the subject of equal treatment for all, the most visceral reactions I get from my generational peers is on the employment discrimination angle. They are blown away by the concept that one can be fired solely due to their sexuality. It seems so foreign to them, even though it is discrimination long condoned by our government.
Really, there are a laundry list of LGBT political issues that are important to me. I mean, I want to marry my partner, Jerel, so marriage inequality is a reality I personally face. Yet, employment discrimination is a salient issue that I think can be used as a vehicle to obliterate a number of the remaining barriers.
4) Who is your political hero?
My political hero in terms of national or historical figures is Hubert Humphrey, oddly enough. He was dubbed 'The Happy Warrior' by supporters and critics alike, keeping his positive disposition even through tough battles in early support of civil rights in his time and the creation of social programs to help working families, such as Medicare.
On the local scene, we recently lost a hero of mine. State Rep. Aldo Vagnozzi of Farmington Hills was a true inspiration, and his dynamism did not fade with age. I was blessed to be able to get to know him closely when I worked in the Michigan House of Representatives. He is a hero who is missed.
5) Any plans to run for office in the future?
I had too much fun running for – and winning – Oakland University student body president a few times not to catch the candidate bug. At the same time, it is extremely rewarding to do the background work and organizing that is the lifeblood of successful campaigns and political parties.
The LGBT community is the stronger for our having activists step forward from our ranks and run for office, be it for state legislator, county official, or judge. That may be in the cards for myself as well, in the future, but I'm currently having one hell of a good time working hard as Oakland County Democratic Party Chairman.
Want to get involved with Oakland County politics? Visit www.ocdp.org.
