Kathy Pelleran-Mahoney, Running for Michigan State House of Representatives, District 102
2024 Election Pride Source Candidate Survey Response
The 2024 Pride Source Media Voters Guide Candidate Survey sought the responses from Michigan candidates running for office in the Nov. 5 election. We asked candidates to respond to key issues impacting the Michigan LGBTQ+ community and about their visions for the future. Visit vote411.org to learn more about the candidates and issues on your ballot.
Candidate: Kathy Pelleran-Mahoney
Running for Michigan State House of Representatives, District 102
Incumbent? No (First time for this office. Past elected as Trustee for Lansing Community College)
Campaign Contact Info
(231) 292-1004
Candidate background
Education:
Alpena Senior High School - Diploma; Lake Superior State University - BA; Western Michigan University - MPA & Ph.D. (ABD), both in Public Administration
Professional experience:
Dedicated public servant as a counselor; legislative, congressional, and U.S. Senate aide; and nonprofit leader with a successful track-record in public management and advocacy.
What is your affiliation with the LGBTQ+ community?
Have been endorsed by Equality Michigan.
Tell us about your top priorities and how you plan to achieve those goals.
Get my office set; get key committee assignments; introduce and co-sponsor legislation to bring about social and economic justice and modernize antiquated laws. I'll do this by building relationships with leadership, across the aisle, and across sectors and various levels of government. Once lines of communication are opened, I'll work to respectfully negotiate and educate decision-makers. Lastly, key constituency groups will have access to me with my personal cell phone and be one of my key sources for understanding their positions and research necessary to getting the information "frame" correctly positioned for victory.
Why are you the best candidate for this position?
I will vote "correctly." My opponent, the incumbent, is a nice man who is either clueless or just a shill for the other many lobbying interests who fund his campaign.
How do you plan to represent and advocate for the needs of LGBTQ+ community members?
I believe in advocating for everyone to get a fair shake and will adhere to the great Minnesotan's quote, "Mind your own damn business" when legislative colleagues are trying to tell others how to live when they don't want anyone telling them how to live.
State your position on transgender rights and how your office would work to protect this vulnerable population — particularly Black trans women, who are overrepresented in stats related to violence, the judicial system, homelessness, substance abuse and other serious issues.
See above answer. There are too many judgmental people who run and get elected to office, then tell everyone in vulnerable positions how to handle themselves.
Homelessness among LGBTQ+ youth and young adults is a persistent issue in Michigan. How would your office make a positive impact for young LGBTQ+ people facing housing insecurity?
Case managers will go along way to helping marginalized gay youth, many who are couch-surfing from friend to friend. I'd like to get with leaders of these youth and work with MSHDA, MDHHS, local, state, and federal resources to seek options and case management to ensure these young people don't fall through the cracks and have options to move forward with help and dignity to ensure their success and future opportunities for HS graduation, college, and careers.
State your position on abortion and other issues related to women’s reproductive health.
Reproductive freedom -- again, the government does not have any business in telling people what to do with their lives and their bodies.
How do you feel about drag queens?
I never met one that I didn't like.
On Marriage Equality: After the overturning of Roe v Wade, many question if the U.S. Supreme Court will revisit their 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges decision. Would you support any legislation that undermines the rights of same-sex couples to marry? (Yes or No — feel free to elaborate)
No, I will NOT support legislation to undermine same-sex couples and their right to marry.
On K-12 School Curriculum: States such as Florida have passed legislation preventing teachers, counselors and coaches from discussing sexual orientation and gender identity with their students, dubbed "Don't Say Gay" bills. Other states have passed legislation requiring LGBTQ+ inclusion in K-12 curricula, often determined by the local school district to determine how to effectively integrate learning materials throughout.
Michigan currently has neither a ban nor a requirement. Would you support legislation requiring Michigan schools to teach about LGBTQ+ people and identities in history and social sciences? (Yes or No — feel free to elaborate)
Yes, I believe that is academic freedom and LGBTQ+ people and identities are part of the history of the world and we would be miserably inaccurate to not include them and their many contributions to society and culture.
How would your office help people struggling financially?
By directing them to services and benefits, and by voting for those services and benefits to be valued and funded by expanded programs with case management to help people navigate the bureaucratic maze and hurdles to gain assistance.
Visit vote411.org and michiganvoting.org to learn about the candidates and issues on your ballot and to make a voting plan.
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