Michigan Pride

Michigan Pride
Nonprofit Sponsors of the Statewide GLBT Events at the Capitol

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Mimi Gonzalez My Website

Take a Detroit native, add a journey through sexual politics and queer discovery, then throw in a long-haired butch's case of chronic mistaken identity and where do you end up? Following a map you're writing yourself. The path Mimi's followed has led to Prides from San Francisco to Atlanta and colleges, comedy clubs, television appearances and entertaining the troops in Baghdad and Afghanistan.

But there's NO PRIDE LIKE HOME and this year's Michigan Pride will mark Mimi's fourth! The last one was an impromptu fill-in spot for a performer who couldn't make it and Mimi happened to be in the state. She's been asked to be one of the Grand Marshall's this year but has politely declined because she knows the real glory belongs to those who actually make the entire event happen. So riding behing Dawn and Sarah will be a proud MichiGAYnder Mimi Gonzalez as a dyke on a bike. Count this as an invitation to all you other power houses to saddle up and ride along!

Mimi Gonzalez was once told by her mother, "You're such a beautiful girl, but then you open your mouth and spoil it all." Mimi graduated from high school as the class clown and then received a bachelor's degree in Journalism from Central Michigan University. A move to New York slapped the corporate smirk off her face but quickly resulted in a spot on the TODAY show featuring "The Funniest Person on Wall Street." Even temps have dreams. But New York's a tough place to start a dream.

So Mimi Detroit headed west and discovered her new comedy identity in San Francisco and became the political comedian, Mimi=Freed. Launched at Josie's Cabaret and Juice Joint, within a year Mimi emceed part of the 1993 March on Washington representing the "bi-nority" element of the LGBT. Music festivals and Prides across the country followed including Stonewall '94, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Nashville, San Francisco, San Diego, her hometown of Detroit and Michigan's Pride.

Television shows and movies have contributed to the growing presence of this out, loud and proud Latina. She embraced Gonzalez, half of her given last name, upon moving to Los Angeles and her credits have grown to include Comedy Central's "Women Aloud," "Ellen," Maury Povich, "Que Loco," "Funny is Funny" and Bravo's "The Gay Riviera." Look closely and you'll see her in the movie "Bound." The journalism degree has even made an appearance and her freelanced pieces range from interviewing Camille Paglia for On Our Backs, an op-ed piece for the Advocate, columns in SF's ICON which resulted in a nomination for a Cable Car Award and biotechnical reporting for Office.com.

New York never looked so tame and back East is where she's returned to the big city where she continues to write, travel and push people's buttons. Fast forward being her favorite.