I amn't big into politics anymore, but was seriously deep into it for much of the last 37 years. I was initially a gay candidate for city council and lost in Salt Lake City, but proved a point in 1985. I ended up realizing that my abilities in lobbying was far more satisfying than being a public official would have been. I created a gay and lesbian political action group in 1990 which still succeeds under the able management of others. After six years of that work, I and my founding group leaders were invited to meet the vice president at the White House in 1996. The following year, I was appointed to serve as an advisor to the U.S. Office of the Attorney for the District of Utah (1997-2001). I helped write and lobbied successfully for several local and state laws which are still on the books.
Over the years, I accumulated five U.S. Secret Service executive body-proximity security clearances, a U.S. Department of State security and travel clearance (for my tech work in Silicon Valley), two DNC national conventions' credentials in 1996 and 2000, a DNC presidential candidates' security-staff assignment, a board-of directors membership for a national PAC in Washington, D.C., state-government lobbyist licenses, and advisor to elected public officials. I have worked with celebrities, national and world leaders, and at least one royal. And, I have successfully maintained my state concealed-firearm permit which requires daily, round-the-clock, FBI criminal history checks where if I get so much as a DUI, I instantly lose my firearms and permit. But, that is just what I remember....
I am lucky enough to have fallen butt-backwards into some seriously elite and wealthy friendships. So, tell me. Is that a "Forrest Gump" life or what? I much prefer talking about my autism, and my work with an LGBTQ-autism project created by the University of Utah Health Care Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinic, the Utah Pride Center and Festival, and me. It is currently my "last big hurrah" in some ways.