Openly Gay Jeremy Moss Sworn in as State Senator

Openly gay State Rep. Jeremy Moss was sworn in Sunday to his new role as state senator. An enthusiastic crowd of more than 100 came out to the Plumbers Local 98 headquarters in Madison Heights to hear speaker after speaker laud the young leader with praise before the oath of office was administered by Michigan Supreme Court Justice Bridget Mary McCormack. Southfield Mayor Kenson Siver acted as the afternoon’s emcee and was the first to address Moss’s crowd of supporters. Just 25 when he was elected to the Southfield City Council, Moss became particularly close with then-mayor Brenda Lawrence, who had already been something of a mentor for him for several years. When she was nominated for lieutenant governor in 2010, Moss was her only staffer. Then, in 2015, Moss began the first of two terms in the state House. “His love of public service is something that I’m so proud of, and I was excited to vote for him to be my state senator,” Lawrence said. “Many of you have mentored people and it comes a point in time when you step back from the mentoring and you become a supporter. Publicly, I want to say to Jeremy today [that] I congratulate you and take the title of mentor away from us and stand here today as a supporter, as someone who honors and respects you and is so excited for you.” Looking ahead, Lawrence made sure to emphasize that she feels Moss will have a long future in politics.