Mike Manning from Colorado is joining the cast for this season of the Real World, set in Washington D.C.Windy City Times tracked Mike, an out bisexual, down in Washington to find out why he was picked to live in a house with seven other strangers.
Windy City Times: Hi, Mike. Where are you calling from?
Mike Manning: Washington. I am back in D.C. having some meetings with people in the area. I had a photo shoot with a fashion magazine today and just visited with HRC. I spoke to them about my job and possibly coming back to work for them.
WCT: I heard you volunteered for the Human Rights Campaign.
MIKE MANNING: Yes. I worked for them pretty much the whole time that I was here.
WCT: There have been 23 seasons of MTV's Real World and you are 22. Is it weird to be on a show that is older than you are?
MIKE MANNING: [ Laughs ] Until now I never even thought of it that way. Well, they don't do a season every year so technically I was born first. I think that is the reason they do it in a different place with different people every single time. The setup is familiar but with different people you never know what to expect.
WCT: So a friend talked you into auditioning for the show?
MIKE MANNING: Yes, he heard about it on the Internet. It was at a college campus nearby our college about an hour away. He wanted to audition. I told him that 30,000 people audition every year and it is a waste of time. He offered to buy me lunch so I went with him. I wasn't going to try out but he wanted me to and the rest is history.
WCT: Do you think the show was more political being set in Washington?
MIKE MANNING: Oh, absolutely. The first thing that Ashley asked me was if I was a Democrat or Republican. Two things made it more political. One, it was in D.C.—our nation's capital, where young people are engaged in politics now more than ever with Obama and legislation that is of greater interest to younger people, like climate change and equality. Two, I think they cast people [ who ] would take advantage of the fact of being in D.C.
WCT: There is an atheist and a Christian fundamentalist in the house. Are you religious?
MIKE MANNING: Yes. I was probably the most religious, not that you can scale that. I went to church more while I was here than anybody else. I don't think it was a competition but for the sake of your question religion was a big part of how I acted. It has always been a big part of my life and it still is.
WCT: You were considered a jock in high school?
MIKE MANNING: Yes, I played sports and had the letter jacket. I thought I was tough shit.
WCT: Since you are bisexual there were no limits on which roommate you could possibly hook up with. Did it feel like you had the best of both worlds?
MIKE MANNING: Maybe with the outside I did. In the house, I made it quite clear that I was not attracted to any of the guys. Because if I am living with these guys I didn't want anything to be awkward and quite frankly I was not attracted to any of them. If someone is clearly straight then you would be wasting your time anyway. I had a chance with the girls so I was attracted to them, especially Callie. As far as the guys it really wasn't an option.
WCT: Do you feel bisexuals are represented well in the LGBT community?
MIKE MANNING: Not really. Bisexuals get a bad rap because people say they are fakers or give a bad name to gay and lesbian people. I think that if the LGBT movement is going to make any progress then we have to stop bickering amongst ourselves.
WCT: Overall, how would you say your experience was with the Real World?
MIKE MANNING: My experience was great. I love D.C. I am trying to move back here. I loved the cast members, the show and the whole production. It was a little strenuous at times and a little invasive but I knew what I was getting into.
WCT: Are you interested in being on a Real World/Road Rules challenge?
MIKE MANNING: Oh, absolutely. If you are going to pay me to jump out of a helicopter and grab a flag then I am down for it!
Find out what happens when this bisexual stops being polite and starts getting real on The Real World, which is currently running on MTV. Visit mtv.com for listings and details.
