Mark Swonson grew up in Salt Lake City and graduated from Olympus High 1980. In 1992, Mark came out and became active in the gay and lesbian community. In 1994, Mark was Treasurer of Utah Pride when it was held at Northwest Multipurpose Center. Mark became involved with (GLUD) the Gay and Lesbian Utah Democrats which was the Utah Democratic Gay and Lesbian Caucus. Mark later became a Board member with Mike Picardi as Chair of the Utah Stonewall Democrats which was formerly Gay Lesbian Utah Democrats. (GLUD). In 2007, Mark became Treasurer of Utah Stonewall Democrats and 2008 on the Board of Utah Pride Center.

In August 2004, Mark created Utah Queer Events on yahoo groups and added it to Facebook 2008. Involved with the Utah Democratic Party and politics, Mark has been active in many campaigns since 1992. In 2008, Mark ran for Utah State School Board #7, and will run again for poltical office someday soon.