Saturday, December 12, 2009

Some Good News (For A Change)


Annise Parker made history Saturday by becoming Houston's first openly gay mayor, seizing 53.6 percent of the vote in the city's hotly contested election.

"This election has changed the world for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community. Just as it is about transforming the lives of all Houstonians for the better, and that's what my administration will be about," Parker told supporters after former city attorney Gene Locke conceded defeat.

Of the more than 152,000 residents who turned out to cast ballots in the fourth largest U.S. city Saturday, 81,652 chose Parker — some 11,000 votes more than were placed for Locke.

The election battle leading up to Saturday's balloting was marked by fierce campaigning and anti-gay rhetoric.

Several smaller U.S. cities have openly gay mayors, including Portland, Ore., Providence, R.I., and Cambridge, Mass.

Houston, the country's fourth largest city, is predominantly Democratic and about 25 percent black and one-third Hispanic. About 60,000 of its 2.2 million residents identify as gay or lesbian.

By MONICA RHOR, Associated Press Writer Monica Rhor, Associated Press Writer
 
About time we had some good news for a change.

4 comments:

Charlie said...

we needed some good news, and I think she will do some remarkable things

Wonder Man said...

this is good

absolutwillie said...

woohoo!! this is great news!!

Will said...

When this was announced, Fritz and I immediately thought, wow--Houston, not Austin. Austin is so often thought of as the one Texas city that is more relaxed and friendly toward GLBT folk. Congrats, Madame Mayor!

 
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