• Houston Elects Openly Gay Mayor
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[quote]HOUSTON — Houston became the largest U.S. city to elect an openly gay mayor, with voters handing a solid victory to City Controller Annise Parker after a hotly contested runoff. Several other U.S. cities, including Portland, Ore., Providence, R.I., and Cambridge, Mass., have openly gay mayors, but none are as large as Houston. "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 her opponent, Gene Locke, conceded defeat. Parker's victory comes after several setbacks for gay rights activists. New York lawmakers earlier this month rejected a bill that would have made their state the sixth to allow gay marriage. In November, Maine voters repealed the Legislature's passage of a state law allowing same-sex marriage there. Parker, 53, has never made a secret or an issue of her sexual orientation. But it became the focus of the race after anti-gay activists and conservative religious groups endorsed Locke and sent out mailers condemning Parker's "homosexual behavior." Locke, 61, a former city attorney, tried to distance himself from the anti-gay attacks while courting conservative voters who could tip the election in his favor. Meanwhile, gay and lesbian political organizations nationwide rallied to support Parker by raising money for her campaign and making calls urging people to vote. Parker defeated Locke with 53.6 percent of the vote Saturday in a race that had a turnout of only 16.5 percent. A little more than 152,000 residents turned out to cast ballots in the nation's fourth largest city, which has a population of 2.2 million. Of those voters, 81,743 chose Parker — some 11,000 more than voted for Locke. Although Locke condemned the anti-gay rhetoric, two of his key supporters contributed money to a conservative political action committee that sent out an anti-gay mailer earlier this month, urging voters not to pick Parker because she was endorsed by the "gay and lesbian political caucus." Campaign finance reports show Ned Holmes, finance chairman of Locke's campaign, and James Dannenbaum, a member of the campaign's finance committee, each gave $20,000. While gay rights issues were not a focus of Parker's campaign, she began her political career as a gay activist. She campaigned against the passage of a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage in 2005 and has said she supports gay marriage and continuing a city ordinance prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation. Late Saturday, Locke offered his congratulations to Parker and urged the city to move on from the bruising campaign fight. "Here's what our city needs now: It needs unity. It needs us to come together and heal like we've never healed before, and to move forward under a new administration," he said. Parker and Locke, both Democrats in the nonpartisan race, advanced to the runoff after garnering more votes than two other candidates on Nov. 3. Parker will succeed Bill White, who is term-limited after serving six years and is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor. Houston is predominantly Democratic and about 25 percent black and one-third Hispanic. About 60,000 of its residents identify themselves as gay or lesbian.[/quote] Source:[url]http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-general/20091213/US.Houston.Mayor/[/url] I can't think of a witty comment. Pic of the mayor-elect because people don't fucking read anything: [media]http://por-img.cimcontent.net/api/assets/bin-200912/32236905da445d3613fbf0c15d5c0fa9.jpg[/media] :siren:[b]The new mayor is not a guy, it's a gal. And she's a lesbian. Read the fucking article![/b]:siren:
Wow, that's so gay.
I hope [b]it[/b] doesn't get murdered like the last gay mayor/government-anything was that was elected. ps: aren't Texans southern-super-christians, aka would never elect gays, or anything that goes against their religion?
Was I the only one who thought of GTA4's deputy mayor when I read the title? Nonethelss, this is kind of funny.
cool
One step closer.
Better out than in I suppose. Though its one less thing for the gutter press to 'Reveal' I do have a sinking suspicion Fox will do an in depth special report on her... I can see the a headline now: [b]'67% OF GAYS ARE TERRORISTS THE OTHER 77% ARE IMERGANTS: IS OOBAMMA TO BLAME?'[/b]
This is good, but that sexuality sways voters at all is still wrong. They should have voted entirely on merit.
I'm happy there's at least some places gays can be treated equal.
The homosexual community must be gay with excitement over this. I'd call it a step forward, though. As said before, hopefully this one doesn't get murdered.
Texas is the last place I expected this from.
[QUOTE=tankkiller;18914314]I hope she doesn't get murdered like the last gay mayor/government-anything was that was elected. ps: aren't Texans southern-super-christians, aka would never elect gays, or anything that goes against their religion?[/QUOTE] Oh fuck I forgot the s you guys better give me lots o' bad spellings. [editline]11:53AM[/editline] [QUOTE=Arachnidus;18914407]The homosexual community must be gay with excitement over this. I'd call it a step forward, though. As said before, hopefully this one doesn't get murdered.[/QUOTE] Hahaha..
That guys not gay... That guys a tranny....
This isn't news. This is normal day-to-day life. Gay people are not news anymore.
[QUOTE=AmericanInfantry;18914319]Was I the only one who thought of GTA4's deputy mayor when I read the title? Nonethelss, this is kind of funny.[/QUOTE] I did too
[QUOTE=Eleventeen;18914497]This isn't news. This is normal day-to-day life. Gay people are not news anymore.[/QUOTE] what is a gay people
Hah. Portland beat them to it. I think some other city in Oregon has a transsexual governor too. Still, I was surprised that it was, of all cities, Houston. Houston fucking Texas.
I just hope the guy doesn't get shot.
That's a gal I hope.
A gay mayor? it's a Gayor.
That's a woman. >:C
Yeah wouldn't expect this from Texas.
[QUOTE=Eleventeen;18914497]This isn't news. This is normal day-to-day life. Gay people are not news anymore.[/QUOTE] Gays aren't people....or at least I've heard they aren't.
Holy shit gj Texas
Surprising that happens in bible thumping South, but then again Houston is also an urban area.
Considering Texas is crazy, I bet they told him to act gay to go against the preconceived notions that the rest of the United States has about Texas.
[QUOTE=Kyle902;18914457]That guys not gay... That guys a tranny....[/QUOTE]She is lesbian. Woo!! Amazing, I can't believe it!! Go Texas!! There is hope for the south yet!! I still hope there's a day soon when none of this matters though.
Houston... We have a problem.
Texas? Only Steers and Queers come from Texas.
Why should her homosexuality be a focal point at all?
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