Well, it's not like it's a complete non-issue. There were a lot of people campaigning against her because of her sexual orientation. Luckily, they failed, showing that Houston really is making great strides on GLBT issues. It was an important election. I hope Annise does well.
I don't see it that way. I thought the more impressive decision was that Peter Brown, despite being the white male in this election, was passed over for a lesbian and a black man. Once we got to the run-off, were we really being "progressive" voting for the lesbian, or we just being racist for voting against the black guy? I'm not too stoked about Houston's show of "progressiveness." I voted against Parker, but I don't have anything against her, and certainly not her lesbianism. I was actually flip-flopping until I walked into the voting booth. "Progressive" isn't necessarily good, and I don't think it is any way to pick a leader. I'd rather be proud that Houston picked the best candidate than that it made a statement about its identity.
I'd argue it doesn't mean much, other than further proof that a lot of folks who talk a lot still cannot be bothered to actually get to the booth. Still - I am rather proud of my city. Who'da thunk Houston would be the first major city in the US with an openly gay mayor?
I checked with the PC police and since Parker is gay and a woman the more progressive pick is her. :grin: She played it perfectly though. I don't see it as an issue at all. With a turnout of ~160K it says nothing about how prograssive Houston is.
Exactly. There is no reason for anyone, especially the media, to be mentioning anything about what she likes to do in the privacy of her life. If she does a good job in the chair of the mayor, why must they jam the "other" issue on our faces all the time? Just keep mentioning what a good job she will do.
With such a small turnout I don't think it says much about the city. It just says most people don't care and the people who bothered to vote voted for a gay mayor. I am surprised she is the first gay mayor in the country. I would have thought there were others.
There's a qualifier every time that's mentioned: "first gay mayor in a large city", so there may be more ALREADY in "small towns."
I just looked it up apparently paris had a gay mayor and so did portland. So whoever said she was first didn't do research.
Ah, c'est l'amour... e GAY Parí... Will Houston's tagline be changed from "Houston, we have a problem" to "Gay Houston"?
When she was mayor, she frequented a gay bar. But ... Her first husband died in '76, before she was mayor. And she married for the second time in 2002. There were also rumors about Fred Hofheinz, getting busted by the HPD at "leather" party or some such.
can someone explain to me why "transgender" gets thrown in with gays, lesbians, and bisexuals? You always see the term GLBT and, for the life of me, can't figure out why transgedered people are thrown in with gays.
Yes I believe its that. I'm almost certain there's a gay mayor or 2 in California. The connotation was always a negative thing .... But progressives know better than the rest.
