Houston Officially Becomes the Biggest City With an Openly LGBT Mayor

by Michael Jones · 2010-01-03 16:42:00 UTC
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Annise ParkerAnnise Parker, the openly lesbian winner of Houston's mayoral election last month, was sworn into office this weekend, officially becoming the nation's most prominent LGBT mayor.

The night of her election, Parker said that Houston opened the doors to history by sending her to city hall's highest office. That sentiment became all the more visceral this past weekend, especially given the description of the private inaugural service. What were the ingredients?

Well, there was Annise Parker. And a Judge. And Annise's partner, Kathy Hubbard, holding the Bible that Parker was then sworn in on.

Other cities in the U.S. have openly LGBT politicians at the helm. There's Portland, Oregon and Chapel Hill, North Carolina. There's Providence, Rhode Island and Silverton, Oregon. But given Houston's size -- it's the fourth largest city in the entire country and the eighth largest city on the continent -- the rise of Annise Parker to the mayor's office is significant beyond wonder. Or to hear Parker herself talk about it, it's a sign that the world is changing.

Her election also comes on the heels of a question that has recently popped up in places like the New York Times, and even by Parker herself over at Firedoglake. Is it easier for openly LGBT candidates to win at the ballot box than it is for LGBT issues to win? Texas is a pretty good example. Certain LGBT issues, like marriage, wouldn't stand much of a chance at the polls (at least today). Yet the state's largest city just elected an openly lesbian mayor.

As the Times put it, "One key to victory for gay politicians has been building reputations in their communities as candidates well qualified for the job. Voters who may be uncomfortable with homosexuality in the abstract are often willing to vote for a gay individual they feel they know."

Certainly raises the question of just how many LGBT people have to come out of the closet and/or run for office before an issue like gay marriage can win on Election Day. But for the time being, it's great to revel in Annise Parker's ascension to Mayor of Houston. The image of Parker's partner holding the Bible that she was inaugurated over is priceless. Here it is, a book that has been used by so many to oppress LGBT folks, being used to annoint one of the most famous LGBT politicians in the country, if not the world.

(Photo courtesy of David Ortez's photostream on Flickr.)

Michael Jones is a Change.org Editor. He has worked in the field of human rights communications for a decade, most recently for Harvard Law School.
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