Focus On The Rainbow

Annise Parker hugs supporter: Photo by Smiley Pool - Chronicle

In what started out as a horse race, but ever slowly and steadily during the night, and as this writer called at 9:30 PM (CT) in a temporary election coverage posting, Houston City Controller, Annise Parker pulled out a win over her opponent Gene Locke, a former city hall attorney.

Parker becomes the first “out” mayor elected to the city hall of a major metropolitan city in the United States. Parker who never ran on the “gay card” instead ran a clean campaign based on her experience and what she hopes to do for the city and its citizens as mayor of Houston.

With 100% of the votes tallied at the time of this writing, Parker won 52.8% to 47.2% over Locke. Just after 10 PM (CT) Locke stood before his loyal supporters, thanked them, and gave his concession speech in which he called on all citizens of Houston for unity and to support the new mayor of Houston, the 50th mayor of that city.

Parker has been winning elections for 12 years, so while many across the United States have made an issue of Parker being “out”, it seems not to have been a problem up to and including this past November general election, which because of a close vote count, caused Saturday’s runoff election.

Ray Hill, often called the “old man of gay activism” in Houston said Parker’s victory, “is not just a win for “our community”, but a win for all who live in the city of Houston” while he was doing an in-studio interview during KHOU-TV’s election coverage and it looked like Parker may pull off a win and defeat Locke.

In her victory speech, Parker thanked Locke for his campaign and wished him and his family well. To the citizens of Houston she said, “Thank you, thank you, thank you.” She also introduced to the supporters gathered, her longtime companion and their three children.

While during her campaign she toned down the fact she is an open lesbian, one KHOU-TV anchor remarked after her victory speech “tonight Annise Parker embraced her lesbianism and being part of the LGBT community”.

As a reporter for KHOU-TV said during the TV station’s 10 PM newscast and aptly put it in regards to Parker being a lesbian and the way the national mainstream press and LGBT press/bloggers have put the spotlight on that fact, “people in Houston really don’t care, they want the potholes fixed”.

Perhaps finally, at least in Houston anyway, it doesn’t matter what you are, but who you are.

VIDEO FROM FOX-TV CHANNEL 26 HOUSTON

In Georgia, Simone Bell, an open lesbian won a runoff contest and will represent the 58th District in the Georgia State House.

“This is a tremendous victory for LGBT Georgians.  Simone is a longtime leader in her community, and she will be a huge asset in the Georgia State House,” said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund. – GayPolitics.

In Washington DC, Having garnered 10 co-sponsors, the Washington, D.C. marriage equality bill added one more supporter in a vote Tuesday, passing the first of two necessary votes 11-2. The District of Columbia City Council’s preliminary marriage equality vote constitutes the greatest consensus ever to occur in favor of marriage equality.  Marriage equality bills passed in New England typically did so with the slimmest of margins and tremendous controversy. – GayPolitics.

In Atlanta, Alex Wan, an openly gay man, won a seat on the Atlanta City Council for District 6. On his website Wan wrote, I am both humbled and honored that my friends and neighbors in District 6 have given me their vote of confidence, and I look forward to serving as your voice in city government. It is especially heartening that such a diverse cross-section of people and organizations came together to give our campaign the kind of strength we needed to win.

Meanwhile across the state line in New York State, a vote on gay marriage in Albany is still having fits and starts. It was supposed to be voted on yesterday, then last night and now put off to today … maybe … could be … who knows.

I know when I was a kid the water at my great-grandparents house in Patterson tasted funny, but what is going on in Albany is ridiculous to say the least.

But the Empire State Gay Agenda says in an email, Just a few moments ago, the New York State Assembly passed marriage equality legislation for the second time this year in a bipartisan vote of 86 to 51. By taking a vote in what is called an “extraordinary session’, the Assembly has removed any obstacle to the bill being sent to the Governor for his signature if the Senate votes on the bill when it reconvenes tomorrow (Wednesday) to conduct business.

The Pride Agenda gives special thanks to the New York State Assembly, under the leadership of Speaker Sheldon Silver, that has now voted and passed the marriage equality bill three times. Our thanks also to the legislation’s prime sponsor Assembly member Danny O’Donnell for leading the successful effort again on the floor.

It is anticipated that forces opposing marriage equality may be coming to Albany tomorrow to put pressure on the State Senate to take no action on the bill. We continue to expect the Senate to give this issue the respectful debate and vote it deserves.

Confidence is nice folks, but as they say don’t count your chickens before they hatch, and these chickens in the Albany chicken coop have a problem staying on the nest long enough to hatch eggs as it is.

In the past half-hour, the Associated Press is reporting that Referendum 71 the “everything but marriage” law has been approved by voters in Tuesday’s election.

“Our state made history today,” said Anne Levinson, chairwoman of Washington Families Standing Together, which fought to keep the law on the books. “This is a day for which we can all look back with pride.”

Sen. Ed Murray, a Seattle Democrat who spearheaded the law, called it “a great step forward for equality in Washington state.”

Gov. Chris Gregoire said that the vote on R-71 made her “very proud.”

“I think Washington state stood out in this country on Tuesday by saying one of the inherent values in our state is equality,” she said Thursday.

Results weren’t known until today because almost all voters in Washington cast their ballots by mail, and even those ballots postmarked on Election Day are valid which means the outcome of close elections aren’t known for several days.

Maine

Voters in Maine will choose whether to take away the marriage equality law which was passed earlier this year by the state legislature and signed by the governor. The marriage equality law will take effect and same-sex couples can begin marrying if a majority of voters Vote No on 1.

The latest polls in this race still remain very close. This could very well be the nail biter for Tuesday evening and a drawn out affair as far as vote tallies go.

Washington State

Voters in Washington will choose whether to ratify or reject the law which was passed earlier this year that expands rights and benefits afforded to registered domestic partners in the state. Under the new law, domestic partners have the same rights, benefits and obligations under state law of married couples. This of course is the much discussed Referendum 71. To win the majority must vote Yes on 71.

Kalamazoo, Michigan

The Kalamazoo city council recently voted unanimously to expand the city’s existing anti-discrimination law to include sexual orientation and gender identity, making it illegal in the city to discriminate against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in housing and employment. Opponents of the new law have put it on Tuesday’s ballot. Voters who want to support the new law will need to vote Yes on Ordinance 1856.

Virginia

Virginia voters will have the opportunity to choose a new governor and have a chance to send more fair-minded lawmakers to the state’s House of Delegates in Richmond. HRC has endorsed Creigh Deeds for governor in hopes that this change will become this beginning of possible LGBT friendly legislation and legislators which are currently missing in this anti-LGBT bible-belt state.

New Jersey

Garden state voters will elect state lawmakers, as well as the governor and other constitutional officers, and will be the first election since the creation of the lieutenant governor position. The reelection of Governor Jon Corzine is the best bet for LGBTs based on his strong support for LGBT equality, including his repeated pledges to sign a marriage equality bill that could still be passed by legislators this year.

There will be a complete Election 2009 wrapup on Wednesday after the polls have closed in Washington Tuesday evening and after all results are known. If you don’t subscibe to the postings feed of Focus On the Rainbow, now would be a good time to do so.

Any number of sources will be used to bring the most complete election night results possible in what will be the most important vote on LGBT issues since last year.