Gay Caucus Celebrates Historic Victory

*CAUCUS CELEBRATES HISTORIC VICTORY*  The Houston Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Political Caucus hailed the victory of Annise Parker, who tonight was elected to become the first openly gay mayor of a major city in the United States.  

 

 “Decades of work, by both Mayor-elect Parker and this organization, have finally paid off,” said Kristopher Banks, president of the Caucus. “We celebrate tonight the biggest benchmark to date that our city judges people not by their sexual orientation, but by their hard work and ability.” The Caucus endorsed Parker early, in February, and made her election a priority, funneling volunteer efforts to her campaign and offering it their resources. Parker is a former president of the Caucus, and her leadership of the organization was one of her first roles in civic engagement. She was the first openly gay person elected to office in the Houston area when she won an at-large City Council seat in 1997.  To date, the largest city with an openly gay mayor in the United States has been Portland, Oregon, a city less than one quarter the population of Houston.   

 “History has been made for the entire nation, and we could not be prouder that the catalyst comes from our city and from our community,” Banks said. Parker will be one of two former Caucus presidents at Council dais. Council Member Sue Lovell, a former president, was re-elected to her third term.Council Member Lovell was also endorsed by the Caucus and remains a strong supporter of the organization.