This weekend  saw a few barrier-breaking political victories. Houston elected their first gay mayor, Annise Parker. She beat her opponent and former city attorney Gene Locke with 53.6 % of the vote. She is expected to take office on January 2, 2010.

Parker was elected to city council and then spent five years as city controller. According to CNN, Parker has been open about her sexual orientation.

"I have always stood up for the fact that I am gay. It's part of the resume that I bring to the table, but it's just a piece of the package." She has been together with her partner for 19 years and has adopted children.

Parker’s victory resembles a huge change for the city. A few years ago Houston rejected a ballot that offered benefits to same-sex partners of city workers. Texas is also a state where gay marriage is against the law.

Houston wasn’t the only city with a newly elected gay official. An openly gay Los Angeles assemblyman,  John Pérez, was elected leader of the lower house in the state assembly by the Democratic Caucus. Pérez was a former union organizer and the political director for a Southern California local of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union. Pérez also served as chairman of the Democratic Caucus this year. Perez is also a cousin of current Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

What job role does an Assemblyman play in CA?

“As speaker he will not only be responsible for uniting Democrats for controversial votes, but he will also be key, along with Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, in budget negotiations with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger”

(via SFGATE)

Gay advocates were quick to praise Pérez's election, calling it a historic moment for not just the state but for the nation.

Previously:

• What's the New What? Gay Fashion is the New Straight Fashion ...
• Voters Oppose Putting Gay Marriage Back on Ballot
• Don't Ask, Do Tell: The Shocking Story of a Gay Sailor (VIDEO ...
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