Parker elected as first openly gay Houston mayor

2009-12-15 01:59:04 (GMT) (WiredPRNews.com - Dallas, News)

Annise Parker has been elected as Houston

Annise Parker was elected as mayor of Houston Saturday.

Houston, Texas (WiredPRNews.com) – Houston voters elected the city’s first openly gay mayor on Saturday. As reported by CBS 11 News, Annise Parker won the election with 53.6 percent of the vote after a controversial election.

As noted in the report, Parker’s sexual orientation became a major focal point of the race after anti-gay activists and others made negative assertions about it in campaigning for her opponent.

Gene Locke, a former city attorney and opponent of Parker in the run-off for mayor is quoted by CBS 11 as stating of Parker following his election defeat, “I am proud she is now the winner. I congratulate her.”

Houston is the fourth largest city in the United States. Voter turnout for the recent election included over 152,000 residents.

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