In the United States, an openly homosexual candidate has been elected mayor of a major city. Annise Parker beat her opponent Gene Locke to become mayor of Houston, the largest city in the state of Texas. She won 53 percent of the votes.

Ms Parker’s sexuality played a major role during election campaigning. Gay organisations throughout the US raised funds for her and urged voters to support her. Conservative Christian organisations threw their weight behind Mr Locke and condemned his opponent’s lesbianism. Both Ms Parker and Mr Locke are members of the Democratic Party.

A number of smaller US cities also have homosexual mayors. These include Portland, Providence and Cambridge in the states, respectively, of Oregon, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

Photo of Annise Parker from Wikimedia Commons