Dec. 13, 2009: Voters in Houston made history by electing the openly gay city controller, Annise Parker, as mayor. During the close run-off election, Parker, a Democrat, downplayed the significance of her historic run. But after the results were announced, she told reporters, “I know what this win means to many of us who never thought we could achieve high office.”
TPM readers Kenneth Rabalais and Stan Ford were on hand to document the celebrations. Here are some of the photos that they sent in.
Photo by Kenneth Rabalais
Parker defeated Gene Locke, a former city attorney, in the run-off election. As the election drew closer, the mayoral race saw an escalation of personal attacks that placed Parker’s sexual identity at its center.
Locke came under scrutiny when evidence emerged that two members of his finance committee contributed to the political action committee of anti-gay activist Steven Hotze. At a public debate in the week prior to the election, Parker criticized Locke for accepting Hotze’s endorsement.
Photo by Kenneth Rabalais
The Houston Chronicle reported in November about a flier distributed by anti-gay activist Dave Wilson, who formed a political action committee to ban benefits for same-sex partners. The flier featured a photo of Parker with her partner, Kathy Hubbard, with the caption: “Is this the image Houston wants to portray?” But political analysts said voters were more concerned with municipal issues like the budget, public safety and city services.
Photo by Kenneth Rabalais
Photo by Stan Ford
Photo by Stan Ford
The fact that Texas will host the first openly gay mayor of a major U.S. city came as a surprise to some. But Parker dismissed the stereotypes of her city. “I think the rest of America had the wrong impression of Houston,” she told reporters after winning. “We are a diverse, amazing, international city.”
Photo by Stan Ford
