Open Lesbian Wins Run-Off for Houston City Council

[Zan_of_Texas]

Houston City Council Run-Off Results are posted at www.chron.com

The Chronicle has not posted a story yet, so here is mine:

In a tight race with low turnout overall, a city-wide Houston City Council seat goes to Sue Lovell. Lovell is an open lesbian, a mom, and campaigned on her various community accomplishments. Houston city campaigns are officially nonpartisan, but Lovell has long been active in Democratic Party politics. Her opponent had endorsements from many major players, including the current Councilmember, a former mayor, and some "help" from a right-wing radio talk show host who blasted Lovell's gay caucus endorsement.

Lovell joins Annise Parker, Houston City Controller, as the second city official who is openly lesbian. Annise Parker has won city-wide election 5 times in a row as an open lesbian.



City of Houston

Council, District B (100% In)
Jarvis Johnson 60.4%
Felicia Galloway-Hall 39.6%

Council, District C (100% In)
Anne Clutterbuck 58.4%
George Hittner 41.6%

Council, At Large 2 (100% In)
Sue Lovell 50.9%
Jay Aiyer 49.1%

[crankybubba]

1. good for her

if the person is the right one for the job sexuality should'nt matter.

[wake.up.america]

3. her sexuality is not for me to judge. I wish everyone else would realize

that choices in such matters should not be imposed on others.

[Zan_of_Texas]

4. That's the point.

She didn't campaign on some "gay agenda" -- she ran on her accomplishments, setting up job training for low-income women, opening up a dog park, that sort of thing.

But, the opposition stooped to the old tactic of attacking her for being a lesbian, and attacking her for getting support from the gay/lesbian community.

I don't think it should be a job qualification to sleep with one gender or the other, or any gender for that matter.

But, the glbt community has been underrepresented in elective office forever in this country.

I don't have the latest figures, but as of November 10, 2003,
according to the press room at the Human Rights Campaign Fund,
there were 3 US Congressmembers who are openly gay or lesbian. Zero Senators. Three openly gay or lesbian Representatives, no Senators, out of 535 members of the US House and Senate, equals one-half percent. I believe most people would agree, that is underrepresentation. (Most people figure the gay/lesbian population is probably at least 4 or 5%; 10% is probably too high. No one is saying one-half percent.)

Local office statistics aren't a whole lot better. But, it is a LOT better than it was 30 years ago, when I started trying to change it.

[Ian David]

11. CLOSETED Gay people make up the majority of the Republican party...

That is why they doth protest too much.

The GOP registers about 4.5 on The Kinsey Scale.

Some people say.

[babylonsister]

2. Bravo and Holy Mackeral!

[TaleWgnDg]

5. Holy Crapola! WWJD? . . . n/t

[Thom Little]

6. Houston is a liberal oasis in the desert of Texas conservatism.

[awoke_in_2003]

7. Don't forget

Austin.

[DaveColorado]

8. I'm from Texas

The cities aren't too bad, but stay the hell out of all the little shit towns.

[pearl]

9. What about Marble Falls?

I'm about to move there next spring.

[awoke_in_2003]

10. Where from, DaveColorado ?

I am in Fort Worth. But after I am done with school, I am going to try like hell to sell the house and relocate to Fredricksburg. Nothing like the Hill Country