Merged Houston elects its first openly Gay Mayor

[Thunder]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/12/12/houston-voters-elect-openly-gay-mayor/

Good. Gay folks should feel equal in every way...and have the same rights as everyone else.

 

[Tricky]

The killing blow for her opponant was when he accepted the backing of some openly homophobic groups. The backlash did him in.

I'm kinda proud to live in a liberal oasis in Texas. We have a large and vocal gay community and they enrich the city in many ways.

I've actually met Anise Parker and she is a charming but no-nonsense person. I supported her because of her policies and experience (Councilperson and City Controller for more than ten years), not because she is gay.

 

[GreNME]

I've actually met Anise Parker and she is a charming but no-nonsense person. I supported her because of her policies and experience (Councilperson and City Controller for more than ten years), not because she is gay.

Cool, that's not bad experience going into being mayor, either. I hope things work out.

 

[The Mutha]

Likewise, none of my family voted for her for her sexuality, we voted for her because of her record. Of course, it's a good thing that we got the opportunity to vote for her despite her sexuality... Shows progress!

 

[fishbob]

The killing blow for her opponant was when he accepted the backing of some openly homophobic groups. The backlash did him in.

I'm kinda proud to live in a liberal oasis in Texas. We have a large and vocal gay community and they enrich the city in many ways.

I've actually met Anise Parker and she is a charming but no-nonsense person. I supported her because of her policies and experience (Councilperson and City Controller for more than ten years), not because she is gay.

Houston? A liberal oasis?
What have we learned about posting while drunk?


It has been a while since I lived there - I know there are islands of civilization within the Houston megalopolitan area, but the overall level of moronism is kinda high. Although as I recall, the suburbs were generally where the irrational tended to congregate.

 

[Vortigern99]

I too grew up in Houston (Galleria-area suburbs, Robert E. Lee High School), and I must say that while appreciation of the arts is higher there than in small-town regions of Texas, and tolerance of differences in sex and sexuality is more prevalent, it is still very much a conservative city. I would not describe Houston as a "liberal oasis", with the exception of the Montrose area.

Austin, on the other hand, where I now live, is a true bastion of blue in a sea of red.

 

[Skeptic]

Things are changing.

Remember when McGreevey resigned from the governorship of NJ over the scandal about him having a gay lover? It wasn't that he was gay that was the problem, it was that he gave his lover a cushy job illegally under the table.

As "The Onion" put it after McGreevey resigned over the scandal while openly admitting his homosexuality: "Gay Man Tearfully Admits to Being Governor of New Jersey".

 

[Radically Rethinking]

Houston has a new mayor

This is historic: the largest city in Texas, which is also the 4th largest city in the USA, now has an openly lesbian mayor. Annise Parker just won the election to replace the outgoing mayor, Bill White, who is running for governor. She won the race despite a smear campaign by local far-right activists.

But there's something somewhat depressing along with this: only 16.5% of the city's registered voters actually voted.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aJlxjUiZh2oI

 

[Fitter]

Who do those voters think they are, destroying stereotypes like that?

 

[Tricky]

By liberal oasis, I mean "compared to the rest of Texas" (Austin excepted.) Houston is possibly the most multicultural city in the US because of it's position as the oil business center of the world. In my small group (about twenty) of fellow scientists at work, I work with with an Indian, a Pakistani, a Saudi Arabian, a Nigeran, a Chinese, a Frenchwoman and a couple of Brits. (And I suspect at least one gay, but hasn't talked about it.)

There are a lot of "gay pride" events in Houston and they rarely if ever have any protesters. The city itself is predominantly Democrat, but that changes drastically if you count the suburbs. Note, though, that the election for mayor is city only. Although I supported Anise Parker, I did not actually get to vote. I'm about a mile outside the city limits.

 

[fishbob]

I'm about a mile outside the city limits.

A very very small oasis?

 

[Dr Adequate]

 

[Hallo Alfie]

Likewise, none of my family voted for her for her sexuality, we voted for her because of her record. Of course, it's a good thing that we got the opportunity to vote for her despite her sexuality... Shows progress!

Real progress would be when they don't have to report that a gay has been elected. i.e., this really shouldn't be newsworthy in a modern, open accepting society.

 

[Puppycow]

These days most people can't be bothered to vote for enything less than a presidential election, and about half can't even be bothered to do that.

In a certain sense, the apathetic are correct, because each voter only gets one vote and it is very unlikely that one vote either way would make a difference.

 

[luchog]

By liberal oasis, I mean "compared to the rest of Texas" (Austin excepted.) Houston is possibly the most multicultural city in the US because of it's position as the oil business center of the world. In my small group (about twenty) of fellow scientists at work, I work with with an Indian, a Pakistani, a Saudi Arabian, a Nigeran, a Chinese, a Frenchwoman and a couple of Brits. (And I suspect at least one gay, but hasn't talked about it.)

Actually, I'd say New York, San Francisco, or Seattle probably has Houston beat for sheer diversity; but likely not by much. I have a few friends from Texas, and the only ones who have good things to say about it are those from Houston (and then, only about Houston).

 

[Rasmus]

Likewise, none of my family voted for her for her sexuality, we voted for her because of her record. Of course, it's a good thing that we got the opportunity to vote for her despite her sexuality... Shows progress!

Not really, as long as you use let alone emphasize the term "despite". It shows that her sexuality still is an issue and still is a point agaisnt her.

Take what you wrote and substitute for "sexuality" either "haircolour", "nobel price" or "murder conviction", then see how it reads.

 

[daredelvis]

By liberal oasis, I mean "compared to the rest of Texas" (Austin excepted.) Houston is possibly the most multicultural city in the US because of it's position as the oil business center of the world. In my small group (about twenty) of fellow scientists at work, I work with with an Indian, a Pakistani, a Saudi Arabian, a Nigeran, a Chinese, a Frenchwoman and a couple of Brits. (And I suspect at least one gay, but hasn't talked about it.)

Don't forget, Houston also has the largest medical center in the world.

I am really happy to see that the sleazy move by Parker's opponent backfired. Interesting read about gay baiting and politics in Houston. Also, it should be noted that the 16% turnout was in a runoff election. Pathetic still, but not surprising.

Rick Casey

So a group of ministers and right-wing politicos are talking about making homosexuality an issue in the mayor's race?

Here are two things newcomers and relative newcomers to town should know:

1) For homosexuality to be raised as an issue in the mayor's race is about as Houston as bad air, clogged freeways and plastic surgery.

2) Those who think it works are almost always disappointed.

Let's take a jolly romp through the past three decades.

Daredelvis

 

[GreyICE]

Not really, as long as you use let alone emphasize the term "despite". It shows that her sexuality still is an issue and still is a point agaisnt her.

Take what you wrote and substitute for "sexuality" either "haircolour", "nobel price" or "murder conviction", then see how it reads.

I think it shows progress, because it clearly wasn't enough of a point to disqualify her. 20 years ago, it would have been.

That's progress. That's still not perfect.

 

[Rasmus]

I think it shows progress, because it clearly wasn't enough of a point to disqualify her. 20 years ago, it would have been.

That's progress. That's still not perfect.

True.

 

[boooeee]

In my small group (about twenty) of fellow scientists at work, I work with with an Indian, a Pakistani, a Saudi Arabian, a Nigeran, a Chinese, a Frenchwoman and a couple of Brits. (And I suspect at least one gay, but hasn't talked about it.) .

Any cripples?