Mayor-Elect Parker Heads to Historic Win in Texas

Annise Parker, entering her post-mayoral election party. (Photo by @miyashay via Twitter.)

Houston City Controller Annise Parker has now reached what the Houston Chronicle calls an “unbeatable lead” in her run-off election to become the first openly LGBT mayor of a major American city.  In a race that had anti-gay mailings and other gay-baiting of lore, Parker pushed forward with the campaign the had made her the highest vote-getter in the general election in November.  She continued with that spirit in her victory message tonight:

Let us begin from this moment to join as one community, united in the goal of making Houston the city it could be, should be, can be and will be. That’s what this city will be about under my administration.

Houston is a city that invites entrepreneurs – and shelters evacuees. A diverse city. A city built on dreams powered by hard work, creativity, common sense and cooperation.

[UPDATE: After her opponent, Gene Locke, conceded, Parker gave her victory speech:

This election has changed the world for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community just as it is about transforming the lives of all Houstonians for the better. And that's what my Admin will be about.

The New York Times gave the victory top billing on its Web site late Saturday night and into early Sunday morning with an article, "Houston Is Largest City to Elect Openly Gay Mayor."  The Houston Chronicle has up a photo gallery, "A New Mayor."]

Even as the race was happening, though, people sensed history was being made.

Speaking about 1977, and Anita Bryant’s campaign against emerging homosexual equality, longtime Texas LGBT activist Ray Hill was asked on KHOU tonight about how today happened.  His answer:

“Forty-three years of work.”

Hill was talking about Bryant’s visit to Houston, detailed in an OutSmart article from 2002:

When renowned singer, Florida Citrus Commission spokesperson, and ardent Christian Anita Bryant was asked by the Texas Bar Association to sing at their annual state convention held in Houston in June 1977, no one could have foreseen what significance her appearance would have on our community. The leaders of the march to protest her antediluvian views had no inkling that their peaceful, yet loud, protest would rouse Houston’s queer populace with a roar unheard since NYC’s Stonewall riot of ’69.

As Hill detailed tonight, the few hundred people expected to protest became multiple thousands of protesters and, “That night we became a community.”

That night, Houston’s LGBT population may have become a community, but today, with Annise Parker’s victory, it is clear that Houston has become so much more.

As Parker told CNN’s Don Lemmon before the race was called, “Houston is a diverse, international, open, modern city” where all can succeed.

And, as Hill told KHOU, tomorrow’s focus will again be on the potholes and taxes and all of the other problems that every city mayor faces.

Parker’s full message is below the jump.

* * * * *

To my Friends, Supporters and all Houstonians,

In this campaign, I met many Houstonians.

I met fathers worried about finding a good job. I met mothers worried about crime. I met young men and women who only want a chance for a good education. Families worried about taxes. Homeowners who just want to protect the neighborhood they love. Hear me: the city is on your side.

I learned about the problems and the needs and the hopes of our city at the neighborhood level, where families work and live. This election has changed the world for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities, just as this election is about transforming Houstonians’ lives for the better.

Let us begin from this moment to join as one community, united in the goal of making Houston the city it could be, should be, can be and will be. That’s what this city will be about under my administration.

Houston is a city that invites entrepreneurs – and shelters evacuees. A diverse city. A city built on dreams powered by hard work, creativity, common sense and cooperation.

Public service is a noble calling, and I appreciate that Gene Locke was willing to answer this call. He is a man who has been deeply involved in our community for many years and I hope he will continue to serve Houston. I wish for him and his family the very best.

Let me close by saying that while this is an exciting night, it is also a humbling experience. Our citizens deserve our best effort and I pledge to give them an administration that values honesty, integrity and transparency above all else. My administration will be concerned with only one interest: the public good.

Thank you so much. Together, we will make a difference.

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