Annise Parker Is The New Mayor Of Houston

Congratulations are definitely in order to Annise Parker, who won a run off election in the Houston mayoral race.

With the victory, Houston becomes the largest city to be governed by an openly gay person.

Some consider her election an upset. Her opponent, Gene Locke, was a former civil rights activist supported by business interests, who believed a coalition of African-Americans and Republicans would lead to victory.

Parker was also the target of a homophobic smear campaign, which included the distribution of literature attacking “the homosexual agenda” and stating Parker would give Houston a bad image.

You can see a part of her victory speech below.