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.
[...] Annise Parker’s mayoral victory in Houston, in which the black community joined Republicans to support Gene Locke, Johnson reflected on the [...]
[...] Annise Parker’s mayoral victory in Houston, in which the black community joined Republicans to support Gene Locke, Johnson reflected on the [...]