Various elections took place nationally Nov. 8—and the results were generally positive for the LGBT community.
Lesbian Houston Mayor Annise Parker was re-elected despite a low approval rating and an opponent's anti-gay statements, according to Advocate.com . Parker prevailed with 51 percent of the vote; Dave Wilson, who criticized the incumbent over the issue of sexual orientation, had 12 percent.
Also in Houston, Mike Laster became the first openly gay man elected to the city council. Laster is an attorney specializing in real estate, and has practiced for the past 13 years.
In a race that had implications regarding Iowa's marriage-equality law, Democrat Liz Mathis defeated Republican Cindy Golding 56 percent to 44 percent, the Des Moines Register reported. Democrats will keep a 26-24 edge through the 2012 legislative session; Republicans—especially those hoping for Iowa's same-sex-marriage statute to be overturned—had hoped for a 25-25 tie. "The marriage issue is settled, voters clearly care about issues directly affecting their everyday lives," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese in a statement. "Today's election serves as a message that it's time to get on with the people's business."
In a Virginia state Senate race, openly gay GOP candidate Patrick Forrest lost, 60 percent to 40 percent, to Democratic incumbent Sen. Janet Howell, the McLean Patch reported. Recently, the Forrest campaign accused Howell and her staff members of telling people Forrest would push "the homosexual agenda," something Howell denied.
However, Virginia Democratic state Rep. Adam Ebbin will become the state's first openly gay state senator after winning the 30th Senate District race, according to the Washington Blade. Running in a solidly Democratic district that includes sections of Alexandria, Arlington and Fairfax counties, Ebbin defeated Republican challenger Timothy McGhee 64 percent to 35 percent.
Caitlin Copple, an out lesbian, won her race for the city council in Missoula, Mont.—becoming the city's first out gay councilmember, the Montana Kaimin reported. In doing so, she defeated Ward 4 incumbent Lyn Hellegaard, who voted against an LGBT nondiscrimination ordinance.
Cincinnati, Ohio, also made history, as Chris Seelbach became that city's first openly gay councilmember, according to LGBTQ Nation. Seelbach, 31, is vice president and CFO of The Seidewitz Group, a marketing and consulting firm.
In Indianapolis, Zach Adamson became the first openly LGBT city councilmember, GayPolitics.com reported. "This is a milestone for Indianapolis and a remarkable victory for Zach. We couldn't be happier for him and for the LGBT community in Indianapolis," said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Victory Fund. The top four vote-getters for the council seats were all Democrats.
Also, openly gay Chapel Hill, N.C., Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt won his re-election bid with 78 percent of the vote; he ran against four-time candidate Kevin Wolff, who took about 18 percent of the vote. In addition, openly gay 22-year-old and recent University of North Carolina graduate Lee Storrow won his race for a seat on the Chapel Hill Town Council, becoming the youngest member on the council in two decades.
Robin Kniech became Denver, Colo.'s, first out gay city councilmember, according to a Victory Fund press release. Currently employed at a local non-profit focused on Denver and the Metro Region, Kniech and her partner of a decade have a 1-year-old son.
Holyoke, Mass., elected the country's youngest gay mayor—22-year-old Alex Morse, according to LGBTQ Nation. He edged longtime political figure Elaine Pluta 53 percent to 47 percent, MassLive.com reported. "This is an incredible moment, not just for this campaign, but for the city of Holyoke. This has never been about me. This has never been about Alex Morse. This has been about the future of Holyoke," Morse said.
Daniel Hernandez, Jr.—the openly gay intern who helped save the life of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz.—was elected to fill a vacancy on the Sunnyside Unified School District governing board, with 61.8 percent of the vote to Sherrie Burdic's 36 percent, Arizona Public Media reported.
LaWana Mayfield prevailed in her race for the Charlotte, N.C., city council, becoming the first openly LGBT elected official there, according to LGBTQ Nation. "It's historic, the first time anyone LGBT out on the city council," said Scott Bishop, a volunteer with Equality North Carolina and the Human Rights Campaign. "At least now we have someone [ on council ] all the time who can give a counterbalance to whatever is said in a meeting where we might not always be present."
Also, Mary Doran won one of four seats on the seven-member St. Paul, Minn., Board of Education, TwinCities.com reported. Doran and Louise Seeba, with approximately 15 percent each, will replace two incumbents who did not seek re-election. Doran is a mother of two who works in architectual drafting and design.
Pedro Segarra was re-elected mayor of Hartford, Conn. He took over as mayor in June 2010 after former Mayor Eddie Perez was convicted on charges of corruption, according to TheRepublic.com . Segarra easily defeated three petitioning candidates to win his first full term.
Bruce Harris is probably the country's first openly gay, African-American Republican mayor after winning in Chatham Borough, N.J. He served on the Chatham Borough Council for the past eight years, and is currently its senior member, according to the Victory Fund.
In Maine, voters overturned a new GOP law that restricted voters' rights by ending same-day registration in the state, according to a National Gay and Lesbian Task Force press release. For nearly four decades, eligible Maine residents have been able to register and vote on Election Day, but in June the GOP-controlled state Legislature voted to overturn the law. Then, a coalition of progressive organizations—including the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's local partner, EqualityMaine—launched a campaign to restore same-day voter registration.
Traverse City, Mich., voters overwhelmingly decided to maintain a nondiscrimination ordinance that protects on the bases of sexual orientation and gender identity, Advocate.com reported. Residents voted by an almost-two-to-one margin to keep protections in housing for LGBT individuals. "The people of Traverse City have sent a clear message that they value their LGBT friends, neighbors, co-workers and family members and don't want to see them left vulnerable to discrimination," Rea Carey, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force executive director, said in a press release.
Also, in Mississippi, voters rejected the so-called "personhood amendment," which would have defined life as starting at conception, CNN reported. Critics contend the amendment was an attempt to outlaw abortion—even for women who are the victims of rape and incest. Gov. Haley Barbour initially questioned the amendment, but eventually supported it.
In a setback for gay and lesbian couples, Rose Belforti—the Ledyard, N.Y., town clerk who refused to sign same-sex marriage licenses—defeated write-in challenger Ed Easter to retain her seat, according to AuburnPub.com . "On that level, I'm glad I have job. I feel great that people were able to support me even though I wanted to do something different and challenge Governor ( Andrew ) Cuomo's law," she said.
Also, it looked unlikely that Bevan Dufty would become San Francisco's first openly gay mayor. At last report, Mayor Ed Lee held a commanding lead in the mayor's race against a diverse slate of 15 candidates, Fox News reported. Dufty served on the board of supervisors in the same seat once held by the late gay-rights leader Harvey Milk.
