Something inspiring is happening in Houston.  For the first time, an openly gay woman has entered the Mayoral race in the generally conservative city of Houston, TX.  Right now you are probably thinking “Wow..bold move!”  But wait it gets better — she could actually win!  Annise Parker, who is currently the city’s Controller, is in a run-off election for Houston Mayor with former city attorney Gene Locke.  On December 12th, when all of the final votes are cast, the city will be anxiously awaiting the word of who will succeed current Mayor Bill White in January. 

Both Democratic candidates, it appears to be tough fight between the two — a neck and neck race to the finish pulling out all the stops.  Parker has been endorsed by the HRC and the Houston Chronicle, while Locke has been endorsed by the Houston Police Department.   

Parker’s run doesn’t come without controversy of course.  Keep in mind, this race is in Houston — not in Austin, our lovely open-minded bubble we are proud to call home.  Unfortunately, there are bigots out there like David Wilson who are pitted against Parker and using dirty tactics to make sure she does not win the majority vote.  For those unfamiliar, he is the man (and I use that word lightly) who crusaded to refuse benefits to partners of City of Houston LGBT employees.  The Houston Chronicle reported that Wilson sent out nearly 35,000 fliers to Houston residents depicting Parker and her partner alongside the message, “Is this the image Houston wants to portray?” The Chronicle also reported him as saying that “he is concerned that Parker, if elected, would become a gay and lesbian cultural icon and an inspiration to others to enter politics.”  Oh. My. Gosh.  God FORBID young gays and lesbians have dreams!  

Anyway, I’m not going to let a sorry-excuse-for-a-human-being like David Wilson have the last word in this article –so I will say to David:

Damn straight Parker is and will be an inspiration for LGBT people young and old, near and far.  And you know why?  Because she’s got class (something which you apparently lack), she’s got heart, and she’s not afraid to be who she is.  Here’s MY official endorsement for Annise Parker – a woman who is all of these things: A board member of the Holocaust Museum and Girls Inc., an advisory board member of the Houston Zoo, the Montrose Counseling Center and Trees for Houston.  And last but not certainly least, we can look up to Parker because she has been with her partner, Kathy Hubbard for nearly 20 years, and together they have adopted two children.  She is a family woman and she is a lesbian — Wow. I bet you thought you never hear those two classifications in the same sentence — did you, David?