Houston picks conservative Annise Parker as mayor, first lesbian to head a major American city

The city of Houston, Texas appears to have elected its first gay mayor.

The new mayor is Annise Parker, currently the 53-year-old city controller.

In a light turnout and a relatively close runoff, she defeated local attorney Gene Locke with about 53% of the vote with not quite all ballots in.

Parker becomes the second woman to become mayor of Houston and the first lesbian to head a major American city. Houston is the fourth largest U.S. city.

Parker neither proclaimed nor sought to hide her sexual orientation and ran on a platform of firm fiscal conservatism and her long experience in urban financial matters.

Locke sought to distance himself from a last-minute anti-gay campaign that did not work.

Late Saturday night Parker appeared with her partner, Kathy Hubbard, at an election night rally and told supporters:

I know what this means to many of us who thought we couldn't achieve higher office.

But let us at this moment join as one community. We are united in making Houston the city it should be, could be, can be and will be.

Parker succeeds Bill White, who is term-limited and is seeking the Texas governor's office next year. She will take office in early January.

We have an updated national look at 2009 in gay politics available by clicking here.

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Photo: Pat Sullivan / Associated Press

Comments

[Peter]

Conservative? Where did you get that notion? She's been an activist in the Democratic party for more than a decade. Just because she wants to balance a budget doesn't make her a conservative. Fiscal conservative doesn't mean Conservative.

Do some research before throwing around a label.

[Eric in Houston]

I live in Houston. I see her being soft on crime. She is NOT very conservative, Gene Locke would of "Locked" up the criminals we received from New Orleans during hurricane Katirna. We have higher crime, higher taxes, less city services and I really more of a Ghettoization in the coming years of the metro Houston area.....Houston, the Detroit of the south.

[Keep Houston Houston]

@Peter: What, exactly, defines "conservative" in your view? Endless oil wars? Total Information Awareness? Abortion-clinic bombings?

While I personally voted for Locke, I have little doubt that Parker will be a competent mayor. Houston is a prosperous and vibrant place, and the existing political infrastructure is efficient and effective. Unlike other cities where candidates campaign on endless proposals for "reform," all Parker has to do is not screw up, to keep a good thing going.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have an appointment with a certain 24-hour mexican joint for some 2am chili con queso. Houston, baby.

[Renee]

It's ironic... It seems that the East and West coast are always so eager to bash Texas as backwards and bigoted, but look what major city is first to elect an openly gay mayor.

[Pokey Anderson]

That is an absurd headline. I've known Annise for over 20 years. One could accurately describe her as a centrist, or a moderate Democrat. Fiscal conservative, sure. Conservative. No way!

[Some AZ Guy]

Whatever. Arizona hired a lesbian governor, years ago, Janet Napolitano. She was quite open about her being a lesbian, she even made appearances with her girlfriend.

BTW, Napolitano got elected in AZ by promising to reduce spending and cut taxes (she was a Democrat, so of course she didn't actually do these things). Arizonans don't care where you sleep at night, just that you keep your hands out of their pockets.

[Samson]

aahhhh...Annise, just what Houstong needs, someone a wee bit soft on crime. That should really help the city.

[jeaneeinabottle]

WOW a conservative who is gay, who would of thought!? I thought we were the ones that hated everyone, not!!! The Democrats lie so much and this just proves it. We are not what they say we are people. We want LESS government, LESS spending, and balance the darn books!!! I don't care who does it and don't cram your personal life down my throat, thats all we want. Success for EVERYONE!! Congratulations to the new Mayor of Houston!

[Jason A]

I live in the Houston area. She is a fiscal conservative, for the most part. That, regardless as to what the people who have a bigoted view of us down in the Lone Star State, is what got her elected. The majority of Texans are conservative, but what we really are concerned about are government officials that can't operate within the mean given to them. Many in the local Tea-Parties supported her as well.

You People that live in California should stop throwing stones. It is YOUR state that has the highest "hate-crime" rate. Just got to Statemaster.com.

Texas has no income tax, is very buisness friendly and very diverse. If it was its own country it would have the 19th largest economy in the world. I am aware that California has a large economy but people are moving out of that crazy place.

[Paul A'Barge]

Katrina brought waves of ghetto criminals flooding into Houston.
The new mayor is going to bring waves of gays moving to Houston.

Adios a great town.

[Porkov]

I resent the implication that Cincinnati is not a major American city. The sexual orientation of our mayor from 1993-1999 was well known, but not an issue. Roxanne Qualls was the top vote-getter in the most recent City Council election, and if we still elected our mayor that way and had not instituted term limits, she would be mayor now.

[Patrick in Houston]

As a former resident of San Francisco, now in Texas almost 20 years, I'll note for those of you still foolish enough to be in California, why Texas has and will continue to provide a better life than California:

1. No income tax in Texas;
2. Part time legislature that meets for a limited time only every two years; (note too that Parker had this opportunity in part because of term limits on Houston's mayor);
3. Reasonably priced housing;
4. No silly beliefs that business (both energy and otherwise) is bad;
5. Discussions about what service you went to on Sunday or what church you belong to is normal; (and yes some of those same people voted for Parker);
6. A generally held belief that family is important.

Good luck California.

[ulisses]

I,m sure she was not elected because she is gay she was elected because of her credential , Its a great statement for the whole country

[Mary]

Annise Parker won by default. Both candidates were moral reprobates ... Gene Locke a dishonest lawyer, Annise Parker is a sodomite. It was a choice between two devils, both from the pit of Hell. Voter turn out was so low you could walk in, vote, and walk out in under 2 minutes.

[Darrell]

One day it won't matter what colour people are, or who they like to sleep with.

Saying this now, of course, makes me a racist homophobe, but I don't care.

Congratulations to Mayor Parker

[rick]

residing in Houston Texas we are very proud of this achievement.....she was the most qualified for this position!!!!

[Dandapani]

If she is a fiscal conservative, I could not care less who she sleeps with.

[Gene Elder]

Well, I guess we are making progress.
And Remember:
"Art, like the Alamo, has to draw the line somewhere. "
--- Gene Elder
HAPPY Foundation Archives Director

[Brandon Webb]

Just FYI - Annise Parker is by no means conservative. Next time you need to do your research. Also, to the Arizona person, Houston has more people than the entire state of Arizona.

[Doug Haun]

A Democrat that is a conservative? Now that is an oxymoron. It this case it is just a bald faced lie to have a headline that says this woman is a conservative. She is not a conservative of any kind. Of course you would hear this from the LA Times, one of the pillars of the four corners of deceit.