Queersetti
Bastardo Suave
- Joined
- Apr 10, 2003
- Posts
- 37,288
Doreen Brandt
365Gay.com Newscenter
Washington Bureau
(Washington, D.C.)_ The first gay African American was elected mayor of a US city, gay candidates were shut out in San Francisco's mayoralty race, and an Ohio town voted to create a partner registry as Americans in many parts of the country went to the polls Tuesday.
In an historic victory voters in Cleveland Heights, Ohio voted overwhelmingly in favor of establishing a domestic partner registry._
While domestic partner registries exist in more than 60 localities across the country, Tuesday's vote marked the first time a domestic partner registry - or any other pro-gay measure - has been adopted through a ballot initiative said a jubilant Matt Foreman, the executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.
"This is a landmark victory for our movement," said Foreman. "With the extraordinary dedication of the people involved with Heights Families for Equality, we were able not only to turn back anti-gay attacks but convince the majority of voters that our families deserve recognition."
The registry, which will be open to both same-sex and opposite-sex couples, will provide committed couples a certified record of their relationship. While conferring no outright benefits, this official documentation has been used in other jurisdictions with registries to qualify for domestic partner health insurance benefits and to secure other basic rights, such as visiting a sick partner in the hospital._
Palm Springs
In Palm Springs, voters elected the nation's first gay African American mayor, as Councilman Ron Oden defeated two-term incumbent Will Kleindienst.
"I am feeling overwhelmed with gratitude for the support this community has shown me," a tearful Oden said.
During the campaign, Oden said Kleindienst's public criticism of controversial but lucrative annual events, such as biker weekend and the White Party, hurt the city financially and divided people instead of uniting them.
Kleindienst caused an outcry two years ago when he raised the possibility of canceling the White Party, an event that draws thousands of gay men to Palm Springs each year and pumps millions of dollars into the economy.
Also elected Tuesday are two openly gay city council members: Ginny Foat and Steve Pougnet._ All three are Democrats.
San Francisco
Two high profile gay candidates were defeated Tuesday in the race for mayor of San Francisco. Supervisor Tom Ammiano and city Treasurer Susan Leal failed to make the cut for the December 9 runoff.
The race is now down to Supervisor Gavin Newsom who has the Democratic party machine behind him, and, Supervisor Matt Gonzalez._ Both men are in their 30s, and if Gonzalez were to win he would become the first American mayor who is a member of the Green Party._
Virginia Legislature
Adam Ebbin was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates from the 49th District. Ebbin will become the first openly-gay member of that body, whose members have included American pillars such as Thomas Jefferson. Republicans chose not to run a candidate against Ebbin.
New York
Jon Cooper was elected to the Suffolk County Legislature (18th Dist.). And, in New York City, Christine Quinn and Philip Reed were elected to City Council
Seattle
Tom Rasmussen was elected at councilor at-large on_ the Seattle City Council.
St. Paul
In St. Paul, Minnesota, Democrat Al Oetwig won reelection to the St. Paul School Board
365Gay.com Newscenter
Washington Bureau
(Washington, D.C.)_ The first gay African American was elected mayor of a US city, gay candidates were shut out in San Francisco's mayoralty race, and an Ohio town voted to create a partner registry as Americans in many parts of the country went to the polls Tuesday.
In an historic victory voters in Cleveland Heights, Ohio voted overwhelmingly in favor of establishing a domestic partner registry._
While domestic partner registries exist in more than 60 localities across the country, Tuesday's vote marked the first time a domestic partner registry - or any other pro-gay measure - has been adopted through a ballot initiative said a jubilant Matt Foreman, the executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.
"This is a landmark victory for our movement," said Foreman. "With the extraordinary dedication of the people involved with Heights Families for Equality, we were able not only to turn back anti-gay attacks but convince the majority of voters that our families deserve recognition."
The registry, which will be open to both same-sex and opposite-sex couples, will provide committed couples a certified record of their relationship. While conferring no outright benefits, this official documentation has been used in other jurisdictions with registries to qualify for domestic partner health insurance benefits and to secure other basic rights, such as visiting a sick partner in the hospital._
Palm Springs
In Palm Springs, voters elected the nation's first gay African American mayor, as Councilman Ron Oden defeated two-term incumbent Will Kleindienst.
"I am feeling overwhelmed with gratitude for the support this community has shown me," a tearful Oden said.
During the campaign, Oden said Kleindienst's public criticism of controversial but lucrative annual events, such as biker weekend and the White Party, hurt the city financially and divided people instead of uniting them.
Kleindienst caused an outcry two years ago when he raised the possibility of canceling the White Party, an event that draws thousands of gay men to Palm Springs each year and pumps millions of dollars into the economy.
Also elected Tuesday are two openly gay city council members: Ginny Foat and Steve Pougnet._ All three are Democrats.
San Francisco
Two high profile gay candidates were defeated Tuesday in the race for mayor of San Francisco. Supervisor Tom Ammiano and city Treasurer Susan Leal failed to make the cut for the December 9 runoff.
The race is now down to Supervisor Gavin Newsom who has the Democratic party machine behind him, and, Supervisor Matt Gonzalez._ Both men are in their 30s, and if Gonzalez were to win he would become the first American mayor who is a member of the Green Party._
Virginia Legislature
Adam Ebbin was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates from the 49th District. Ebbin will become the first openly-gay member of that body, whose members have included American pillars such as Thomas Jefferson. Republicans chose not to run a candidate against Ebbin.
New York
Jon Cooper was elected to the Suffolk County Legislature (18th Dist.). And, in New York City, Christine Quinn and Philip Reed were elected to City Council
Seattle
Tom Rasmussen was elected at councilor at-large on_ the Seattle City Council.
St. Paul
In St. Paul, Minnesota, Democrat Al Oetwig won reelection to the St. Paul School Board
