Word: parkers
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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...news that a lesbian had been elected mayor of Houston, deep in the heart of the conservative South, was greeted with surprise this week. After defeats on gay marriage in places deemed far more gay-friendly than Texas, like Maine and New York, the victory of Annise Parker, who is in a committed relationship with two children, was a welcome, if puzzling, achievement for advocates of gay rights. The mayor-elect's photograph, showing her smiling sweetly and looking like Barbara Bush, was plastered everywhere from the Drudge Report to China's Xinhua news service, shattering all manner of clich...
...both her public and personal life, Parker has maintained high ethical standards and decorum in her years as an elected official. No scandals have occurred on her watch. As mayor she will present the city's best face to the world, one of tolerance, diversity and compassion for all our citizens." - An endorsement from the Houston Chronicle (Nov. 22, 2009) (Read a 2005 cover story, "The Battle Over Gay Teens...
...former city attorney. A group of African-American pastors criticized her supposed "gay agenda," and a conservative activist distributed flyers featuring her and her partner and asking, "Is this the image Houston wants to portray?" But the attacks did not find traction; a Houston Chronicle/Zogby poll found that Parker's sexuality mattered to just 18% of likely voters...
...Parker's sexuality] was a factor, but not enough of a factor to stop her. We are talking about a candidate who has been in public life for 12 years. Everyone knows her. You had an entire race where no one ever questioned whether she was good at her job." - Jay Aiyer, a chief of staff to former Mayor Lee Brown (New York Times...
...Houston, it means we have finally reached the point where being gay cannot be used as a wedge issue to divide the community and prevent us from reaching our aspirations. Annise Parker is not our mayor - she is the city's mayor." - Ray Hill, a prominent gay-rights activist (Houston Chronicle...