Some People Who Keep Us Swimming

Let’s end the week on a high note. We’ve had enough bad news form Maine on Tuesday to last us the rest of the year. And I think we need a few specifics, not just speculation. At least 30 LGBT candidates won offices on Tuesday.  So here are some names of real LGBT people who won elections this week, helping us make real progress.

• ANNISE PARKER came in first Tuesday night in her race for mayor of Houston. She now faces a run-off. If she wins, she will be the first openly gay mayor of a top ten city in the United States.
• STEVE KORNELL was the first gay city official elected in Houston. 
• Chapel Hill, North Carolina now has a gay mayor in MARK KLEINSCHMIDT.
• Four gay candidates won elections in Ohio: Dayton School Board Democratic candidate JOE LACY, Lakewood City Council At-Large candidate NICKIE J. ANTONIO, Cleveland City Council candidate JOE SANTIAGO and Columbus City Council candidate MARY JO HUDSON.
• SCOTT BENSON, GARY SCHIFF and ROBERT LILLIGREN were re-elected to the Minneapolis City Council.
• DAN MILLLER was elected to the Harrisburg City Council in Pennsylvania, marking the first time an openly gay official has served on the council.
• JAY FISETTE was re-elected to the Arlington County Board in Virginia.
• SUSAN HOPKINS won a seat on the Portland, Maine, school board.
• ADAM EBBIN was re-elected to the Virginia House of Delegates.
• Four gay candidates won elections in Atlanta: BRIAN BATES, MELANIE HAMMETT, KATHIE de NOBRIGA, and JOHNNY SINCLAIRE. Two candidates made the cut for a run-off, ALEX WAN and SIMONE BELL.

Watch this message that we all need to hear right now, and that  these winners embody: