Political news

Many blogs are reporting that openly gay mayoral candidate Annise Parker has been dealing with homophobic attacks and that top supporters of her opponent, Gene Locke, have been funding these attacks.  Locke has denied any connections but according to the latest finance reports, two members of Locke's finance committee both gave $20,000 each to the PAC of conservative political activist Steven Hotze, who has a long history of opposing LGBT candidates. The Houston Chronicle reports that Holtze sent a mailer to voters last week urging them not to vote for candidates who were “endorsed by gay lesbian political action committee."  Parker has a slim lead over Locke in the polls.  We should know this Saturday who wins.

Could there be an openly gay Speaker of the House of Representatives in California?  It's looking more and more like a possibility, although we've certainly learned that when it comes to gay candidates and appointments, anything can happen at the last minute.  According to Capitol Weekly, "First-term Assemblyman John Perez, an ally of organized labor and cousin of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, has secured commitments from members of his caucus that could make him the next Assembly speaker."  The vote could tale place as early as next week.  If it happens, Perez will be the first openly gay speaker in any state history.