This election has changed the world for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community<\/a>. Just as it is about transforming the lives of all Houstonians for the better, and that’s what my administration will be about,” Parker told supporters after former city attorney Gene Locke conceded defeat.<\/p>\nBoth are Democrats who faced off for the second time because neither emerged with more than 50 percent of the vote in the November 3 election.<\/p>\n
Other cities such as Providence, Rhode Island, and Portland, Oregon, have picked openly gay mayors. Houston is the fourth-largest U.S. city.<\/p>\n
“There’s a certain segment of Houston, there’s a certain segment of society that has problems with the issues around sexual orientation,” Parker said. “But the citizens of Houston have elected me six consecutive times to public office. They know me, they trust me. I think it’s a small and shrinking minority of Houstonians who have that attitude and I look forward to it as being mayor of all of Houston,” she said.<\/p>\n
Parker will take office in January, replacing Bill White who could not run because of term limits.<\/p>\n
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