Tag: gay mayors

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Gay Mayor Of Wilton Manor Dies Of Brain Aneurysm

Justin Flippen, the 41-year-old  openly gay mayor of Wilton Manors, Florida, died suddenly early Tuesday night as he was driving to a meeting of the Wilton Manors City Commission. Wilton Manors Police Chief Paul O’Connell said Flippen was taken to a nearby hospital due to a serious “medical issue,” and that he was later pronounced dead at the hospital. Police Chief Paul O’Connell said Wednesday that the Medical Examiner’s Office determined Flippen died of a brain aneurysm. Flippen was elected mayor in 2018 on a platform of experience, fiscal responsibility, inclusive community values and protecting neighborhoods’ small-town feel. He had filed to run for reelection this November.

Mayor Justin Flippen (center)
With his election, Wilton Manors became only the second city in the U.S. to have an entirely LGBTQ elected city government. Palm Springs was the first. Flippen was first elected to the Commission in November 2008 and then picked to serve as Vice Mayor. He also served from 2008-2010 and 2014-2018 before being elected mayor in 2018. Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg, who Flippen had endorsed for president, tweeted his condolences.

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Chicago Elects First Black Female & First Openly LGBTQ Mayor

Lori Lightfoot (courtesy of Lightfoot campaign)

In a historic race, Lori Lightfoot has been elected mayor of Chicago, Illinois.

The achievement makes the 56-year-old the first openly LGBTQ person – and the first Black female – to serve as mayor of Chicago.

Lightfoot will be the only current Black lesbian mayor in the United States.

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Sweeping all 50 wards of Chicago, Lori Lightfoot on Tuesday became the first LGBTQ person elected mayor of that major American city. . "Out there tonight, a lot of little girls and boys are watching. They're watching us, and they're seeing the beginning of something, well, a little bit different," Lightfoot, 56, who is also the first black woman elected mayor in the country’s third-largest city, told a jubilant crowd at a downtown hotel. "They're seeing a city reborn." . Former Houston Mayor Annise Parker, CEO of Victory Fund, a nonpartisan organization that promotes LGBTQ candidates, hailed Lightfoot’s groundbreaking victory. . “A Black lesbian taking power in the nation’s third-largest city is a historic moment for so many communities that are too often ignored in American politics," Parker, who is a lesbian, said in a statement shared with NBC News. . “Lori will certainly remain focused on the issues facing Chicago,” Parker continued, “but as the highest-ranking LGBTQ person ever elected mayor of an American city — a title she takes from me — she is also now a key leader in the movement to build LGBTQ political power nationwide.”A post shared by NBC OUT (@nbcout) on Apr 3, 2019 at 4:09pm PDT

Chicago is now the largest city ever to elect a queer person to mayor. That distinction was previously held by former Houston Mayor Annise Parker, who served from 2010-2016.

Parker, who current serves as executive director of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, praised Lightfoot in a statement.

“A Black lesbian taking power in the nation’s third-largest city is a historic moment for so many communities that are too often ignored in American politics,” said Parker. “Chicago’s enormous influence on the national dialogue provides a platform for Lori to promote more inclusive solutions to the challenges facing our cities and nation – and to be a credible messenger as well.”

“Lori will certainly remain focused on the issues facing Chicago,” Parker added. “But as the highest-ranking LGBTQ person ever elected mayor of an American city – a title she takes from me – she is also now a key leader in the movement to build LGBTQ political power nationwide.”

Lightfoot, who had served as president of the Chicago Police Board, is a former federal prosecutor.

She campaigned on ridding the city of government corruption as well as helping lower/middle income families she believes have been left behind or ignored

Lightfoot will succeed Mayor Rahm Emanuel on May 20.

But wait – there’s more!

With 62 percent of the vote, Satya Rhodes Conway bested longtime Mayor Paul Soglin becoming the first openly gay (and second female) Mayor of Madison, Wisconsin.

And in Kansas City, Missouri, city councilwoman Jolie Justus was the top vote-getter among 11 candidates in that mayoral race earning her a one of two spots in the June 18 general election. 

Justus, who is openly lesbian, is a former two-term state senator. She garnered 23 percent of the vote while second place went to Councilman Quinton Lucas, who earned 18 percent.
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News Round-Up: March 15, 2018

The Kings of Disco (not the Village People?)

Some news items you might have missed:

• Who’s the ‘real’ Village People these days? It’s pretty complicated, actually.

• Fort Lauderdale proves itself to be one of the most LGBT-friendly cities in America with the election of openly gay Dean Trantalis as mayor. The Democrat easily defeated his Republican opponent Bruce Roberts by winning 64% of the vote.

• When word broke that the Department of Housing and Urban Development ordered a $31,000 dining table for HUD Secretary Ben Carson’s offices, we got quick denials that Carson knew nothing about the purchase. Recently released emails show, however, that Carson not only knew but picked out the new luxe new furniture with his wife.

• Donald Trump’s new pick for Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, has a terrible record on LGBTQ equality. From opposing marriage equality to fighting open military service by LGBTS, he’s been bad news for the community.

• Megan Rapinoe, the Olympic and World Cup champion soccer player who came out publicly several years ago, has signed a sponsorship deal with Bodyarmor sports drink.

• Ryan Worley of the Chippendales gives you an up-close peek at his totally awesome abs minutes after his Chipps calendar shoot. #Dang