GRAPHIC: The racial/ethnic demographics of U.S. Top 10 metro areas

Information on race in America, especially in metropolitan areas in the United States. This is from a recent deep dive into race, politics and demographics by the Boston Globe's award-winning Spotlight team as the paper tried to examine why Boston is perceived as "more racist" than other big cities.

SATURDAY POLITICS: Texas Sup Ct Tells Houston "Repeal Equal Rights Measure Or Place On Ballot"

The Texas Supreme Court issued a ruling yesterday handing opponents of Houston's Equal Rights ordinance (HERO) a victory when it said that the City Council must decide by August 24th to either repeal the measure or place it before voters for a vote on the November 2015 municipal ballot. The Houston City Council enacted HERO last summer with openly lesbian Mayor Annise Parker's strong support. This is a shocking ruling because earlier the religious extremists who opposed HERO had turned in double the number of signatures needed to pace the measure on the ballot but more than half of those petitions were deemed invalid by the City Attorney. However the City Secretary had certified that there were enough signatures and it is this certification that the Texas Supreme Court has said must be obeyed. The court suspended the non-discrimination ordinance, and gave the city counvil 30 days to decide to repeal the ordinance or place it before voters.

In response to the Republican-dominated state high court ruling, Mayor Parker issued a statement which said:

"Obviously, I am disappointed and believe the court is in error with this eleventh hour ruling in a case that had already been decided by a judge and jury of citizens. Nonetheless, we will proceed with the steps necessary for City Council to consider the issue. At the same time, we are consulting with our outside counsel on any possible available legal actions. Houston’s Equal Rights Ordinance is similar to measures passed by every other major city in the country and by most local corporations. No matter the color of your skin, your age, gender, physical limitations, or sexual orientation, every Houstonian deserves the right to be treated equally. To do otherwise, hurts Houston’s well-known image as a city that is tolerant, accepting, inclusive and embracing of its diversity. Our citizens fully support and understand this and I have never been afraid to take it to the voters. We will win!"

Of course t's always a bad idea to be forced to vote on the civil rights of other people but if that's what the haters want, we will be ready!

Texas Legislators Introduce Bill To Void Local LGBT Rights Ordinances

Here we go! Just as I predicted when I blogged about the Arkansas and West Virginia bills that are the new face of anti-LGBT animus in state legislatures, I said that many other red states would soon follow their homophobic lead. Today comes word that the biggest red state of them all, Texas, is planning on joining the rush to deny equal rights to LGBT citizens:

A Fort Bend County Republican has introduced a bill that would bar cities from adopting or enforcing non-discrimination ordinances that include protected classes not contained in state law. Texas law doesn’t include sexual orientation or gender identity and expression. 

As a result, state Rep. Rick Miller’s House Bill 1556 would undo LGBT protections passed by numerous cities, including Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, El Paso, Fort Worth, Houston and Plano. Altogether more than 7.5 million Texas are covered by such ordinances.

Will state legislators really override the local anti-discrimination ordinances that protect 7.5 million residents? We shall see....

EYE CANDY: David Lovelace

David Lovelace is an African-American male model from Houston, Texas. According to his Model Mayhem profile, he is 37 years old, 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds. He has a Facebook page where he is listed as a pro natural bodybuilder as David A Lovelace and another where he is listed as a model.

I think you can see why!

Houston City Council Passes LGBT Equal Rights Ordinance 11-6

Good news from the nation's fourth largest city, Houston, Texas! After a prolonged fight, the Houston City Council did the right thing, and passed HERO, the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance, which prohibits discrimination in housing and employment based on sexual orientation and gender identity, by a vote of 11-6. Houston's Mayor, Annise Parker, is openly gay and she signed the measure so that it goes into effect immediately. Parker is currently in her 3rd term as Mayor.

Houston was the only major city in America without a non-discrimination ordinance. Violators face fines between $500-$5000.

Hat/tip to Joe Jervis

UPDATE: Father Of Murdered Black Lesbian Arrested

There is a shocking update in the story of the Black lesbian couple whose bodies were found dumped near a dumpster in Galveston County over the weekend. James Larry Cosby, the father of one of the victims, has been arrested in connection with the crime.

The Houston Chronicle reports:

James Larry Cosby, 46, of Houston, is charged with two counts of tampering with evidence in the deaths of his daughter, Britney Cosby, and Crystal Jackson, according to the Galveston County Sheriff's Office. Both women were 24. 

Deputies said Cosby is in the Galveston County jail in lieu of $500,000 bail. Charges against him, deputies added, may be upgraded to capital murder as the investigation continues.

Cosby was arrested early Thursday morning after investigators interviewed him about the case following a vigil in Houston for the slain women, said Galveston County Sheriff Henry Trochesset.

Tcochesset said statements Cosby made to investigators as well as evidence in the home where he lived with his daughter and his daughter's great-grandmother led to his arrest. He declined to elaborate about what Cosby said or what evidence was found because the case is still being investigated.

Kudos to the Galveston County Sheriffs for making an arrest so quickly in the case. This situation just seems to be getting more and more tragic.

Hat/tip to Joe Jervis

Houston Black Lesbian Couple Found Murdered; Police Sketch of Suspect Released

The LGBT blogosphere is buzzing with the sad news that an African-American lesbian couple have been found murdered in Galveston County, Texas. The two women, both 24, have been identified as Crystal Jackson and Britney Cosby. Cosby has a 5-year-old daughter and the two women had been living together and raising the child together.

Police have released a composite sketch of the person they think had been seen riding in the women's car, a 2006 Kia Sorento SUV.

Galveston County Sheriff's Office is asking for anyone with information to call 1-866-248-8477.

GRAPHIC: 50% Of All Economic Activity Is In Urban Centers

Via Kevin Drum is this interesting picture demonstrating the outsized impact of urban centers on America's economic activity.

Lesbian Mayor Of Houston Re-Elected To 3rd Term!

This week Annise Parker was re-elected as Mayor of Houston, Texas for a third and final term. Parker is the first openly LGBT chief executive of a Top 10 city.

With 35% of precincts reporting Tuesday night, Parker had secured 57% of the vote compared with 28% for Hall. Hall conceded less than two hours after the polls closed when early returns showed Parker securing the 50% threshold needed to avoid a runoff.

Parker's victory is in contrast to high-profile losses by other female candidates running for Mayor of major cities in 2013 such as Christine Quinn in New York City and Wendy Greuel in Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles Times analyzes why Parker won:

“The mayor has an image as a technocrat, a policy wonk, not an in-your-face left-wing activist. She’s not someone who really alienates conservatives,” said Mark Jones, chair of the political science department at Rice University in Houston.

While Hall lived in a mansion just outside Houston until last year, Parker graduated from Rice, worked in the oil and gas industry and lived with her domestic partner, Kathy Hubbard, and three children in an older home in the city’s historic Heights neighborhood.

Parker started out as a gay activist in college, was president of the Houston GLBT Political Caucus and has been open about her family, attending black-tie events with Hubbard. But, Jones said, “she doesn’t make a political issue out of it.”

“She’s first and foremost a mayor who focuses on policy,” he said. “Her life is one that people in Houston can really identify with.”

Before she was first elected mayor in 2009, Parker served on the City Council and as Houston controller. During her first mayoral term, she handled budget cuts without raising taxes, which Jones said earned her respect from conservative and centrist voters.

Congratulations to Mayor Parker!

Nearly 100 U.S. Mayors Support Marriage Equality

On Friday, Freedom To Marry launched a new initiative called Mayors for the Freedom to Marry to demonstrate the wide and non-partisan support for marriage equality across the country. The 5 lead co-chairs of the effort are the mayors of New York City, Los Angeles, Houston, Boston and San Diego which include 3 of the Top 5 cities in the United States.

Here's the press release announcing the Mayors for the Freedom to Marry initiative:

Bipartisan “Mayors for the Freedom to Marry” Launches

Independent Michael Bloomberg of New York City, Republican Jerry Sanders of San Diego and Democrats Antonio Villaraigosa of Los Angeles, Thomas Menino of Boston, Annise Parker of Houston and Rahm Emanuel of Chicago Among Key Backers

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, Freedom to Marry, the campaign to win marriage nationwide, is launching Mayors for the Freedom to Marry at a press conference held at the 80th annual U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting in Washington, D.C.  Mayors for the Freedom to Marry is a bipartisan group of 80 mayors who have pledged to support the freedom of same-sex couples to marry.

“If we truly believe in family values, we should value all families,” said Antonio R. Villaraigosa, Los Angeles Mayor, Mayors for the Freedom to Marry chair and president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. “Denying gay and lesbian couples the freedom to marry weakens society by hurting our communities, neighbors, and families. We hope other mayors will sign the pledge and join Mayors for the Freedom to Marry.”

The group includes mayors from cities and towns—large and small—with diverse geographic, ethnic and political backgrounds. The list includes the mayors of America’s four largest cities—Michael Bloomberg of New York, Antonio Villaraigosa of Los Angeles, Rahm Emanuel of Chicago, and Annise Parker of Houston. It also includes mayors from cities including Juneau, Alaska; Des Moines, Iowa; and Bloomington, Indiana. View the full list of signers here.

Mayors for the Freedom to Marry is part of Freedom to Marry’s federal campaign to expand public support for ending marriage discrimination. Mayors who sign on will employ tailored strategies for making the case for the freedom to marry in their communities. Many mayors who represent cities in states where marriage is not yet a reality will advocate to pass laws to secure the freedom to marry. Others will make the case to their congressional representatives to end federal marriage discrimination by repealing the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). All are making a statement as to why marriage matters in their communities, how it improves the quality of life for their constituents, and how it makes their communities economically stronger.

“A majority of Americans now support the freedom to marry for loving, committed gay and lesbian couples, according to multiple reputable national polls,” said Marc Solomon, National Campaign Director of Freedom to Marry. “Many Americans who for decades opposed the freedom to marry for same-sex couples are rethinking their position, and hearts and minds are changing.  We are proud – and thankful – for the leadership these mayors from across the country are showing in support of this cause.”

Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City, who is also a chair of Mayors for the Freedom to Marry, discussed the positive impact allowing couples the freedom to marry has made in New York.

“In only a season, the freedom to marry has already made New York a stronger state.  This isn’t about partisanship or ideology.  It’s about extending the freedoms of our country to all people, and ensuring equal protection under the law.  Mayors understand that welcoming committed gay couples to the rights and responsibilities of marriage isn’t just the right thing to do.  It’s also the smart thing to do for the diverse, dynamic, forward-looking cities we’re all working to build.”

Republican Mayor of San Diego and fellow chair of the group Jerry Sanders, who became a powerful advocate for marriage when he announced in 2007 that he would sign a city council resolution in support of the freedom to marry told his personal story of how his views evolved.

“Allowing loving and committed couples to join in marriage has benefits not just for couples and their families—but also for society.  Marriage encourages people to take responsibility for each other, provides greater security for children, and helps our country live up to the promises set forth in our founding documents. These are important values for a strong society, and we should encourage them.”

Mayors for the Freedom to Marry chair Annise Parker, Mayor of Houston, highlighted the important role of community leaders working together.

"Everyone here believes in the vital importance of marriage to our constituents, to our communities, and to our country.  Together, we will work to ensure that our cities have what they need to thrive – and in order to keep our cities competitive in business and welcoming in culture, we will work hard to win the freedom to marry everywhere and end federal marriage discrimination once and for all."

Boston Mayor Tom Menino—former President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors and a chair of Mayors for the Freedom to Marry—said that extending marriage to gay and lesbian couples has been a benefit to his city’s economy.

“Cities that cultivate diversity are places where creativity and innovation thrive,” Menino said. “We’ve now had the freedom to marry in Boston for almost eight years. Since then we’ve seen more same-sex couples move to the city, and with that economic development, urban revitalization, and a spirit of pride and progress that are hallmarks of Boston.”

U.S. Conference of Mayors CEO and Executive Director Tom Cochran also gave remarks.

"Building on our long track record on civil rights, the U.S Conference of Mayors adopted a resolution in 1984 calling for the legal protection of gay and lesbian rights at all levels of government and one in 2009 calling for marriage equality for same-sex couples,” Cochran said. “Our support is unwavering."

Mayors who participated in the launch included Laura Friedman of Glendale, CA; Bill Finch of Bridgeport, CT; Pedro Segarra of Hartford, CT; Joy Cooper of Hallandale Beach, FL; Elizabeth Tisdahlof Evanston, IL; Jeff Slavin of Somerset, MD; Setti Warren of Newton, MA; Paul Soglin of Madison, WI; John Callahan of Bethlehem, PA; Sam Adams of Portland, OR and Craig Cates of Key West, FL.

Celebrity Friday: Annise Parker Easily Wins Re-election

Mayor Annise Parker, first openly gay chief executive of a major U.S. city

Annise Parker was easily re-elected to a second 2-year term as Mayor of Houston, Texas on Tuesday November 8. She gathered more than 50% of the vote in a 9-person field, thus avoiding a December run-off election. Two years ago, Parker made history when she became the first openly gay person to head a major United States city (Houston is the fourth largest city in the country).

The Advocate reports:

Parker, who received congratulatory calls Tuesday evening from Vice President Joseph Biden and Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz, said that her reelection and the victories of many openly gay candidates nationwide last night indicate a trend toward greater acceptance of LGBT elected officials.

“That doesn’t mean it’s easy,” Parker said. “If the only thing [voters] know about you as a candidate is that you’re openly gay or lesbian, it’s a negative. But if it’s only one of a series of data points about you, then they can filter that along with all of the other points.” 


Despite a current approval rating that is the lowest of any Houston mayor in recent history, according to the Houston Chronicle, Parker has worked to extend LGBT rights in a city that continues to prohibit domestic-partner benefits for gay municipal employees — the result of a voter referendum several years ago. In 2010 she issued an executive nondiscrimination order inclusive of gender identity (sexual orientation had been covered in a previous policy order by former mayor Bill White).

Congratulations, Mayor Parker!

Lesbian Mayor of Houston Tweets Re-Election Bid

Annise Parker, who became the first openly LGBT mayor of a major United States city (Houston) in December 2009, has announced what everyone has known for a pretty long time: she's running for re-election.

The Houston Chronicle (which endorsed Parker in her election two years ago) covered the story like this:

Houston Mayor Annise Parker filed the papers Thursday to put her name on the November ballot, a move that so far appears to be a formality on her path toward a second two-year term.

"I'm going to be a better mayor in the second term because of what I've learned in the first term," Parker declared during a visit to her campaign headquarters on Allen Parkway.

The mayor described her first term as one in which she often had to react instead of plan and shape. The economy depleted city revenue, leading to painful spending cuts. Voters handed Parker controversial mandates to initiate a monthly drainage fee and to turn off the city's red-light cameras. She compared her attempts to change the culture of a 21,000-employee city bureaucracy to turning an ocean liner. Even the weather has necessitated a response, and Parker recently imposed mandatory water restrictions on the 2.1 million people she governs.

In a second term, Parker said, she hopes to create more and respond less.

"This is a city that has tremendous potential, and I want to move the conversation to tapping into that potential, to being a cleaner, greener city, to being a city with more jobs and opportunity for everybody," Parker said.

Since the advent of term limits in 1991, no incumbent mayor has lost an election. Nor has any even had a close call in their first re-election.

Go, Annise, Go! The election is November 8, 2011. Parker has more than $2.3 million on hand and no opponents with more than $5,000. She is term-limited to 3-terms in office, so she would still have to be re-elected in 2013 to spend the maximum 6 years as Mayor of Houston.

Interestingly, in 2013 there may be another lesbian running to be Mayor of an even bigger city: New York City.

WATCH: Houston Cops Pummel Black Male Suspect, 15

Hat/tip to Color of Change

LISTEN: Obama Voicemail to America's 1st Lesbian Mayor

WATCH: Mayor-elect Annise Parker's Victory Speech

Houston Mayoral Race Election Results

Openly lesbian City Controller Annise Parker is expected to be elected Mayor of Houston today. She would make history as the first openly gay person to lead a major American city (Houston, the nation's 4th largest with 2.245 million residents and just under a million registered voters). To follow election results throughout the night, you can look at Harris County Elections site or follow #HouMayor on Twitter.

In early returns, Parker leads by 2,000 votes out of 80,000 cast (51.7% to 48.3%).

Polls this week had Parker lead former City Attorney Gene Locke by as many as 13 points. Locke is African American and both candidates are Democrats in this non-partisan race.

UPDATE 8:20PM PST
With 733 of 734 precincts reporting, Annise Parker has been elected Mayor of Houston 81,662 to 70,631--a margin of over 10,000 votes--53.6% to 46.4%.

Open Lesbian Parker Leads Houston Mayor's Race

Rod 2.0 alerts me to this poll released yesterday which shows that Houston City Controller Annise Parker leads former Houston City Attorney Gene Locke in Saturday's run-off mayoral election by thirteen points, 49-36.

Previous polls had shown the race to be close, but Stein said Parker opened up a double-digit lead because her message of fiscal responsibility has helped her gain support among a variety of voting groups: white Republicans, African-Americans, Hispanics and independents.

Both Locke and Parker are Democrats in the nonpartisan race. Houston is a predominantly Democratic city and is about 25 percent black and one-third Hispanic. It has about 60,000 residents who identify as gay or lesbian.

The poll, commissioned by television station KHOU and radio station KUHF, is based on telephone interviews earlier this week with 442 registered voters in Houston. It has an error rate of plus or minus 4.7 percent.

If Parker wins, she will make history as the first openly gay head of a major American city, Houston, which with an estimated population of 2.2 million is the United States' fourth largest, behind New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago.

Kasim Reed Wins Atlanta Mayors's Race by 714 Votes

Tami Chappell/Reuters

The Atlanta Mayor's race has finally been decided after a recount and Kasim Reed, 40, has defeated Mary Norwood by 714 votes (42,549 to 41,835) out of over 84,000 votes cast.

MadProfessah was following the race because it featured a hard-fought tussle over the votes of LGBT voters, and on Tuesday December 1st Atlanta made history electing the first openly gay people of color to the City Council and the State Legislature.

714 votes! Let's hope that Annise Parker wins her race to become the first lesbian chief executive of a major American city (Houston, the 4th largest in the Country!) on Saturday December 12th. This race also pits the LGBT community "against" the Black community, since Parker's opponent is African-American.

Parker Gets Houston Chronicle Endorsement for Mayor

Annise Parker, who is trying to become the first openly LGBT person elected mayor of a major American city, has garnered the endorsement of her hometown's largest newspaper, the Houston Chronicle.

In 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.

The Chronicle urges voters to allow Parker to take her high standards and solid record of accomplishment to the city’s highest office.

However, this week came word that local homophobes are distributing 35,000 copies of an anti-gay flier to Houston residents with a picture of Parker and her female partner under the large caption "Is This The Image Houston Wants To Portray?"

The main person behind the flyer gave interviews where he said such charming nonsense as "homosexual behavior leads to extinction." This is always one of the craziest arguments in the raving homophobes arsenal. Do they really think heterosexual will stop having straight sex if gay people become more prominent and liberated? The answer is obviously no, and if it were yes, what does that say about the allure of heterosexuality? Not much!

To support Annise Parker for Mayor, go to www.victoryfund.org/anniseparker

Homophobes Worried Next Mayor Of Houston May Be Lesbian

Annise Parker, the City Controller of Houston,is the current frontrunner to become the next Mayor of Houston. She finished first in a crowded field of candidates on November 3rd and is in a runoff election with African American City Treasurer Gene Locke scheduled to be held December 15. She is also openly gay. She's been elected citywide five times in the last dozen years or so.

Now there comes reports of a concerted effort being made by conservatives to scuttle her chances of making history as the first openly-LGBT elected mayor of a major American city (with apologies to Portland, Oregon's Sam Adams).

TowleRoad quotes from the Houston Chronicle

"The group is motivated by concerns about a 'gay takeover' of City Hall, given that two other candidates in the five remaining City Council races are also openly gay, as well as national interest driven by the possibility that Houston could become the first major U.S. city to elect an openly gay woman. Another primary concern is that Parker or other elected officials would seek to overturn a 2001 city charter amendment that prohibits the city from providing benefits to the domestic partners of gay and lesbian employees. 'The bottom line is that we didn't pick the battle, she did, when she made her agenda and sexual preference a central part of her campaign,' said Dave Welch, executive director of the Houston Area Pastor Council, numbering more than 200 senior pastors in the Greater Houston area. 'National gay and lesbian activists see this as a historic opportunity. The reality is that's because they're promoting an agenda which we believe to be contrary to the concerns of the community and destructive to the family.'"

Parker, however, has not made these issues a central part of her campaign: "Parker has tread carefully in her candidacy for mayor, stressing frequently that she is running not as a gay candidate but as a qualified city official who's won election six times. In a televised debate last month, she voiced 'no current plans' to revisit the city charter amendment if elected, although she said the city will need to offer benefits to the same-sex partners of its employees 'at some point.'"

Oh, and it turns out that Parker's rival for the Mayoralty of Houston is Black.

So, here we go again: Black versus Gays! This race will almost definitely get more coverage as the end of the year approaches. See the CNN profile on Annise Parker from earlier this year.