Gay candidates
win some tough races

The Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund said Thursday that of the 55 candidates the group endorsed this year, 35 won their races or performed well enough to proceed to a runoff. The group--which works to elect LGBT candidates at the local, state, and federal level--said there was plenty of gay-baiting and outright attacks on candidates' sexual orientations. In Ohio, four fund-endorsed candidates won races. Three of the wins were for new seats, including Joe Santiago for Cleveland city council, Nickie Antonio for an at-large Lakewood city council seat, and Joe Lacey for a new seat on the Dayton school board. Mary Jo Hudson won a seat she was appointed to last year on the Columbus city council. In Harrisburg, Pa., Dan Miller garnered 22% of the vote, enough to secure a new seat on the Harrisburg city council. This marks the first time an openly gay candidate was elected in that city. In Texas, where a statewide vote Tuesday to amend the state constitution to ban legal recognition of same-sex relationships passed overwhelmingly, 33% of Houston voters supported Sue Lovell for an at-large city council seat, enough to propel Lovell to a December 6 runoff. Houston is the fourth-largest city in the country. "These candidates bring the skill, talent, and passion that the LGBT community has to contribute to our political system and to society as a whole," said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund. "Winning races at the local level and striving for change within the political process is the surest way to achieve true equality for gay and lesbian Americans," Wolfe added. On the downside, however, antigay attacks against Norfolk, Va., city treasurer candidate Vivian Paige appear to have contributed to her loss. Last month fraudulent fliers placed on cars outside an NAACP candidate forum proclaimed that Paige is a proud lesbian and "doesn't care what people think!" A group called Christian Leaders of Tomorrow went on TV with an ad last week targeting Paige's sexual orientation. (Advocate.com)