N.J. Could Elect
Second Gay Mayor in State

Neptune could become the second New Jersey city with an acting gay mayor, Newsday reported Sunday. If Randy Bishop is elected Tuesday, he will also become the third gay mayor in New Jersey's history.

"I guess it's still an oddity for openly gay people to be in elected politics," Bishop told The Asbury Park Press. "The same as for years it was probably true of African-Americans, of people of the Latino cultures, of Asian cultures. It's the oddity because today it's so few. Hopefully, it will come to the point where people aren't looked at as though they are in a box but by what they bring to the table."

Tim Eustace is the single openly gay mayor currently in the state, in Maywood. Gina Genovese was elected as the first gay mayor of Long Hill in 2005 but is no longer in office.

Steve Goldstein, chairman of Garden State Equality, told Newsday that Bishop's selection as mayor would be "an extraordinarily important step for us in the gay community. It will encourage other lesbian and gay people to run for office and further encourage politicians who are lesbian and gay but not open about it to be open about it." (The Advocate)