Alabama voters
selected the state's first openly gay male official for a
seat on the Birmingham board of education, according to the
Victory Fund, a group that helps LGBT politicians win
elected office.
Howard Bayless,
42, is a former board chairman of Equality Alabama and is
currently the cochair of the Equality Federation. He is also
the corporate director of development for Bradford
Health Services, according to the Birmingham
News.
Bayless, who won
with 4,059 votes, defeated his opponent, Earnest
Lumpkin, a manager of the Woodlawn branch of Regions Bank,
who took 1,154 votes, according to the newspaper.
Neither candidate had political experience.
"Howard Bayless
is a hero to gay people in Alabama, but his election
proves that all kinds of voters respond to real leadership,"
said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Victory
Fund. "There will come a time when gay and lesbian
candidates will be able to win across the state, and
people like Howard will be remembered as the
trailblazers."
His election
follows that of Alabama representative Patricia Todd, who
last year became the first gay or lesbian candidate elected
to any office in the state.
Bayless's seat
was left open by Mike Higginhotham, who resigned early so
voters could decide on his successor at the same time they
voted for the city's mayor. (The Advocate)