RENEE MONTAGNE, host: Houston has joined a growing list of American cities that have elected an openly gay mayor. This weekend, its vote followed Portland, Oregon, Providence, Rhode Island, and Cambridge, Massachusetts. But Houston's race attracted national attention because it is the fourth-largest city in the country.</s>RENEE MONTAGNE, host: Annise Parker began her political career as a gay activist before serving on Houston's city council. Though in the race for mayor she played down her sexual orientation, some conservative religious groups made an issue of it. Still, after being elected, Parker joked she was a first - the first graduate of Rice University to be elected Houston's mayor.
Over the weekend in Houston, Annise Parker was elected as the city's first openly gay mayor. The race was a run off between two Democratic candidates. Parker began her political career as a gay activist before serving on Houston's City Council. Parker calls it "a historic election" for her community.