Seattle has elected its first openly lesbian mayor, part of a banner election night for LGBTQ candidates.
Democrat Jenny Durkan prevailed in a competitive race jolted by former mayor Ed Murray declining to seek re-election amid accusations of sexual abuse, which he has denied.
In addition to being the first out lesbian to lead Seattle, Ms Durkan will be the city’s first woman mayor in nearly a century. She already held the distinction of being the first openly gay US Attorney after former President Barack Obama appointed her.
However, Ms Durkan will not be the first openly lesbian mayor of a major American city — that distinction belongs to former Houston Mayor Annise Parker.
According to the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, at least 35 LGBTQ candidates won their races this week. The organisation said in a statement to the Washington Blade that it was “thrilled” by Ms Durkan’s victory, noting that “women and lesbians are severely underrepresented in all levels of government”.
Among the newly elected LGBTQ officials are Danica Roem, who became America’s first transgender state legislator when she won a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates.
Making the victory especially sweet for LGBTQ advocates, Ms Roem toppled an opponent who had sponsored legislation to restrict the bathrooms transgender people use.
By the time full election returns had streamed in, Ms Roem had company. Voters in Minneapolis elected trans woman Andrea Jenkins to their City Council and transgender person Lisa Middleton secured a spot on the Palm Springs City Council.
