Craig Lowe, the new, openly gay mayor of Gainesville, Fla., talks to the Gainesville Sun about the vicious anti-gay attacks during his campaign. Those attacks focused media attention on his sexual orientation just as the runoff election was about to end, something that might have contributed to a surprisingly narrow victory for the popular, two-term city commissioner. Still, Lowe, who was sworn into office yesterday, brushes off the attacks today. “Some people grow up, and some people don’t,” said Lowe.
Lowe is one of 30 openly gay mayors nationwide. Cities as diverse as Houston, Texas, with 2.2 million citizens, and Dillon, Colorado, population 800, have elected out mayors recently.
This year Vice Mayor Jim Gray is running for mayor of Lexington, Kentucky, and Councilwoman Rebecca Kaplan has formed an exploratory committee for a run for mayor of Oakland, California.
