Keep in mind that the race for Mayor in Houston is a contest between two Democrats. One of the Democrats, Annise Parker, is running a positive "Houston First." She's got a strong record of serving her city as city councilor and city controller. She's also a lesbian.
One of the Democrats, Gene Locke, is a lobbyist. And, with the help of some notoriously anti-gay supporters, he's basically running one of the most viciously homophobic campaigns we've seen in a long, long time. It's disgusting on so many levels. But, it's particularly egregious that a Democrat has sunk this low.
As reported Tuesday, a couple of Locke's top supporters have been funding the homophobic attacks. Check out this cartoon from Nick Anderson at the Houston Chronicle.
Annise could use some last minute help. If you want to contribute, her ActBlue page is here. If you live in Houston, vote. And, if you know anyone who lives there, make sure they vote. Annise's campaign website with links to voting info. is here.
Here's an update from the Daily Beast on the relationship between Locke and leading homophobe Stephen Hotze:
Now the battles over gay rights of decades past may threaten her mayoral prospects today. Locke met with Hotze earlier in the race, and recently the anti-gay activist sent out mailers endorsing Locke—despite his endorsement of expanding work benefits for same-sex couples—and noting that Parker is backed by the “Gay Lesbian political action committee.” Asked in a recent debate whether he would repudiate the endorsement, Locke said he opposes “bigotry” but did not reject Hotze’s support, saying he would accept backing from those who think he is “the best candidate” based on his overall record. Locke’s finance chairman and another finance committee member of his campaign, meanwhile, donated a combined $40,000 to Hotze’s organization shortly before the mailers endorsing Locke went out, The Houston Chronicle reports.Unfortunately, Locke did want the endorsement of Hotze -- and that has defined his campaign and this race.
Locke’s campaign has denied any coordination with Hotze, and the campaign did not respond to requests for comment or an interview from The Daily Beast. In a statement to the Associated Press, a spokeswoman for the candidate said he “is disappointed and wishes that [finance chair] Ned Holmes had not made that contribution…Gene Locke has fought against bigotry his entire life and knows that there is no place for it in this campaign and this city.”
“For a guy [Hotze] whose whole career has been based on divisive and ugly personal attacks, who has a 25-year anti-gay record—that suggests to me that would be an endorsement people do not want,” Parker said.
