CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
As Kentucky voters ushered in a major senate victory for the Tea Party on Tuesday night, the state's second-largest city also elected its first openly gay mayor.
In a heated race, Lexington vice mayor Jim Gray declared victory over incumbent mayor Jim Newberry with a 6-point margin, first reported by the Lexington Herald-Leader.
Although Gray's sexual orientation was reportedly a hot-button issue on local talk radio shows in recent days, the mayor-elect told The Advocate that boilerplate economic concerns were the overriding focus in the election.
"This campaign was about pocketbook issues. Sexual orientation was not on the radar," said Gray, CEO of a family construction company headquartered in Lexington for 28 years.
Of his mayoral election, Gray added that he hoped his election "will
illustrate that this is a city that is welcoming to everyone."
In the Kentucky senate race, Rand Paul declared victory early in the evening over Democratic challenger Jack Conway. Paul has previously asserted that "don't ask, don't tell" has "worked relatively well" and suggested that the 1964 Civil Rights Act was overly broad and should not apply to private businesses.
Gray declined to comment on Paul's stance on LGBT issues, saying that, "As the mayor of Lexington, I will work closely with the senator to do what's best for the state."
Gray received support from the Victory Fund, whose president and CEO, Chuck Wolfe, called the election "a tremendous victory for Lexington, for Kentucky's LGBT community, and for fairness."
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
18 of the most batsh*t things N.C. Republican governor candidate Mark Robinson has said
October 30 2024 11:06 AM
True
After 20 years, and after tonight, Obama will no longer be the Democrats' top star
August 20 2024 12:28 PM
Trump ally Laura Loomer goes after Lindsey Graham: ‘We all know you’re gay’
September 13 2024 2:28 PM
60 wild photos from Folsom Street East that prove New York City knows how to play
June 21 2024 12:25 PM
Melania Trump cashed six-figure check to speak to gay Republicans at Mar-a-Lago
August 16 2024 5:57 PM
If you think Project 2025 is scary, take a look at Donald Trump's Agenda 47
July 09 2024 2:35 PM
Latest Stories
Congress has always been hostile to women trying to use the bathroom
November 19 2024 5:29 PM
New book claims silver daddy ex blackmailed James Dean over gay affair
November 19 2024 5:10 PM
Congressional GOP begins assault on trans people and Rep. Sarah McBride as Democrats dither
November 19 2024 5:00 PM
Two trans women attacked at Minneapolis light rail station as crowd cheered
November 19 2024 4:55 PM