Gay Man Elected To Fort Worth Council
(Fort Worth, Texas) Real estate agent Joel Burns has become the first openly gay member of Fort Worth City Council in a race that was marked by homophobia.
Burns defeated school trustee Juan Rangel Jr. a fellow Democrat, in a runoff election Tuesday.
During the campaign Republicans tried to use Burns’ sexuality as a wedge issue.
Fort Worth City Councilman Chuck Silcox told a GOP audience to vote for candidate Chris Turner for city council because he is both straight and a Republican, unlike his opponent.
“This is an excellent time to have Republicans get out and support a Republican: Chris Turner,” Silcox told a group of about 50 at a Fort Worth Republican Women’s Club meeting and a forum for Republican state House District 97 candidates. “We have two people of opposite partisan politics, opposite philosophical persuasions and opposite sexual orientations.
“I didn’t tell you which one was homosexual,” Silcox said as the crowd laughed. Pointing to Turner, Silcox continued: “He’s married to a female, and the other’s married to a male. You make your own mind up.”
At the time Burns said he was not surprised Republicans were trying to use his sexuality as an issue.
“We live in the state of Texas, and I have a partner that I live with, who is a partner of 15 years,” Burns said. “It is unfortunate that Mr. Silcox and Mr. Turner want to bring partisanship to a nonpartisan race.”
Burns had strong support from the Victory Fund which helps LGBT candidates attain office and from the Stonewall Democrats. He also had the endorsement of the Star-Telegram newspaper.
On November 6, voters narrowed the field to the two Democrats, Burns and Rangel.
He won with 54 percent of the vote, despite a low turnout. About 14 percent of registered voters cast ballots in the runoff, down from 18 percent in the Nov. 6 election.
Burns replaces Wendy Davis on council, who resigned to run for the Texas Senate in 2008.
At his victory party Tuesday night Burns told the Star-Telegram that he intends to maintain his predecessors’ liberal positions.
“My goal is to be the kind of city councilman the district has seen in the likes of [former Mayor] Ken Barr and Wendy Davis, by getting up and working hard every day,” he told the paper.
Burns acknowledged the help he received from the gay community.
“If you’re running for office in Tarrant County, you need the support of Stonewall Democrats,” he said in a statement to 365Gay.com.
“Joel Burns was a dynamic candidate and he will be a terrific councilmember,” said Jon Hoadley, Executive Director of the National Stonewall Democrats.
Source: 365gay.com