Houston not only has an openly gay mayor. It now has an openly gay married mayor. Annise Parker wed partner Kathy Hubbard yesterday on their 23rd anniversary in Palm Springs, Calif., reports the Houston Chronicle. "This is a very happy day for us," said Parker, whose home state does not recognize same-sex marriage, notes AP. "We have had to wait a very long time to formalize our commitment to each other." The couple have two daughters and a son. "Kathy has been by my side for more than two decades, helping to raise a family, nurture my political career and all of the other ups and down and life events that come with a committed relationship," said the mayor's statement.
Even though Texas doesn't sanction gay marriage, Parker declared in November that Houston would start offering health and insurance benefits to gay couples who were legally married elsewhere. The GOP chief of Harris County is suing over that, and he wasn't exactly wishing the couple wedded bliss, notes the Chronicle. "Why does she wait to get married in another state after the election?" asked Jared Woodfill. "Why does she give same-sex benefits to couples married in other states after the election? This is a mayor who is bringing California and New York values to Texas." (More Houston stories.)
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