BEIJING, Dec. 14 (Xinhuanet) -- Annise Parker made history last Saturday by becoming the first openly gay mayor in Houston.

    The former city controller had an unbeatable lead over former city attorney Gene Locke with 53.6 percent of the vote in a runoff election. The victory made the 53-year-old Praker first openly gay mayor in the fourth largest U.S. city.

    The election battle prior to Saturday's balloting was full of fierce campaigning and anti-gay rhetoric.

    Parker has never kept her sexual orientation from the public, nor has she used "the gay candidate" as a label in previous citywide elections.

    However, the fact that she is a lesbian came under spotlight this time after anti-gay activists and conservative religious groups endorsed the 61-year-old Locke and sent out mailers condemning Parker's "homosexual behavior."

    Meanwhile, gay and lesbian political organizations all over the nation rallied to support Parker by raising funds for her campaign and making calls to urge people to vote.

    After Locke conceded defeat, the mayor-elect told her supporters that "this election has changed the world for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community. Just as it is about transforming the lives of all Houstonians for the better, and that's what my administration will be about."

    Parker will finish her third term as controller and be inaugurated as mayor next month.

    （Agencies）