Jane Castor made history Tuesday, becoming the first openly LGBTQ mayor elected to lead Tampa, Florida.
Castor, the city's former chief of police, swept her opponent, retired banker David Straz, with 73% of the approximately 53,000 votes cast, according to the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections' unofficial results.
According to the Victory Institute's Out for America database, which tracks LGBTQ representation among elected officials, just 0.13% of elected officials nationwide identify as LGBTQ. That's compared to about 4.5% of U.S. adults in 2017, according to a Gallup poll. Castor touted her record of reducing the city's crime rate and campaigned on improving Tampa's infrastructure, transportation and economy. During her victory speech Tuesday night, she thanked her family, staff and supporters for the landslide victory.
And increased LGBTQ representation has a chance to reach the country's highest office, as South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, who is openly gay, announced his presidential run earlier this month.Currently, there is no federal law protecting LGBTQ Americans from discrimination, such as being denied housing or fired from their job, based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
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