Election news: Pam Bennett comes in fourth, Kalamazoo passes LGBT equality ordinance

November 4, 8:44 AMTransgender & Transsexual Issues ExaminerMatt Kailey

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Pam Bennett
Campaign photo

Pam Bennett, candidate for Aurora City Council At-Large in Colorado, came in fourth in field of six candidates for two open seats. The top two candidates, Bob FitzGerald and Barbara Cleland, received 23.02 percent of the vote and 18.69 percent respectively, with Bennett receiving 16.61 percent, according to Arapahoe County election results. As in her past race two years ago, Bennett made an excellent showing, but with this many candidates, the vote becomes very split. Had she been elected, Bennett would have been the first openly transgender public officeholder in Colorado. But I know Pam and I know her commitment to Aurora. This won’t even slow her down.

In Maine, the Associated Press reports that same-sex marriage was voted down, with 53 percent voting against a same-sex-marriage law that was already enacted by the Maine state legislature earlier this year, but that was never put into effect due to a petition drive by opponents. Same-sex marriage rights are important to trans people, and we should be just as concerned as gay men and lesbians when these rights are rejected or taken away.

And now for the good news:

Ordinance 1856 passed in Kalamazoo, Mich., with 62 percent voting to uphold the ordinance, according to WWMT Channel 3 News. The ordinance grants LGBT people protection against discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations. Congratulations to Kalamazoo residents, and a shout out to the organization One Kalamazoo, which worked tirelessly to ensure fairness in its city.

We continue to persevere, and we continue to make progress. We will keep it up.