News
Openly gay candidate leads Detroit City Council race by Joseph Erbentraut
EDGE ContributorTuesday Aug 18, 2009With a staggering win in last week’s primary election for Detroit City Council, former WJBK news anchorman Charles Pugh effectively silenced anyone who doubted whether the openly gay political newcomer stood a legitimate shot at a seat.
By garnering 59,560 votes (8.9 percent) in the race that narrowed the field of more than 160 candidates to just 18, Pugh bested the second place finisher-current Council President Ken Cockrel, Jr,.-by 10,000 votes. Should he maintain his lead come the Nov. 3 general election, Pugh would automatically unseat Cockrel as the new council president.
"I was truly humbled," Pugh, 38, told The Detroit News following his victory, which marked the first such win for an openly gay candidate in the city. "I know there were people who didn’t vote for me because I was gay..., but I think people looked at me to see who I was as a complete person and where I was on the issues and that’s what made the difference."
Looking at the numbers alone, is clear sexual orientation did not have much of an impact on the minds of voters in the recession-rattled city. Since the announcement of his candidacy in May, Pugh has amassed a loyal following of supporters. Not one but two Facebook groups of followers have accumulated nearly 1,000 supporters each. His candidacy has been endorsed by such conservative groups as the AME Ministerial Alliance and the Council of Baptist Pastors.
The overwhelming level of support for Pugh from nearly all corners in the predominately black, socially conservative city has not come as a major shock to many.
"Detroit is really a political scene in itself, with its own values and voting patterns, and citizens who’ve experienced a lot of problems over the years," Michael Todd, a conservative blogger for The Classic Liberal Blog, shared. "As far as his sexual orientation goes, I don’t see it playing a major role in the election. I imagine somebody will bring it up - that’s how it goes - but if he just downplays it, the story will go away. It’s a non-issue."
"Detroit is really a political scene in itself, with its own values and voting patterns, and citizens who’ve experienced a lot of problems over the years." Pugh’s sexuality was mentioned by one opponent, who was not among the top-18 vote-getters to continue along in the race. According to the Detroit News story, she told others Pugh had been involved with a police investigation into his conduct with young men, an allegation which he has denied.
The story, or any other reference to Pugh’s sexual orientation, rarely came up during conversations leading up to the vote-a fact encouraging to LGBT activists. They see his campaign as a watershed moment for out gay politicians running for public office.
"This is a milestone politically and I think it says a lot about his story and the voters," Jason Bartlett, deputy director of the National Black Justice Coalition, said. "The voters chose him - as it should be - for his platform and his engagement of the community. [He] demonstrates to other potential candidates that they can be out and still win."
Bartlett, who himself was elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives in 2006, became the country’s first and only openly gay black state legislator. He said he felt Pugh’s victory carried larger significance. He sees it as an important step in encouraging further dialogue between LGBT and African American communities.
"As a community, we do not acknowledge that there are actually black gays and lesbians sitting in our church pews, sitting next to us at work or that are our neighbors or kids," Bartlett shared. "Because that conversation doesn’t take place, it’s easier to revert back to some religious definition."
He continued.
"Pugh in a way brings this to another level," Bartlett said. He’s one more role model, one more example that those of us who are out can point to and say [to other lawmakers], ’You need to be more affirming on LGBT issues.’"
Joseph covers news, arts and entertainment and lives in Chicago.
|
|
|
Email
Print
Share