Community organizer Simone Bell swept to victory with a 400 vote margin tonight in a inner city Atlanta state legislative district, becoming the first elected openly gay African American state legislator. (Another black legislator has come out after being elected.)
A former organizer for Lambda Legal and a former health educator for the Atlanta Lesbian Health Iniative, Simone was supported by a cross section of the Atlanta gay community and received significant support from the Victory Fund.
There were tears in many eyes tonight as some in the crowd recalled Allen Thornell, who ran for the seat and lost narrowly just four years ago. Thornell was a well known community activist and former director of Georgia Equality who died of a stroke in his 30's earlier this summer. He and Jeff Graham, the current GE director, encouraged Simone Bell to run earlier this year.
Atlanta voters also filled the open city council seat of the first lesbian on the city council with openly gay candidate Alex Wan, who becomes the first Asian American and the first gay man to serve on the Atlanta City council. Wan is development director of Jerusalem House, a non profit providing housing to AIDS and HIV positive clients.
It appears at this time that Kasim Reed has narrowly edged Mary Norwood in the mayor's race. Gay voters were split on this race, and Georgia Equality did not make an endorsement. Reports show that some early votes and absentee votes may still be out. Turnout in the mayor's race was about 80,000 voters, twice as many as the pundits predicted.