Lawrence Webb Becomes Virginia's First Black Gay Elected Official

While much of the nation's attention was focused on the historic race between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama in Indiana and North Carolina, another black man was quietly making history in Virginia. According to The Victory Fund: "In his first bid for elected office, Lawrence Webb won a seat on the Falls Church City Council by a margin of 39 votes. He joins two other candidates on the City Council: Nader Baroukh and Robin S. Gardner."

“I am grateful that the citizens of Falls Church have entrusted me with the responsibility to help guide the direction of our city’s future, and I thank them. I look forward to working with Council to make Falls Church an even better city than it is now,” Webb said.

Lawrence Webb, who is a Democrat, is currently the assistant dean of admissions at the University of Mary Washington. He was appointed by former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner to the board of the Department of Correctional Education.

Earlier this year, Connecticut State Rep. Jason Bartlett became the first openly gay black state legislator in the nation.

Webb becomes Virginia’s first openly gay African-American elected official [Gay Politics]

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Comments

[Josh Green]

This really is good news. I'm glad to see black gay men OUT AND PROUD and holding office.

[malik m.l. williams]

see, now that's about five miles from me and i didn't even know they were having an election. i'm gonna have to get in touch with him and give him congratulations. thanks gain, rod!

[Mel Smith]

Yes! This is really great news.

[TheRevKev]

As a PROUD WASHINGTON DC NATIVE, I know Falls Church, VA well as it is close the city! What a wonderful sign and signal to the Chocolate City that we are doing great things right across the water!

NOW it's time for this to happen IN DC, NYC, ATL or some other major city! Isn't it intriguing that while we are running off at the mouth in the big cities, it's always the smaller towns/cities/areas that are doing BIG THINGS!

[Mike]

I'm super proud of Lawrenece. He's a good person, and passionate about politics. He also hangs with a progressive, forward thinking crew...he will not let us down.