The Nevada state legislature tonight has voted to override a gubernatorial veto of Sen. David Parks’ domestic partnership bill.  Parks is Nevada’s only openly gay state lawmaker.

Here’s the Associated Press story:

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — Nevada’s Assembly voted Sunday to override Gov. Jim Gibbons’ veto and to change state law so that domestic partners, whether gay or straight, have many of the rights and benefits that Nevada offers to married couples.

The Assembly’s 28-14 vote — the bare two-thirds majority needed — followed the state Senate’s vote a day earlier to enact the measure into state lawbooks over the conservative Republican governor’s objections.

The bill provides that domestic partners have the same rights as married couples in matters such as community property and responsibility for debts. It also prohibits discrimination against domestic partners.

Critics contended that domestic partners can sign private contracts to accomplish many of the goals of the bill, and that it conflicted with the intent of Nevadans who voted in 2002 for a constitutional amendment supporting marriage between a man and a woman.

The measure states, among other things, that no “solemnization ceremony” is required and it’s “left to the dictates and conscience of partners entering into a domestic partnership” whether to have such a ceremony.

Matt Drudge, the influential conservative web news aggregator, has prominently linked to a startlingly anti-American, anti-gay opinion piece in Pravda, a online Russian tabloid that uses the same name as the storied newspaper that served as a propaganda organ of the Central Committee of the Communist party until 1991.  The article, titled “American capitalism gone with a whimper,” is filled with examples ostensibly proving America’s rapid demise as a world power.  

In its closing sections, the author lashes out at the U.S. Congress, and singles out Rep. Barney Frank, who is openly gay:

(S)hould it be any surprise to discover that the Democratically controlled Congress of America is working on passing a new regulation that would give the American Treasury department the power to set “fair” maximum salaries, evaluate performance and control how private companies give out pay raises and bonuses? Senator Barney Franks, a social pervert basking in his homosexuality (of course, amongst the modern, enlightened American societal norm, as well as that of the general West, homosexuality is not only not a looked down upon life choice, but is often praised as a virtue) and his Marxist enlightenment, has led this effort. He stresses that this only affects companies that receive government monies, but it is retroactive and taken to a logical extreme, this would include any company or industry that has ever received a tax break or incentive.

Drudge has denied that his site is anti-gay.  The full article in Pravda is here.

Houston City Controller Annise Parker has been elected citywide six times, a political record that has prepared her for the toughest campaign of her life.  Earlier this year she announced her run for mayor of Houston, the fourth largest city in the United States.  GayPolitics sat down with Annise to talk about the campaign ahead and her decision to run in what could be an historic election.

 GP:  Let’s get the big question out of the way first.  Why do you want to be mayor of Houston?

I know it sounds trite, but I love this city. I’m a Houston gal, through and through. I grew up in Houston and attended public schools.  I worked my way through college, then up the ladder in our oil and gas industry for 20 years before I went into public service. This city has given me everything I have.  I love it and want to give something back.

I love local government because it has to work. It has to produce every day. The water has to flow; the trash has to be picked up; the traffic signals have to function.  A city is like a living organism. All the parts have to mesh. And when they do, it’s a great feeling.

Most of all, given today’s economic climate, I’m confident that I’m the most prepared to lead Houston through these tough economic times. As city controller, I’ve managed billions of Houston’s tax dollars – and used my audits to uncover millions of dollars in waste due to inefficiencies, redundancies and outright fraud. And today, Houston is in much better shape financially than most other large American cities. 

No one else in this race has my depth of experience. I have experience in the private sector; I owned a small business; I served in civic associations; and I’ve worked for 11 1/2 years in city government. 

GP:  How will you be different?  What will be most important for you to accomplish as mayor?

Houston is an open, vibrant, global city – a big cosmopolitan place where people from all kinds of cultures and backgrounds can mix and be successful. My own success here is proof of that. 

Houstonians want to see in their leaders the same strengths we see in the city – business-minded, unpretentious, practical and pragmatic. Leadership must demonstrate an ability to “get it done” with a focus on practical issues. That’s what I believe our next mayor must do – and that’s always been my focus as a city leader. 

GP:  You’ve been elected citywide both to the Houston City Council and the Controller’s office six times.  Were you open about your sexual orientation each time, and how did that play out in your previous campaigns?

I’ve always been honest and open with Houston voters. Voters appreciate that honesty, and they have responded to it. Frankly, it’s a quality they do not expect from politicians.

At the end of the day, I believe that voters elect leaders who care about the same things they care about: taking care of our families and making sure our streets are safe, our economy is growing, the potholes get filled and the garbage gets picked up.

 GP:  If you win, Houston will be the largest U.S. city with an openly gay or lesbian mayor.  What do you think that will mean for the city?

It would be yet another affirmation of the fact that Houstonians care more about what you can do than who you are. I have often bragged on the fact that if you work hard, you can succeed in Houston, regardless of where you are from, “who your people are,” as some say in the South, or whom you love. In the end, it would simply mean that Houston voters agreed I was the best-qualified candidate to keep our city moving forward in this incredibly tough economy.

 GP:  Are you ready for the slings and arrows from the anti-gay industry?

Sure – although my campaign team is probably more worried than I am. It’s a free country and people can say what they want.  I’m working hard to stay focused on the job – it’s a big one and I can’t afford to be distracted by a shrinking minority of folks who might want to take our focus away from solving the real problems facing our city.

GP:  We assume your partner and kids are on board.  Tell us about how they’re dealing with the campaign.

My family is great, and I am reminded every day of how fortunate we are to have each other. Kathy and I have been together since 1990 – she’s a pro when it comes to dealing with life during a political campaign. And although our daughters understand there is a downside, they also know there are benefits that most other children don’t have. They get to meet interesting people and have unique life experiences.

 GP:  How’s fundraising going?  How much do you plan to raise for the campaign?

I have to say how grateful I am – and amazed – that my supporters have been so generous in making contributions in this economy. Houston is a big place – spread over 640 square miles.  Mayoral campaigns here can cost $3 million and up.  We are all working hard because the stakes for our city are so high.  We’ll raise whatever it takes to win.

Learn more about Annise and how you can help her campaign here.

The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund today announced eight more endorsements of openly gay and lesbian candidates, raising the total number of endorsees so far this year to 40. 

The newly-endorsed candidates are:

Elisa Burns-Macon—Birmingham, Alabama Board of Education

Jose Cisneros—San Francisco, California Treasurer

Scott Klein—Hamtramck, Michigan City Council

Steve Kornell—St. Petersburg, Florida City Council

Kathy Luz Herrera—Tompkins County, New York Legislature

Charles Pugh—Detroit, Michigan City Council

Tim Purington—Holyoke, Massachusetts City Council

James Van Bramer—New York City Council

Victory Fund President and CEO Chuck Wolfe said he was pleased the group is on track to endorse a record number of out candidates for a non-federal election year.  “It’s more important than ever that out leaders step up to run for office.  We are winning our equality in places where openly gay and lesbian elected officials are serving.  They are authentic and powerful voices for the LGBT community and we need their presence on city councils, in state legislatures and in the Congress,” Wolfe said.

Go to www.victoryfund.org to learn more about these candidates and how you can help their campaigns.

Fred P. Hochberg has been sworn in as the 23rd president of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, a position he was appointed to by President Barack Obama.  Hochberg is one of the highest-ranking openly gay presidential appointees in U.S. history.  According to a release issued by the Bank:

Hochberg said, in joining Ex-Im Bank, that the Bank plays a key role in helping U.S. exporters overcome financing problems growing out of the current economic crisis.  The Bank’s financing helps create and sustain the jobs of U.S. export workers.  He said he will work to open more markets to U.S. exports.

Hochberg has more than 30 years of experience in business, government and philanthropy, and was a presidential appointee in the Clinton administration when he lead the Small Business Administration.

President Obama has appointed dozens of openly LGBT people to senior positions in the Executive Branch, many of whom were recommended by the LGBT community’s Presidential Appointments Project.