Social Democrat Corine Mauch was elected mayor of the city of Zurich (Switzerland) on Sunday (29/03) with 11 more votes than her opponent, Liberal Kathrin Martelli. The victory was a milestone, since, during the campaign, Martelli used Mauch's sexuality so that voters would not vote for her. The new mayor has lived with her partner for years and is an open lesbian.
Excited about the victory of the lesbian candidate, the organizers of Euro Pride – the European Gay Parade -, which will be held on June 6 in Zurich, are already taking for granted a speech from the new mayor at the opening of the event.
Zurich now ranks among the cities with openly gay representatives, as is the case of Paris, Berlin and Hamburg, with the difference being that Corine Mauch is the only lesbian. Corine takes office in April. For political analysts in Zurich, she has the support of the local gay community, which is “large and strong”.
Corine is the second lesbian to assume a prominent position of power in the world in 2009. At the beginning of the year, Iceland announced Johanna Sigurdardottir, a parliamentarian and former flight attendant, for the position of prime minister.
