Salt Lake City elects first openly gay mayor in milestone for Mormon heartland 

  • Jackie Biskupski set to become mayor according to early election results
  • Leads her rival Ralph Becker by 1,450 votes and aide says he can't win it
  • Gay democrat Senator Jim Dabakis said it was a historic moment for city
  • LGBT community celebrated milestone in traditionally conservative area  

By James Dunn For Mailonline

Published: 19:24 EST, 4 November 2015 | Updated: 14:26 EST, 5 November 2015

The Mormon heartland of Salt Lake City looks set to welcome its first ever openly gay mayor.

Former Utah lawmaker Jackie Biskupski was leading the two-term incumbent Ralph Becker by 1,450 votes, according to unofficial election results.

It would mark a significant milestone for the LGBT community in the state, which has a history of hostility towards gays and lesbians because of its traditionally conservative views.

Former Utah lawmaker Jackie Biskupski celebrated as she looked set to become the first openly gay mayor in Salt Lake City, leading the two-term incumbent Ralph Becker by 1,450 votes, according to election results 

Former Utah lawmaker Jackie Biskupski celebrated as she looked set to become the first openly gay mayor in Salt Lake City, leading the two-term incumbent Ralph Becker by 1,450 votes, according to election results 

Jackie Biskupski, right, receives a hug from supporter Elise West on election night, as the LGBT community celebrated a major milestone for a city that has traditionally been know for its conservative views

Jackie Biskupski, right, receives a hug from supporter Elise West on election night, as the LGBT community celebrated a major milestone for a city that has traditionally been know for its conservative views

State Senate Jim Dabakis, a gay Democrat, called it a historic event that would have been unimaginable to past generations in the state.

He told the Salt Lake City Tribune: 'This is a great moment for Salt Lake City — we're not the stereotype people across the country think we are.'

Nearly 24,000 county-wide ballots remained to be counted, but it was not yet known how many involved the mayoral race, Salt Lake County Clerk Sherrie Swensen said.

Becker spokesman Matt Lyon said there's a lot of ground to make up, but a comeback was possible. 

At his Tuesday night election watch party, Becker acknowledged Biskupski's lead and congratulated her on a strong race.

Biskupski spokeswoman Maryann Martindale said election analysis revealed no scenarios in which Becker could win but said she understood why he wasn't conceding and respected the process. 

Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker seems set to lose his mayoral role and spokesman Matt Lyon said there's a lot of ground to make up, but a comeback was possible. At his Tuesday night election watch party, Becker acknowledged Biskupski's lead and congratulated her on a strong race

Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker seems set to lose his mayoral role and spokesman Matt Lyon said there's a lot of ground to make up, but a comeback was possible. At his Tuesday night election watch party, Becker acknowledged Biskupski's lead and congratulated her on a strong race

Biskupski spokeswoman Maryann Martindale said election analysis revealed no scenarios in which Becker could win but said she understood why he wasn't conceding and respected the process 

Biskupski spokeswoman Maryann Martindale said election analysis revealed no scenarios in which Becker could win but said she understood why he wasn't conceding and respected the process 

By state law, no more results will be released until the final canvass on November 17 but already, many LGBT people and supporters are celebrating. 

Equality Utah executive director Troy Williams said Biskupski's apparent win shows sexual orientation isn't a barrier to serving in public office in Utah.

'If Utah can do it, anybody can do it,' Martindale said. 'This is history in the making.'

The climate has changed drastically since 1998, when Biskupski was elected to Utah's House of Representatives, becoming the first openly gay state lawmaker.

Conservative activists urged the House speaker not to swear her in, arguing she likely was breaking state sodomy laws.

'There were several legislators who wouldn't even look me in the eye — certainly wouldn't shake my hand,' Biskupski said.

Mayor Ralph Becker, left, and former state representative Jackie Biskupski, right, are displayed on a television screen during a Salt Lake City Mayor debate. It looks as though Biskupski has won the battle, but no official results will be released until November 17 

Mayor Ralph Becker, left, and former state representative Jackie Biskupski, right, are displayed on a television screen during a Salt Lake City Mayor debate. It looks as though Biskupski has won the battle, but no official results will be released until November 17 

Biskupski served in the Legislature until 2011. Since then, she has worked in the Salt Lake County Sheriff's office. The openly gay candidate's win has sparked celebration among LGBT supporters

Biskupski served in the Legislature until 2011. Since then, she has worked in the Salt Lake County Sheriff's office. The openly gay candidate's win has sparked celebration among LGBT supporters

Biskupski served in the Legislature until 2011. Since then, she has worked in the Salt Lake County Sheriff's office.

Salt Lake City voters also appear to have elected a second gay member of the City Council.

Derek Kitchen and husband Moudi Sbeity were one of three couples who sued to overturn the state's same-sex marriage ban. Kitchen has declared victory in his race.

'It speaks highly of the community here and it makes me incredibly proud to be a Salt Lake resident,' said Kitchen, who grew up in a Mormon family in the suburb of South Jordan.

Nearly two years ago, a federal judge overturned the state's same-sex marriage ban.

It was among the first in a string of similar rulings across the United States that eventually paved the way for the U.S. Supreme Court to declare gay marriages legal across the nation.

Becker was also well-liked by the LGBT community. He officiated one of the first gay marriages in 2013 in the jubilant hours after the ruling when gay and lesbian couples flooded the courthouse to make their unions official. Equality Utah endorsed both Biskupski and Becker 

Becker was also well-liked by the LGBT community. He officiated one of the first gay marriages in 2013 in the jubilant hours after the ruling when gay and lesbian couples flooded the courthouse to make their unions official. Equality Utah endorsed both Biskupski and Becker 

Earlier this year, a Mormon-backed Utah law was passed that provided protections against housing and employment discrimination for LGBT people while also creating shields for religious freedom.

Church leaders now preach a 'fairness for all' approach in which the right to beliefs are balanced with compassion and understanding for gays and lesbians.

The increasingly welcome environment for LGBT people is most pronounced in Salt Lake City, a liberal island in the state where Democrats can compete and win races.

The city has had a four-decade streak of Democratic mayors.

Becker was also well-liked by the LGBT community. He officiated one of the first gay marriages in 2013 in the jubilant hours after the ruling when gay and lesbian couples flooded the courthouse to make their unions official. Equality Utah endorsed both Biskupski and Becker.

Sophia Hawes-Tingey was hoping to become Utah's first openly transgender elected official but lost her bid to become a City Council member in suburban Midvale.

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