Democrat Adam Ebbin on Tuesday became
Virginia's first openly gay state senator, gay weekly The
Washington Blade reported.
Ebbin trounced his Republican rival
Timothy McGhee with a 64 to 35 percent win to represent the people of
Senate District 30, which includes parts of Arlington, Alexandria and
Mount Vernon and tends to heavily favor Democrats.
“I am honored by the trust the voters
have showed in me,” Ebbin said in a statement. “During the
campaign, I listened to the voters' concerns and will work on behalf
of the values we all share: improving our public schools, expanding
our transit system and cleaning up Virginia's environment. I will
make sure their voices are heard.”
Voters first elected Ebbin to the
Virginia House of Delegates in 2003, making him the House's first
openly gay member.
His campaign for the Virginia Senate
had the support of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, a group which
promotes openly gay candidates in local, state and federal races
nationwide.
Last year, Ebbin sponsored a bill that
would have added sexual orientation and gender identity to the list
of state nondiscrimination employment classifications. The measure
failed in committee.