In what could be a sign of the times,
The New York Times buried Sebastopol, California Mayor Robert
Jacob's sexuality in a profile published on Christmas Day.
Instead, the Times focused on
Jacob's advocacy for medical marijuana and how he parlayed his
successful dispensary, Peace in Medicine, into a political career.
“Mr. Jacob's political ascendancy
also points to the marijuana industry's growing economic power, and
it hints at what may lie ahead in Colorado and Washington,” the
paper wrote, a reference to the first two states to legalize
marijuana for recreational use.
It isn't until the 12th
paragraph that readers learn that Jacob traded in the Central Valley
for San Francisco at the age of 15 to escape its conservative
leanings, because Jacob is gay. It is the only mention in the
lengthy piece.
Jacob, who was unanimously chosen by
the City Council to be mayor, is considered America's first mayor to
come from the medical marijuana industry.