Annise Parker beat former Houston mayor Gene Locke to become the first openly gay mayor of the city.

Her victory is memorable because not too long ago, Houston snubbed a proposal to provide similar benefits to same-sex couples of city workers. The city of Houston, the fourth largest in the United States, belongs to the state of Texas where gay marriage is unlawful.

The 53-year-old Parker, who served as city controller for five years, is the second female mayor of Houston. She got 53.6% of the total votes.

“Houston is a multiracial, multicultural, international city. And I think my election will send a message to the world that Houston is a city that might surprise a lot of folks,” Parker said before the election. “I have always stood up for the fact that I am gay. It’s part of the resume that I bring to the table, but it’s just a piece of the package.”

Portland, Oregon and Providence, Rhode Island are two other cities that have selected openly gay mayors.

Parker will replace incumbent mayor Bill White in January.

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