The new gay Mayor of Casper, Wyoming
Casper, Wyoming has elected it’s first openly gay Mayor. Guy Padgett will take his new leadership roll on January 4, 2005.
Casper, Wyoming was the home town of Matthew Shepard, who was murdered on the outskirts of Laramie, Wyoming in 1998. We live in amazing times.
(Casper, Wyoming) City councilman Guy Padgett will become Casper’s first openly gay mayor and its first mayor under 30 years old.
Padgett, 27, was informally voted in as mayor for next year by the city council Tuesday.
“I look forward to representing my community and city council in the year to come,” Padgett said after his fellow city council members unanimously chose him. [...]
Padget said he was deeply affected by the murder of Shepard (pictured). Two had gone to high school together. When Padgett moved back to Casper from Yale University, Shepard was part of his circle. “We weren’t that close,” said Padgett. “But it felt very personal when he died. It hit me very hard.” [...]
Padgett said he was relieved to get the whole mayoral election over with, even though he did not receive any negative feedback from the community due to his sexuality or his age in the past few weeks. (source)
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Dear Guy; I enjoyed watching you on Larry King Live on Jan. 17 along with Chad Allen. I am also gay and very happy with my one and only special partner, Allen, who lives with me now in beautiful, warm, Corpus Christi, Tx.
We are both Christians and attend our local Metropolitan Community Church. Unfortunately on Nov. 8 Texas Upheld a Ban of Gay Marriage , with only Travis County (City of Austin) voting against the ban. Allen and I agree that man can make all the laws in the world but in our hearts and spirit we are married.
The issue for all gay people is one of freedom, civil liberties, and the pursuit of personal happiness. One issue that was not brought up in the interview is that genetics determine sexuality in many studies, and since God made all of us, how can what we are be so wrong if we do not have control or choice of sexuality? Many of our straight friends are very supportive of our cause, and the prevailing view that we are out to destroy the family unit is totally unfounded. I hope many other people have corresponded with you and support you and your partner in all your future personal and career goals. Thanks very much and we hope to meet you (at least by e-mail soon)
Sincerely, Gary L. Coates and Allen L. Littleton e-mail address: gwa911@wal-mart.com
i think its great casper elected a gay mayor now if they just stop fred phelts from all his protests in wyoming mathew is dead its time leave him and his parents alone i feel guys killed him are very wronge i have no remorse for them at all who could after a hate crime such as that