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Loading ...Zurich elects lesbian mayor
03.30.2009 12:53pm EDT
(Zurich, Switzerland) Switzerland has elected its first openly gay mayor. Corine Mauch, a longtime political activist and environmentalist, scored a massive victory in voting on Sunday to become mayor of Zurich, Switzerland’s second largest city.
Mauch was elected to city council only last month and was considered by many to be a long shot when she announced her candidacy to succeed outgoing mayor Elmer Ledergerber.Both are members of the center-left Social Democrats.
The 49-year-old Mauch received nearly 42,000 votes, about 11,000 more than her only rival, Kathrin Martelli of the center-right Radicals.
Throughout the campaign, Martelli attempted to use Mauch’s sexuality against her.
The office of mayor in Zurich is largely ceremonial, but the fact that voters gave Mauch such an overwhelming victory is seen as a significant advancement.
The timing is also significant.
Mauch will take over at the end of April, just days before gays from through the continent arrive in Zurich for this year’s EuroPride.
EuroPride is held in a different city each year. Mauch will deliver the opening speech just before marchers begin their parade on June 2. EuroPride runs until May 7.
Paris and Berlin already have openly gay mayors.
She isn’t actually the first openly gay mayor of Switzerland, as Geneva’s actual mayor (Manuel Tornare) is gay too !
Zürich is the largest and biggest City of Switzerland.
To “Bad Editor” : I’m from Switzerland and sorry to say this to you, but you are wrong ! Berne is the Capital of Switzerland
To Brad : Zürich may be the largest city and the capital of business, but it’s not the capital of culture… Geneva is very good at that as well, as it’s one of Europe’s city that gives the more money to culture.
Very poor editing! Zurich is, of course, the largest city in Switzerland.
And, please don’t call Berne (Bern / Berna) the capital of Switzerland, as Switzerland has no capital as other nations do. Bern is the federal city (Bundesstadt) of Switzerland where many institutions of the confederation are located. It is much smaller than Zürich, as well.
Things are different in Switzerland, and this uniqueness and diversity deserves respect.
Zurich ist not Switzerland’s second largest city but the largest
Since when is Zürich Switzerland’s 2nd largest city?
Zürich is the largest city in Switzerland and the Swiss financial, cultural and business capital.
We need to consolidate all our PRIDE parades into one big event. While hundreds of smaller parades might be easier logistically, it wont have the economic impact that a major national event would command. A national parade could be awarded to cities who have made equality a priority.