On Sunday night, Claudia López made history in becoming the first openly LGBTQ mayor of a major Latin American capital city when she won her election in Bogotá, Colombia. López beat her opponent Carlos Fernando Galán – winning 35.2 percent of the vote compared to his 32.5 percent. López is also the first woman elected mayor of the city.
“A lavender ceiling was shattered in Colombia Sunday night and its effects will reverberate around Latin America,” said Elliot Imse, Senior Director of Communications. “More than seven million Bogotá residents will now have an openly lesbian woman leading their city and her victory will undoubtably inspire more LGBTQ people to run for office. In the United States, we dubbed 2019 the Year of the Lesbian Mayor because of the unprecedented number of lesbian mayors elected to big cities. Claudia’s victory makes clear this trend extends well-beyond the United States, and our international program will continue to work with LGBTQ leaders in Colombia and across Latin America to help LGBTQ people run and win.”
This is @ClaudiaLopez, the new mayor of #Bogota, kissing her partner @AngelicaLozanoC in celebration after today’s elections. This is a momentous symbol, a sign of change and of good things to come. That I have the privilege of calling them my friends only makes this sweeter. pic.twitter.com/1LIF9ad8c1
— Renata Segura (@renaticas) October 28, 2019
