West Sacramento mayor discloses he's gay

[cboy4]

By Ed Fletcher -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 9:53 pm PST Wednesday, March 29, 2006

West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon has anxiously kept his sexual orientation a secret his entire political career.
He broke his silence on the subject Wednesday night at the annual State of the City dinner at West Sacramento Hall.

"The pressure and the stigma and sometimes the all to casual bigotry in this town made it painfully clear when I first ran for office that I could either serve this community or I could be a gay man. But I could not be both," Cabaldon said.

Cabaldon said he decided to disclose he's gay to make it easier for other gays and lesbians wrestling with making their sexual preference public.

http://www.sacbee.com/content/breakingnews/story/14236520p-15057496c.html

:applause: :applause: :applause:

I'm proud of Mayor Cabaldon! West Sacramento isn't recognized as an especially liberal city. I'll be sending off a "way to go" letter!! :)

[Erika]

1. When will people move beyond sexual orientation

to look at qualifications?

[cboy4]

2. Well I think the more gay people who hold prominent positions in

society do what this mayor did -- the faster people "will move past sexual orientation to look at qualifications."

One can only hope.

[BR_Parkway]

3. Exactly, just like the more average joes that get to know someone

who's no longer in the closet, the harder it is to hate that 'nameless, faceless them'

[sui generis]

4. well at least this new gaydar I got at GayMart is working

I had to throw the last one away - it just started going off for no reason or not going off at all.

Turns out it was just burnt out -

:rofl:

Well I'm glad he's coming out -- it's a really difficult thing to do in positions of political or corporate power unless you're made of something slightly harder than diamond.

[cboy4]

5. They really need to invent a "look at me, I'm out of the closet"

recognition gadget so we don't have to depend so heavily on gaydar devices that aren't always dependable (as you've apparently learned)! :rofl:

Yea, he (the mayor) was on the news today saying how relieved he is that he can stop worrying he'll be outed in the paper if he's seen having dinner with a guy.

He said he only recently came out to his family, and has never "had a life."

So, good for him!