Wilton Manors in Florida made history as it became the first city in the state to elect a city council comprised entirely of openly LGBT+ members.

Recent elections saw Justin Flippen, an openly gay man victorious in his bid to become the city’s mayor, while the appointment of Gary Resnick and Paul Rolli to the city’s commission making Wilton Manors the second city in US history (after Palm Springs in California) to elect an openly gay mayor, and an all-gay council.

The city’s residents tend to vote overwhelmingly for the Democratic Party, and this is due to, in part, the city’s large LGBT+ community. In fact, a 2010 census named Wilton Manors the “second gayest” city in the US.

Following his campaign’s victory, mayor-elect Flippen thanked the diverse and progressive community of Wilton Manors:

“The people of Wilton Manors have decisively spoken, and their voices have been their votes. Our neighbours, friends and colleagues have bestowed upon me their trust, and it is with profound gratitude to God and to them that I am able to declare victory of, for, and by the people as Mayor-elect of the City of Wilton Manors.”

Flippen continued:

“The journey to victory has been by way of our neighbourhoods, walking door to door, listening and discussing the issues we face and the solutions we can and will achieve with the right leadership in city hall.

“Tonight’s victory would not be possible without the support of loved ones, family and friends who have invested time and talent in my candidacy and the community support from so many, who, like me, are proud to call Wilton Manors home.”

The victory in Florida emerges days after the US saw a number of political firsts for LGBT+ candidates, people of colour, immigrants and women as the Democrats were victorious in securing a majority of seats in the House of Representatives.