Lesbian Mayor Responds To Ann Coulter's Remarks On Harvey

Former Houston Mayor Annise Parker responded to Ann Coulter’s comment that Hurricane Harvey was caused because a lesbian was elected the mayor of the town mockingly by saying: “I thought no one knew I had a super power over weather.”

Right-wing media pundit Ann Coulter used Twitter on Aug. 29 to insinuate that the deadly storm which had killed about 45 people (as of Sunday) was caused because Houston had elected a lesbian mayor and not due to climate change.

The mayor in question was Houston’s Annise Parker, one of the first openly gay mayors of a major U.S. city, having served from 2010-2016. Parker on Saturday took to Twitter to respond to Coulter’s distasteful comment.

Twitter users shredded Coulter over her remark last Wednesday. One user said: "One is based on science & statistics, the other bigotry & exclusion. I guess it's a question of where you find your intellectual foundation."

Coulter has made anti-gay statements previously as well, including in 2010 when she told a crowd of gay men at Homocon, a summit held by the gay conservative group GOProud: “Marriage" is not a civil right — you're not black.”

"I should warn you: I've never failed to talk gays out of gay marriage," Coulter is reported to have said at the beginning of the speech.

She also said during an appearance in 2013 on Fox News: “If we have to worry about the smokers because of Obamacare, I think you have to do something about the gay bathhouses.”

Coulter added, “because AIDS is expensive. And if I’m paying for it, how about discouraging that behaviour?”

Parker, who is the latest target of Coulter’s anti-gay remarks, has been a central figure in LGBTQ+ politics and a vocal gay rights activist. In an article by Washington Post, Parker is quoted saying: “I was a gay and lesbian activist in my college days, so that’s always been part of my acknowledgement of the world.”

“What is different as mayor is I’m not a spokesperson for the community. I am the public face and voice of the citizens of Houston. I just happen to be a lesbian when I’m doing it,” She added.

Parker won the mayor’s race in 2009, after serving first on the City Council as the controller. In 2014, she decided to put a measure to protect the rights of the lesbian, gay and transgender community in public and private places to a City Council vote. The measure also included a provision that would allow trans people to use the restroom they thought would best fit their gender identity.

The measure, called the “bathroom bill” by some conservatives, was passed after the provision for public restrooms was taken out, according to Washington Post. Parker had tweeted after the vote saying: “To my trans sisters/brothers: you’re still fully protected in Equal Rights Ordinance. We’re simply removing language that singled you out,”