HOUSTON: Mayor Annise Parker On Short List For "Best Mayor In World" Award

Openly lesbian Houston Mayor Annise Parker has made the short list for the 2014 World Mayor Prize, an international contest to name to the world's best mayor.

Parker is just one of three United States mayors to make the cut. Her North American counterparts Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi, Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett and Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson are also up for award. The global honor is given to mayors who exemplify a host of leadership qualities such as honesty, leadership, vision, integrity, social and economic awareness and fostering good relations among different cultural, racial and social backgrounds. Parker has been elected Houston's mayor three times and garnered national attention for being the first openly gay mayor of a major U.S. city. “I’m flattered to be nominated. It’s wonderful to see that Houston is receiving world-wide attention. Our team is committed to taking a stand on significant issues,” Parker said via email.

The full list of 26 finalists is here. Also making the final cut is ardent marriage equality advocate Clover Moore, mayor of Sydney. Contest organizers are soliciting votes via email. Houstonians can support Parker by writing to them here: Houston@worldmayor.com. Put "Houston Parker" in the subject line. Oh, how the wingnuts would scream.