The new Lord Mayor of Manchester (UK) who was sworn into office yesterday is definitely no stuffy bureaucrat. Cllr. Carl Austin-Behan is the first openly gay man to be elected to this post and before he became a politician he developed a penchant for outfits that ended up as a set of scarlet robes complete with heavy gold chain yesterday.
In 1997 Austin-Behan was summarily dismissed from serving in the Royal Airforce for being gay (and not just because he looked cute in his uniform). Then he dressed (and undressed) in 2001 to win the title Mr Gay UK.
Joking aside, it makes a refreshing change to see a well-qualified openly gay candidate succeed to the highest political office and embrace his colorful past that helped shaped him into who he is today. queerguru congratulates the new 44 year old Lord Mayor and his husband Simon, and long may he get to dress up in his nice red robes to govern the City.
