An openly gay U.S. Air Force veteran has just been elected mayor of the Texas town of Del Rio.
Bruno "Ralphy" Lozano had previously made an impression on locals after wearing high heels to the boarder town's Veteran's Day parade last year.
According to local media, some were surprised that Lozano's sexuality wasn't more of a talking point in lead-up to the election.
"Most surprising for a mayoral race in a such a small municipality was the fact that Lozano’s sexual orientation did not seem to have an much of an effect on his campaign, even when he decided to march in the city’s Veteran’s Day parade in high heels last year," reports Out In SA.
The report continues: "The only backlash came in the form of a single Facebook post from a non-supporter who labeled him a 'f****t with AIDS.'"
“I am not ashamed of who I am,” 35-year-old Lozano told IntoMore prior to election day. “Stonewall happened because drag queens and a minority group stood up to animosity, and I had to go back in the closet [while in the Air Force] because of that same hatred.”
He continued: “I know what that was like, and it translates to today’s campaign. I’m not going to bow down. I am who I am. Accept me or not.”
Lozano won 62 percent of Del Rio's popular vote.
