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Steve Wilson says he is looking forward to being one half of the city's first-ever same-sex married couple to occupy the Lord Mayor's office.

Councillor Wilson was officially installed as Hull's 107th Lord Mayor and Admiral of the Humber at a ceremony at the Guildhall on Thursday, May 23.

He will be accompanied during his civic year by his husband Karl Hudder, who takes on the title of Lord Mayor's Consort. The couple married in 2016.

Councillor Wilson, who represents the city's University ward, said: "I am proud that we are the first same-sex married couple to do this.

"I think it sends out a positive message and it's another glass ceiling broken."

(Image: Richard Addison)

He recently persuaded the council's civic committee to create a new sign bearing the title Lord Mayor's Consort to be hung over an existing sign saying Lady Mayoress on one of the civic rooms in Hull City Council's Guildhall headquarters.

He said: "We have to move with the times. Karl is officially my consort so I thought the sign on the door needed to reflect that."

The 59-year-old Labour councillor has nominated three charities to support during his civic year - the Hull Bullnose Heritage Group, Ganton School and Age Concern.

But while they will benefit from a host of fundraising events, he will also be flying the rainbow flag over the next 12 months.

"Hull's LGBT community want me to champion various issues during my year as Lord Mayor and I've no problem with that," he said.

(Image: Peter Harbour)

"I opened Hull Pride last year as Deputy Lord Mayor and it was a great event, the city centre was packed with families and there was a real feeling of inclusion during the day.

"However, what shocked me was the number of young people who came up to me and said how crazy it was for Hull to have a gay Lord Mayor.

"They didn't seem to understand that you could have a life in politics as an openly gay person and that was a bit sad because I would encourage anyone to get involved in politics.

"In my day, my mum warned me not to get into politics because she thought that as a gay man I would be eaten alive.

(Image: Peter Harbour)

"That didn't actually happen and it's never been an issue for me. I have never had anything said on the doorstep to me - unlike Brexit - but I thought times had moved on until those conversations at Pride.

"If I can change that sort of thinking during my year as Lord Mayor and get more young people involved in politics, whether they are gay, lesbian or straight, then that can only be a good thing."

(Image: Jerome Ellerby)

He's spent most of the past 12 months standing in for former Lord Mayor Pete Allen, who has suffered from illness for much of the time.

As such, he's already primed for what lies ahead.

"It wasn't what I was expecting but it was a good opportunity to learn about the role and see how it all works," he said.

"I also found out a lot of things going on in communities I didn't know about even at my age.

"For me, that's probably one of the best things about being Lord Mayor. You get to meet all sorts of interesting people who are doing some extraordinary things."

He will juggle his civic duties with his job as deputy manager at the Hull Resettlement Project while continuing as chairman of the council's health scrutiny commission.

There's also a civic visit to Hull's twin city of Freetown in Sierra Leone to look forward to next month.

With up to three civic engagements a day booked in the diary, Cllr Wilson has pledged to avoid the dietary pitfalls of a role renowned for its never-ending round of buffets and dinners.

(Image: Peter Harbour)

He said: "I'm in the gym most mornings at 6am and I already make sure I skip a dessert when I'm having a meal.

"I try to stay away from carbs and I hate cream. I'm not much of a drinker either so I'm hoping not to put on too much."

Councillor Lynn Petrini has been elected as the new Deputy Lord Mayor.

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