A record number of gay candidates

The Associated Press reports on a historic development this year in House and Senate races -- a record number of openly gay candidates.

When the oaths of office are taken in January, Congress could have its first openly gay Asian-American, Mark Takano of California; its first openly bisexual member, Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona; and its first openly gay senator, Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin. In all, eight openly gay candidates are running as major-party nominees for the House of Representatives, the most ever, including the two incumbents who are favored in their races — Democrats Jared Polis of Colorado and David Cicilline of Rhode Island.

Not only are there more gay candidates than ever, one of the top House GOP prospects this year, Richard Tisei of Massachusetts, is gay.

And, as the AP notes, the sexual orientation of these candidates simply isn’t a major issue in these races.

It’s also notable that some are running for competitive seats – in other words, they’re not just limited to seeking office in the most liberal places on the map.

Between North Carolina's ban on same-sex marriage in May, President Barack Obama’s subsequent announcement of his support for gay marriage, the Democratic Party’s marriage equality convention plank, the collection of gay candidates for Congress and the four states where same-sex marriage will be on the ballot in November, one way or another 2012 is going to be remembered as watershed year in American politics.