The first lesbian elected mayor of the Colombian capital of Bogotá took office on Wednesday.
Claudia L√≥pez, a former Colombian senator, on Oct. 27 was elected with slightly more than 35 percent of the vote. L√≥pez, who ran on the leftist Green and Alternative Democratic Pole party ticket, is also the first woman elected Bogotᬥs mayor.
"I promise to honor your confidence and give my all to make sure that our Bogotá in the next four years will be a more caring, inclusive and sustainable city and region," tweeted L√≥pez. "Welcome to the 21st century!"
López, 49, was elected to the Colombian Senate in 2014. She later became a candidate to succeed then-President Juan Manuel Santos who left office in 2018.
L√≥pez last month married Colombian Sen. Angélica Lozano, a bisexual woman who in 2018 became the first openly LGBTQ person elected to the country's Senate. L√≥pez was not out when she was elected to the Senate.
Lozano on Wednesday tweeted a picture with López after her swearing-in.
'Mira la esencia, no las apariencias. El cuerpo es solo un estuche y los ojos la ventana de nuestra alma'
Con @aterciopelados, super banda y orgullo bogotano ¬°Arrancamos! pic.twitter.com/zerhfC6HGt
— Angélica Lozano Correa?? (@AngelicaLozanoC) January 1, 2020
This article originally appeared in the Washington Blade and is made available in partnership with the National LGBT Media Association.
