Lesbian Likely to Win Philadelphia Judge's Seat

May 30, 2005

PHILADELPHIA — A lawyer who specializes in employee benefits appears likely to win a Philadelphia judge's seat, and become the city's first openly gay jurist.

Ann Butchart is likely to win the November general election after a narrow victory in the Democratic primary; city voters are overwhelmingly Democratic.

Analysts say her success shows the growing clout of the city's gay community, which has been slowly building a political power base over the past few decades.

Butchart is a board member of the Liberty City Democratic Club, which was founded in 1994 to galvanize gays and other sexual minorities after City Council rejected a bill on domestic-partner benefits.