Who would have thought?

Conservative Texas city may elect gay mayor
DALLAS |
Times are changing; metropolis of 1.2 million already has several gay officials, including the sheriff

June 5, 2007
BY JEFF CARLTON
DALLAS -- This conservative metropolis could become the largest U.S. city to elect an openly gay mayor if a longtime city council member wins a runoff later this month.
Ed Oakley's candidacy is the latest sign that Dallas' reputation as a conservative stronghold is giving way to more diversity. It is already home to several gay elected officials, including the sheriff.

''Dallas is less and less the Dallas that people think it is,'' said Cal Jillson, a political science professor at Southern Methodist University. ''And Dallas is less and less the Dallas that it used to be.''

In the mayoral race, small business owner Oakley and former construction company CEO Tom Leppert emerged from an 11-candidate field that included another openly gay man and a transgendered woman. Oakley and Leppert will be the only candidates in the June 16 runoff.

I'm actually flummoxed. Guess it's time to question my prejudices.