A loss, a gain.

Looks like U.S. representative Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin will have to wait a little longer to have another out lesbian for company in Congress.

Despite raising more than $1 million in two months and garnering 29% of the vote, lesbian Massachusetts state senator Cheryl Jacques lost her congressional bid in the September 11 Democratic primary-nearly postponed because of the New York and D.C. terrorist attacks.

Instead of focusing on the election, Jacques was philosophical: "While losing this election was disappointing, the national tragedy should place our disappointment in perspective." She has not said whether she will reenter the 2002 race for lieutenant governor, which she abandoned to run for Congress.

Meanwhile, in Arizona, openly gay Tempe mayor Neil Giuliano easily won a September 11 recall election by a ratio of more than 2 to 1. The recall effort began over the city's announcement that, based on Tempe's zero-tolerance antidiscrimination policy, employee charitable donations could not go to the United Way because that organization contributes to the Boy Scouts, which doesn't accept gay scouts or troop leaders. The mayor later said that city employees would determine where their contributions would go.