Bertrand Delanoe.

Becomes the first openly gay mayor elected in a world-class city: Paris

This time last year, Bertrand Delanoe was a little-known French politician in the Socialist Party, which had never held Paris's city hall. Today, Delanoe stands as the only openly gay man elected mayor of a powerful, world-class city. (Berlin interim mayor Klaus Wowereit was appointed by city leaders.) Delanoe's victory, which happened only after two rounds of voting and an alliance with the city's Green Party, was considered a major political revolution against the right-wing forces who had previously ruled the City of Lights for 130 years.

But Delanoe didn't make sexual orientation a big issue in his campaign. Instead, he stuck to the basic principle that all politics is local and campaigned on a platform of increased green spaces in the city, a reduction in the number of automobiles, creating designated walkways along the Seine River, and rejuvenating the city's rich cultural vitality. In a televised debate shortly before his victory, Delanoe was asked why he was running for mayor. His answer was simple "I love this town."