GAYS WIN OUTSIDE OF MAINE

Pink Paper - While US election day saw Maine voters crush gay marriage, voters in Washington state approved the new "everything but marriage" domestic-partnership law that extends to registered same-sex couples all state-level rights and obligations of marriage.

The vote margin was 52.56 percent to 47.44 percent. . . Straight couples also can make use of the law if one partner is 62 or older.

In Kalamazoo, Mich., voters overwhelmingly approved a law that bans discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in housing, employment and public accommodations. The vote margin was 61.8 percent to 38.2 percent. Opponents had delayed the law from taking effect for a year and finally forced the City Commission to put it to a citywide vote. . .

In Houston, City Controller Annise Parker, who is openly gay, got the most votes for mayor and advances to a runoff election.

And openly gay candidates were elected to the city councils of Detroit; Salt Lake City; St. Petersburg, Fla.; Akron, Ohio; and Maplewood, Minn.

Former Fox TV anchor Charles Pugh, 38, will serve as Detroit City Council president because he received more votes than any other council candidate. He is the first openly gay elected official in the city's history.