Jonathan Simpson appointed as London’s first gay Mayor
Councillor Jonathan Simpson was made Mayor of the Borough of Camden, London, last night in front of a crammed council chamber, with London Gay Men’s Chorus providing the soundtrack, and with a pledge that the borough will retain its status as the capital on Britain’s musical scene.
The historic appointment makes the former Stonewall board member the first openly-gay Mayor in London.
The Mayor of Camden said: “It is a fantastic honour to be the Mayor of Camden. I’ve been proud to represent the council since 2002, and now I intend to use this special year to do all I can to promote the borough’s incredible music and to encourage everybody to be active as citizens.”
He introduced the council to broadcaster Amy Lamé, who he met at a bar in gay-district Vauxhall, as his “glamour-puss” Mayoress.
In the opening speech, his fellow Labour councillor Theo Blackwell told the chamber: “In the immortal words of Spinal Tap, this Mayor turned it up to eleven. Rock on, Jonathan!”
