WASHINGTON, D.C.--Howard Bayless has become the first openly gay man elected to public office in Alabama, according to the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, which endorsed him.

Bayless, a former board chair of Equality Alabama and current co-chair of the Equality Federation, won a special election Oct. 9 for a seat on the Birmingham Board of Education. He follows in the footsteps of Alabama state Rep. Patricia Todd, who last year became the first-ever openly GLBT person elected to any office in the state.

Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Victory Fund, said Bayless’ win is proof that significant breakthroughs like Todd’s 2006 election have lasting effects on a state’s politics.

Bayless thanked his supporters and Victory Fund donors who contributed to his campaign, saying, “This election was about the future of this community, and the Victory Fund understands that in order to change hearts and minds we all have to roll up our sleeves and work hard for our all our neighbors, and that’s what I’m going to do.”