A reader writes:

You referenced Annise Parker as “the first openly gay mayor of a major American city.” I assume you’re already getting hate mail from residents of Portland and Providence.

A few (including my mother, who lives in Portland). “Major” is a subjective term, of course, and I used the verbatim wording from the source of the quote.  But for the record:

• Houston, TX (pop. 2,242,193 / 4th) – Annise Parker (2009)
• Portland, OR (pop. 557,706 / 29th) – Sam Adams (2008)
• Providence, RI (pop. 171,557 / 136th) – David Cicilline (2002)
• Cambridge, MA (pop. 105,596 / 244th) – Kenneth Reeves (1993*)