Did Outing Of Roseville California Man Cost Him City Council Election

The Sacramento Bee Monday asks whether the outing of David Larson by an online commentator at the Roseville, California newspaper ended his bid for election to City Council. David Larson was named planning commissioner by the City Council, whose members knew he was gay, but Larson’s campaign material referenced a gender neutral spouse. A story in the local paper incorrectly identified his spouse as his “wife,” subsequently an online commentator quickly (and with obvious menace) pointed out that he was in fact married to a man, a debate soon followed on whether Larson had deceived voters, the city council, and if his sexual orientation should be campaign fodder. Larson, an insurance broker, and his then domestic partner Brad Simmons moved to Roseville from the Bay Area over ten years ago. They were wed in 2008 during the small window of opportunity when gay marriage was legal in California. Roseville gained notoriety when that law was overturned via Proposition 8 – 60-percent of the population voting for the constitutional amendment, compared to 52-percent state-wide. Days before last week’s election, anonymous e-mails began circulating calling Larson a “homosexual activist.” He ultimately finished fourth out of six candidates. Larson disputes that his sexuality played a part in the loss, calling the city a warm, welcoming community more diverse than it appears, saying “The majority of Roseville residents are open, are tolerant.” He admits that he did seek to keep his sexual orientation out of the race, but says when asked questions about his spouse, he would answer candidly. “The fact that I’m a gay man is a very small part of my life,” said Larson. “I don’t flaunt it, nor do I hide, that I am a gay man.”