Out Lesbian Becomes Mayor in Zurich

Corine Mauch is Zurich, Switzerland’s first female mayor and the first out lesbian to become mayor of a major European city.

Corine Mauch is Zürich, Switzerland’s first female mayor and the first out lesbian to become mayor of a major European city.

This was the second election for Mauch, a centre-left social democrat, and her opponent Kathrin Martelli, a member of Switzerland’s centre-right Radical party.

The two first faced off in February, when neither got enough votes to win. In the March election, however, Mauch defeated Martelli by over 11,000 votes.

Mauch, 49, has been living with her partner for many years. She is an avid environmentalist as well as a music enthusiast. She has reportedly played bass in two rock bands, called The Hoover and Fallacy, in the 1990s.

Mauch will begin her new post in May, when outgoing mayor Elmer Ledergerber officially steps down.


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