Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Gay man becomes Belgian prime minister

Elio di Rupo, head of the Socialist Party of Belgium, has been named prime minister, becoming the European Union's first openly gay head of government. 

The outcome ends a 540-day stalemate over who would lead the country. Di Rupo, a 60-year-old former chemistry professor and mayor, came out in 1997 in response to media inquiries.