Crystal Moore, the gay police chief of
Latta, South Carolina, is running for sheriff in Dillon County.
If elected, Moore would become the
state's first female sheriff and its first openly gay one, as well.
Moore is hoping to unseat Sheriff Major
Hulon, who is seeking a third term as a Democrat. Moore is
unaffiliated with any political party.
“This is just my way of serving a
place that has given me so much,” Moore
told the AP.
Two years ago, Moore received an
outpouring of support when she was abruptly fired by the town's
mayor. The mayor was ousted in a special election after a
recording surfaced of him ranting against gays and Moore was
rehired. Moore is raising a 7-month-old daughter with her wife.
“That firing really turned out to be
a blessing in a way,” Moore said. “I saw so much support and
then the story went national, and even more people got to see how
special this place is.”