Formerly the highest-ranking openly gay police officer in the world, Brian Paddick has lost his bid to become Mayor of London.
Paddick ran for the Liberal Democrats and mounted a law and order campaign, but came in second.
Boris Johnson, a Conservative, defeated Labour incumbent Ken Livingstone in a race that became more about Prime Minister Brown's sagging popularity than Johnson's platform.
The election of Johnson now has gays in the capital worried. The new mayor is opposed to same-sex unions and has attacked attempts in his own party to reach out to gays.
Left-leaning Livingstone, known as "Red" Ken, for his outspoken socialism, presided over a period of spectacular economic growth, but most voters believed it was time for change.
Had Paddick been elected London would become the largest city in the world with an openly gay mayor.
Already the mayors of two other major European cities are gay men - Bertrand Delanoe in Paris and Klaus Wowereit in Berlin.
Paddick left his job as Deputy Assistant Police Commissioner of London's Metropolitan Police last year after a 30-year career with the force.