South Carolina mom could become her small town’s first gay sheriff

Update: Crystal Moore has been fired once again. Latta Town Administrator Jarrett Taylor, who helped reinstate Crystal Moore’s job in 2014, said the firing had nothing to do with her sexual orientation. Moore made some poor decisions and there were administrative tasks that weren’t done on time, according to Taylor.

Crystal Moore was thrust into her small town’s spotlight two years ago – when residents in Latta (population 1,400) rallied in defense after she was fired by the mayor. The mayor was later caught on a recording ranting that he would rather have a drunk watch a child than a lesbian. The tape surfaced, and residents voted to strip the mayor of his power. The Town Council rehired Moore.

A few months later, marriage was legalized, and Moore married her longtime partner. They now have a 7-month-old daughter.

“That firing really turned out to be a blessing in a way. I saw so much support and then the story went national, and even more people got to see how special this place is,” Moore said.

Now Moore is running for sheriff in Dillon County, on Interstate 95 near the North Carolina state line.

Moore knows she will need to raise money to support her campaign. She has done it before. Donors paid most of the $20,000 in legal bills to get her job back as Latta’s police chief.

As Moore recently campaigned door-to-door, a man stopped her and gave her a big hug.

“I know you’ve been through a whole lot,” he said. “And I appreciate you for that. You know you’ve got my vote.”

via Salon