The Rev. Wilfredo de Jesuswho is known for his anti-gay backgrounddropped out of the race for Chicago mayor Jan. 7 and thrown his support behind Gery Chico, according to ABC.
De Jesus, the minister of New Life Covenant Church, said that Chicago is at a crossroads. "It is for this reason that I wholeheartedly support Gery Chico in his bid to become the next mayor of the City of Chicago," he said.
Chico responded, "I intend to be partnering with Reverend de Jesus and people in the faith-based community to make better lives for people throughout the city."
The minister garnered controversy in 2009 when he was among those considered to be 26th Ward alderman to replace Billy Ocasio. (Roberto Maldonado was selected.) New Life has taken a hard line against same-sex relationships. According to a position paper on gays and lesbians by the Assemblies of Godwith which the church is affiliated"[h]omosexual behavior is sin because it is disobedient to scriptural teachings" and "[h]omosexual behavior is sin because it is contrary to God's created order for the family and human relationships," among other beliefs. In addition, De Jesus commented in an October 2008 Christianity Today article that "opposing abortion and homosexuality [had] been the paramount moral issues for him" until the treatment of illegal immigrants captured his attention.
Campaign co-chair Todd Connor told Windy City Times Jan. 10 that "Gery Chico has been an unequivocal advocate for LGBT rights, and his history and record on LGBT issues is absolutely consistent, public and very progressive. He's made it very clear to [De Jesus] that he doesn't agree with that candidate on those issues.
"Campaigns are about support; wherever you get support, you want it. It is no reflection of [Chico's] value system that he has [De Jesus'] support."
On Jan. 9, U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez endorsed Chico, calling him "by far the most qualified candidate in the race." Gutierrez added, "No other candidate has balanced 16 budgets. No other candidate has built bridges across racial, ethnic and geographic lines like Gery has. Gery Chico is simply the best candidate to lead Chicago right now."
Andrew Davis