Dear Editor:
This letter is in response to the Equality Illinois Political Action Committee's endorsement of Mayor Rahm Emanuel under the authorship of Bernard Cherkasov, CEO of Equality Illinois. While the endorsement is done in the name of the committee, I understand that Equality Illinois CEO Bernard Cherkasov was sitting in the decision-making seat.
I understand it is the place of political action committees to endorse political candidates; however, this endorsement is misleading at best, and does not reflect the political realities of the mayor's relationship with the LGBT community, both nationally and locally, specifically regarding the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.
I happened to live in Washington, D.C., at the time the mayor was one of President Obama's advisors. It was well known in the DC activist's community that Emmanuel was cautioning President Obama not to sign the legislation in favor of LGBT Military/Employees for fear of back lash.
Locally, Emanuel led the effort to get Cardinal Francis George an award from the city council for all the supposed good the cardinal had done while archbishop of Chicago. Not one voice in the city council was raised about the hypocrisy of this award, especially in light of the cardinal's relationship to the LGBT community. And when the cardinal targeted the LGBT community for a frontal homophobic attack, he remained silent.
The total number of schools closing in Chicago should be unacceptable to any responsible citizen. LGBT parents span the economic spectrum and the most affected of these parents lived in low income neighborhoods. The children of these LGBT parents have a right to be educated in first class public schools.
The uneven distribution of the city's grant-funding programs shows just how unjust Equality Illinois endorsement is. Certainly, the LGBT poor deserve to be treated in a fairer way.
Misrepresenting all the positive work our allies did in the Illinois LGBT marriage effort should be an affront to all reasonable thinking people. Simply put, LGBT political organizations sometimes get it wrong when they go to bed with the political candidates.
When I vote on the April 7's runoff election, it will be for Jesus "Chuy" Garcia for all the good he has done to make equality not only the law of the city but also of the state. Also he's helped make both Chicago and Illinois future first-class educational centers for all children, not just for the rich. Certainly, Equality Illinois does a disservice to both itself and the community it says it represents.
Joe Murray
Rainbow Sash Movement
LETTER: Jesus "Chuy" Garcia has platform on LGBTQ issues
April 7th will be a historic day for the City of Chicago. There is a run off for Mayor and the LGBTQ community has the power to help decide who leads our city. Despite the endorsement of Equality Illinois, I will support Jesus "Chuy" Garcia for a host of reasons.
Garcia has a platform on LGBTQ issues and has been a long time ally of our community with a history of support dating back to the 80s. He endorsed openly gay Latino Carlos Daniel Rosa for 35th Ward alderman and asks that candidates seeking his endorsement support marriage equality.
Our current Mayor both disbanded the City of Chicago Advisory Council on LGBT Issues and terminated the City's LGBT liaison position. He closed 50 schools and is opposed to an elected school board. Traffic lights put up for "safety" are used to generate revenue instead. Violence is still a problem for many Chicagoans.
I have had enough and ask you to join me in helping elect a Mayor that work for ALL of us.
Robert Castillo
