Fliers decrying lesbian mayoral candidate Lori Lightfoot appeared at a number of churches with predominantly Black congregations the morning of Feb. 17.
The anonymous fliers implied that Lightfoot would buy into a number of pro-LGBT agenda items that only exist in the imaginations of anti-LGBT elements.
The leaflets, for example, notes Lightfoot's support of "The Gay Equality Act," supposedly state legislation. Federal legislation known as the Equality Act was indeed recently introduced, but even if Lightfoot were to win the mayoral post, city officials would have little to no bearing on that bill's passage or rejection. Similarly, the leaflets also said that Lightfoot would award city jobs and contracts exclusively to gay people, which would be both illegal and logistically impossible, and stated that Lightfoot was in favor of "desegregating" school restrooms.
According to reports, the leaflets were distributed at Apostolic Faith Church, Salem Baptist Church as well as near the 95th Street Red Line Station, among other locations.
In a Feb. 18 conference at City Hall, Lightfoot denounced the fliers and said that "hate has no place in Chicago," Chicago Sun-Times reported. Her opponent, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, similarly decried the fliers.
Former Houston Mayor Annise Parker, who is a lesbian and now heads up the LGBTQ Victory Fund, which backs LGBT candidates, said in a statement that, "Homophobic forces attempting to derail Lori's historic candidacy are using the politics of hate and fear to mobilize anti-LGBTQ voters for Toni Preckwinkle. The attack fliers are infused with mischaracterizations of the LGBTQ community and the laws that protect themincluding bigoted stereotypes that are too often used against LGBTQ candidates when their opponents get desperate. Chicagoans, regardless of who they support, must speak out forcefully against efforts to mobilize voters through bigotry."
On Feb. 17, Lightfoot announced support from Bishop Larry Trotter, senior pastor at Sweet Holy Spirit Church. Trotter was a fierce opponent of marriage equality while that matter was being settled within the state. But he said in a statement that Lightfoot "distinguished herself as the candidate of reform. Her desire and plan of action to correct the wrongs of our city is desperately needed."
The Chicago Sun-Times item is at bit.ly/2FcvaPf .
Also see www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Homophobic-attack-targets-Lori-Lightfoot-in-Chicago-mayoral-race/65674.html .