Dear Editor,
I am writing regarding your article about Andy Kirchoff, a gay Republican running for the Illinois State House seat in District 24, which covers parts of Cicero, Berwyn, Riverside, Brookfield and the west side of Chicago. I interviewed Andy in May for the BUNGALO Facebook site ( Berwyn United Neighborhood Gay and Lesbian Organization ).
Andy told me that he would have voted against legalizing state recognition of same sex marriage if he had been in the Illinois State Legislature at the time. Andy has also stated that he believes for profit businesses such as caterers and bakers should be able to discriminate against gays and lesbians if the owners of those for-profit businesses have deeply held religious beliefs against homosexuality or same sex marriage. Finally, Andy has stated that he believes that organizations such as Catholic Charities should be able to discriminate against gay couples seeking adoption services, even when the taxpayers for the state of Illinois are paying Catholic Charities for those services.
What worries me is this - If Andy is elected, he may introduce a religious freedom bill similar to the one passed in Indiana a few years ago. Because Andy is gay, it would give cover to homophobes trying to take away the gains in civil rights laws that were passed in Illinois in January of 2005.
While Andy is openly gay, his political views are definitely anti-gay, despite his protestations to the contrary.
Ted Korbos
Article, Gay Republican makes bid for change in 24th District, at the link: www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/ELECTIONS-2016-STATE-REP-Gay-Republican-makes-bid-for-change-in-24th-District/56943.html .