Will An Anti-Gay Minister Be Appointed as a Chicago Alderman?

(UPDATE: The new alderman has not been chosen.)

Ald. Billy Ocasio, who resigned his seat to become a top adviser to Gov. Pat Quinn, asked Mayor Daley to appoint Rev. Wilfredo De Jesus, senior pastor of New Life Covenant Ministries, to replace him in the 26th Ward that includes Humboldt Park and Logan Square. Many LGBT activists voice concerns over De Jesus, Laura Washington at the Sun-Times writes:

"De Jesus, an influential evangelical minister with 4,000 church members, has taken stands and uttered words that infuriate many in the city's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. His megachurch belongs to the Assemblies of God sect, which believes that 'homosexual behavior is a sin because it is contrary to God's created order for the family and human relationships.' De Jesus opposed the proposed Pride Campus, a high school that would cater to GLBT students, telling the Booster newspaper, 'What about that girl who is a virgin, who is being harassed by lesbians and guys to have sex, and yet you're going to build a gay school?' he said. 'It's not fair.' "

Ocasio's chief of staff, Hector Villagrana, will manage the ward office until a replacement is appointed, Chicagoland Public Radio Reports.

Thanks HECTOR for correction!

Comments

[King Drive]

This is great news. My family lives in that ward in Chicago and knows the pastor. He is no friend to our community.

[TB]

halleujah!

[Chitown Kev]

Chicago politics at its' finest.
This is part of the tradeoff for the Pride Campus idea proposed by Arne Duncan but put on hold indefintely reportedly by a few black and Latino ministers (the number that I've heard was six).

Daley is forever trying to balance the needs and concerns of various constituencies.

And line the pockets of his cronies, of course.

[Kevin Perez]

The pastor is a douche.

What about gay and lesbian students being harrased by guys AND girls for not being "normal" or conforming to gender norms or because they've being raised by their parents to do so. Funny how LGBT must always take the role of the boogeyman IN the church while poor, sweet, God-fearing Heteroseuxals are the "victims". Give me a break. My disdain for my community's homophobia grow daily when I read BS like this!

[Ravenback]

Well, it's always good to hear when an anti-gay person is thwarted because of their views. Keep them in the church and don't let them anywhere near government.

[say]

score one for the LGBT community. the bit about the virgin girl being harassed for sex, was the lamest protest oppose to any LGBT issue. send her ass to and all girl school if they are so concern. Chi-town would bennefit if it had a few same sex gender school.

[homeej]

anti-gay?

chile pleez

girl i had her

[hector]

Where is it that Daley has ruled out De Jesus as a possible replacement? The article only states that Hector is a temporary fill-in until Dick appoints someone. Unless I'm missing something, this guy is still a candidate!