Trib endorses Berwyn gay Republican for Illinois House

[Ted]

This week, the Chicago Tribune endorsed Berwyn gay Republican Andy Kirchoff for the 24th District Illinois House seat against incumbent Democrat Lisa Hernandez. The 24th District covers parts of Cicero, Berwyn, Riverside, Brookfield and the west side of Chicago. Even though Mr. Kirchoff is gay, he is opposed to legal recognition of same sex marriage. Mr. Kirchoff has stated that he is supportive of the Illinois civil rights law having sexual orientation as a protected class.  However, Mr. Kirchoff has also stated that he believes that for-profit businesses should be able to discriminate against gay people if the owners of those businesses have a deeply held religious belief against homosexuality. Mr. Kirchoff also believes that organizations such as Catholic Charities should be able to discriminate against gay couples who want to adopt children, even when the tax payers of the state of Illinois are paying Catholic Charities to perform the adoption service.

Mr. Kirchoff describes himself as "pro--LGBTQ and pro-family."

Mr. Kirchoff graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a bachelor's in philosophy. He spent one semester at Benedictine College. His three years at Loyola were spent as a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Chicago. He served in a "discernment internship" for the Chicago Archdiose at St. Benedict parish. He has taught religious education at the elementary level. He currently works in the health care industry but has previously worked as a salesman for Oberweis Dairy. He has been involved in many political campaigns, including the presidential campaigns of John Huntsman in 2012 and John Kasich in 2016.

On the issue of abortion, Mr. Kirchoff has been active in the pro-life movement. He has been active in LGBTQ people for life, the Cafe Con Leche Republicans and the Loyola Students for Life.

Mr. Kirchoff is an active member of Cafe Con Leche Republicans, an Hispanic Republican organization that describes itself as "pro-immigrant and pro-life."

Mr. Kirchoff has stated that he opposes the candidacy of Donald Trump and will not vote for Trump.

On fiscal issues, Mr. Kirchoff has stated that he is open to tax increases but only if it is part of a broader, long-term effort to address the state's fiscal and pension issues.

On education, Mr. Kirchoff thinks the current funding formula is completely unacceptable. He opposes changing the teacher's pension funding ratio that would shift the burden to local property taxes. He has stated he would have voted for the school voucher bill introduced by State Senate James Meeks of Chicago.

[MRS. NORTHSIDER]

This week, the Chicago Tribune endorsed Berwyn gay Republican Andy Kirchoff for the 24th District Illinois House seat against incumbent Democrat Lisa Hernandez. The 24th District covers parts of Cicero, Berwyn, Riverside, Brookfield and the west side of Chicago. Even though Mr. Kirchoff is gay, he is opposed to legal recognition of same sex marriage. Mr. Kirchoff has stated that he is supportive of the Illinois civil rights law having sexual orientation as a protected class.  However, Mr. Kirchoff has also stated that he believes that for-profit businesses should be able to discriminate against gay people if the owners of those businesses have a deeply held religious belief against homosexuality. Mr. Kirchoff also believes that organizations such as Catholic Charities should be able to discriminate against gay couples who want to adopt children, even when the tax payers of the state of Illinois are paying Catholic Charities to perform the adoption service.

Mr. Kirchoff describes himself as "pro--LGBTQ and pro-family."

Mr. Kirchoff graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a bachelor's in philosophy. He spent one semester at Benedictine College. His three years at Loyola were spent as a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Chicago. He served in a "discernment internship" for the Chicago Archdiose at St. Benedict parish. He has taught religious education at the elementary level. He currently works in the health care industry but has previously worked as a salesman for Oberweis Dairy. He has been involved in many political campaigns, including the presidential campaigns of John Huntsman in 2012 and John Kasich in 2016.

On the issue of abortion, Mr. Kirchoff has been active in the pro-life movement. He has been active in LGBTQ people for life, the Cafe Con Leche Republicans and the Loyola Students for Life.

Mr. Kirchoff is an active member of Cafe Con Leche Republicans, an Hispanic Republican organization that describes itself as "pro-immigrant and pro-life."

Mr. Kirchoff has stated that he opposes the candidacy of Donald Trump and will not vote for Trump.

On fiscal issues, Mr. Kirchoff has stated that he is open to tax increases but only if it is part of a broader, long-term effort to address the state's fiscal and pension issues.

On education, Mr. Kirchoff thinks the current funding formula is completely unacceptable. He opposes changing the teacher's pension funding ratio that would shift the burden to local property taxes. He has stated he would have voted for the school voucher bill introduced by State Senate James Meeks of Chicago.

I have seen signs all over for "Andy".  So, he's a Republican who won't vote for Trump.  He is pro immigrant and pro life and is only open to tax increases that benefit the state.  So he is basically a democrat wrapped in sheeps clothing representing himself as a Republican.  That is rich.

[markberwyn]

Mrs. Northsider is still here. Huh. I'd asked her about some of her strongly expressed political opinions a bit ago and she just scampered away without answering.

[Ted]

I have seen signs all over for "Andy".  So, he's a Republican who won't vote for Trump.  He is pro immigrant and pro life and is only open to tax increases that benefit the state.  So he is basically a democrat wrapped in sheeps clothing representing himself as a Republican.  That is rich.

Andy Kirchoff may be gay but he is definitely not a Democrat when it comes to gay issues.

Here is a letter that I wrote to the Windy City Times:

http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Letter-to-Editor-Gay-Republican-running-in-24th-Dist-has-expressed-anti-gay-views/56953.html

in response to this article in the Windy City Times:

http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/ELECTIONS-2016-STATE-REP-Gay-Republican-makes-bid-for-change-in-24th-District/56943.html