Homophobic flyers found protesting Chicago lesbian mayoral candidate
Chicago mayoral candidate Lori Lightfoot speaks during a forum on crime and violence at University of Chicago Institute of Politics, Harris School of Public Policy and Crime Lab in Chicago on March 13, 2019. (Photo by Kamil Krzaczynski / AFP) (Photo credit should read KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/AFP/Getty Images)
A series of homophobic flyers protesting the mayoral candidacy of Lori Lightfoot, who is a lesbian, have been circulating across Chicago’s South Side.
The homophobic leaflets, containing various messages, were left on cars outside churches across the city’s South Side, reports NBC 5.
“All contracts, jobs and employment newly assigned to gay people,” reads one of the flyers.
Another states on the front: “The Gay Equality Act!!!”
The pamphlets have also been distributed near the 95th Street Red Line station.
Homophobic leaflets say jobs will be assigned to “gay people” under Chicago lesbian mayor
If she wins the mayoral race, Lightfoot, who was formerly president of the Chicago Police Board, would become Chicago’s first openly lesbian mayor—and the first African American woman to hold the post.
“We know that prejudice still lurks, and prejudice still lurks in lots of different forms.”
—Chicago mayoral candidate Lori Lightfoot
The 56-year-old politician, who is standing as an independent candidate, told NBC 5 that she and her partner had talked about the discrimination they might received when the former announced her mayoral campaign.
“We know that prejudice still lurks, and prejudice still lurks in lots of different forms,” she explained.
The homophobic flyers were distributed across Cihcago’s South Side. (NBC 5)
Toni Preckwinkle, Cook County Board President, who is competing against Lightfoot in the mayoral race, criticised those behind the homophobic leaflets.
“I think the church at large is beyond that,” she told NBC 5.
Chicago police monitoring homophobic flyers against lesbian mayor
A Chicago police spokesperson told NBC 5 that no police report had been filed.
He said the department is monitoring the situation.
“The language in the flyers is detestable and has no place in Chicago,” he added.
An election for the Mayor of Chicago was held on February 26.
However, no single candidate received a majority vote.
This means that the two candidates with the highest votes, Lightfoot and Preckwinkle, will stand for the position again in a runoff election on April 2.
Discussing her candidacy on Twitter on Monday (March 18), Lightfoot wrote: “I’m running for mayor for our daughter’s future and for all Chicago’s children.
“That’s why nothing will distract me from bringing real change to Chicago.”
