The April 7 election boils down to three candidates: Democrat Mike Quigley, Republican Rosanna Pulido and Green Party candidate Matt Reichel.

Below is a segment of an interview Windy City Times conducted with Quigley, who is considered the front-runner in the race. The entire interview is available online with Quigley at windycitytimes.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=20375

Windy City Times: What’s your opinion on same-sex marriage?

Mike Quigley: I’m in favor of it because I don’t think a government should be able to tell people who they can love and how to express it. From a purely equality point of view, there are thousands of rights that derive from marriage and I think it’s abhorrent to deny people their rights. I was the author and sponsor of the domestic partnership registry, which is as close as a state law as we could get in Cook County.

WCT: What is your stand on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell?

MQ: I don’t understand why we’re so fascinated with this. I don’t understand why someone’s orientation affects their ability to serve their country. Obviously, there are thousands of [LGBT] members who are serving in the military and I think it’s abusive that we somehow discriminate against someone who is willing to serve their country. I think Barry Goldwater’s the one who said, “Just because you aren’t straight doesn’t mean you can’t shoot straight.” The Israeli army doesn’t seem to have a problem with this, and they’re a pretty crack outfit.

WCT: What is your stand on adding sexual orientation to hate-crimes legislation?

MQ: I helped draft various forms of hate crimes legislation in the past and I think, overall, it needs to be strengthened at the federal level. I just think there are just too many homophobes out there in Congress that probably think it’s okay for someone to be beaten or hurt and have that exacerbated because it’s a hate crime.

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE – 5th District

KEY:

WCT = Windy City Times (out of 16 questions)

IVI = Independent Voters of Illinois-Independent Precinct Organization, x indicates positive

Mike Quigley (D) WCT: 16/16…..IVI: x

Rosanna Pulido (R) WCT:1/16…..IVI:

Matthew Reichel (G) WCT:13/16…..IVI: