Possible Ocasio Replacement Concerns Gay Community

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Jun 2, 2009 2:20PM

Yesterday, Billy Ocasio officially relinquished his seat as alderman of the city's 26th ward; taking his place temporarily is his former chief of staff, Hector Villagrana. But Mayor Daley has up to 60 days to name a replacement and the one Ocasio has suggested - Rev. Wilfredo De Jesús of the New Life Covenant Church - has the gay community worried. WBEZ dug a bit deeper into some of their concerns.

De Jesús says his church welcomes everyone.

DE JESUS: We have over 103 ministries in our church. Many of our ministries reach out to the 26th Ward -- hurting single moms, gang bangers, homeless. I have people who come to my church who are gay. I hug them, embrace them.

But that acceptance has limits. New Life Covenant is part of the Assemblies of God, a Pentecostal fellowship that considers homosexuality a sin. Rev. De Jesús says his beliefs about sexuality stem from the bible.

DE JESUS: I believe that marriage is between a man and a woman.

De Jesús was also part of a group of prominent religious leaders who opposed the opening of Pride Campus of Social Justice High School, claiming it was wrong to isolate just gay students. Julio Rodríguez, president of the Association of Latino Men for Action, told WBEZ, "We shouldn’t be afraid to say who we are."