Progress Illinois

Since taking office several months ago, Congressman Mike Quigley has been extremely outspoken on issues of gay rights.  Specifically, he has called for the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) and written a letter urging President Obama to recognize same-sex unions in the census count (something the White House moved to do shortly thereafter). 

The Windy City Times has just published an extended interview with Quigley that is worth a read.  He touches on a variety of issues and gives his impressions of D.C. so far.  Here he is on DADT:

[Regarding] “Don't Ask, Don't Tell,” here's what strikes me: On [June 15] , I [went] to Walter Reed, and there you visit soldiers who put everything on the line, and many of them have lost arms and legs. It's one of America's great hypocrises that you have these people who put their bodies on the line and, if [a guy] has a boyfriend, [he's] not good enough for it. [...]

What I've learned in 27 years of politics is that sometimes you win because you have more than one reason or sound argument supporting you. I would like to appeal to someone's conscience that “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” is morally repugnant. [...]

With others, you gotta sell them something else, too. Like with the Arabic translators who were [discharged under DADT] : That makes us less safe. ... Eventually, our country does the right thing -- but sometimes it takes them longer than it should.

Quigley also gave his thoughts on Todd Stroger ("he -- quite frankly -- isn't up to the job") and Tony Peraica ("doesn't know what he wants to be ... doesn't care about the mission").  You can find the full interview here.