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While hearing for weeks about how Poshard was out to destroy us, I had been wondering exactly what Ryan would do for the gay community. When I reached the booth, I was directed to someone who looked an awful lot like Mr. Sprehe. When I then posed my question in a thoughtful and nonthreatening way, he started yelling at the top of his lungs repeatedly to all passersby (and ignoring me) that “GEORGE RYAN WILL SIGN THE ILLINOIS GAY-RIGHTS BILL!” After hearing that broken record a few times, I moved on. Imagine my surprise the very next morning when the Tribune reported that Ryan, like Poshard, would not automatically sign the bill but, like Poshard, would think about it if it reached his desk.
Personally, I don’t think that Ryan will do a thing to pressure passage of pro-gay legislation. Why should he, when the status quo we enjoy in our Chicago enclave is so comfortable? Ryan is simply using persons like Mr. Sprehe. I think Mr. Sprehe is more interested in his own job prospects than in the welfare of our state as a whole, and I resent such unelected gay “leaders” forcing the gay community into this situation. Whatever happened to the idea of simply not endorsing a gubernatorial candidate when both are real stinkers? Of course, Mr. Sprehe would then have to deal with his inner conflict: as a recent closet case, how can he continue butt-kissing his Republican bosses who couldn’t care less about us, get a paycheck, and find approval from the gay and lesbian community all at the same time? So instead he continues trying to persuade himself and us that George Ryan is pro-gay. What a joke!
