LGBT Political Leaders React To Aaron Schock Coming Out

Written for web by WILL intern Tatiania Perry

In his time as an Illinois Congressman, Aaron Schock voted anti-LGBT on numerous occasions. Now he has come out as gay in a post on his Instagram account. 

Schock resigned in 2015 amid a scandal surrounding his spending and use of public funds. He was later arraigned on federal fraud charges and pleaded not guilty to two dozen counts of felony corruption. Those charges were later dropped by prosecutors. He was elected in 2009 as the youngest member of Congress.  

Since his post last week, many members of the LGBT have struggled to reconcile the news with Schock’s track record on LGBT issues. In his time as a lawmaker, Schock opposed same-sex marriage and the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell.” He also voted against hate crime protections for members of the LGBT community, and voted for the Defense of Marriage Act. 

Guests: Annise Parker, president of the LGBTQ Victory Fund and former mayor of Houston,TX; Kevin Morrison, Cook County Board Commissioner, 15th District.