HR0415 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0415 LRB102 19424 LAW 28191 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Edward "Ed" Negron of Chicago, who passed away on July 23, 2021; and

WHEREAS, Ed Negron was born on November 29, 1970; he was a lifelong resident of Chicago; he graduated from Carl Schurz High School and attended Harold Washington College; he served in the U.S. Army; he received his Sign Language certification and was a certified substance-abuse counselor; and

WHEREAS, Ed Negron was passionate about photography and worked as a freelance photographer, covering various events and private engagements; he had worked as a writer and photographer at Windy City Times; he was employed at Leather 64Ten, where he was named Employee of the Year in 2020 and 2021; and

WHEREAS, Ed Negron was a dedicated bisexual volunteer, mentor, leader, and advocate in the LGBTQ, Latino, and recovering communities for many years; he spoke publicly about his life as a former addict, gang member, and drug dealer to work against the effects of drugs, addiction, homophobia, and oppression; he also spoke on behalf of U.S. Army veterans; and

WHEREAS, Ed Negron served as a volunteer or leader in a number of organizations, including the Association of Latino Men for Action (now the Association of Latino/as Motivating Action, or ALMA), Orgullo en Accion, Equality Illinois, the Chicago Boys Troop, International Mr. Leather (IML), the Chicago Task Force on LGBT Substance Use and Abuse, the Chicago Crystal Meth Task Force, and Compassion Action; he worked on LGBTQ outreach to youth with the AIDS Foundation of Chicago and dedicated his time to street and event outreach for other HIV/AIDS service providers; he chaired Chicago's first Latinx LGBT Pride picnic in 2006; alongside Michael Oboza, he co-founded the Bisexual Queer Alliance Chicago in 2010; and

WHEREAS, Ed Negron received a number of awards and honors, including being inducted into the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame in 2006, honored by The ManKind Project, and receiving recognition from the White House; and

WHEREAS, Ed Negron was known for his kindness, his unbending determination, his fearlessness, and his joyous spirit; and

WHEREAS, Ed Negron changed lives across Chicago through his leadership and his many kindnesses, by his courageousness in the face of adversity and his fierceness in opposing injustice wherever he saw it, and by the powerful example of the life he chose to lead; and

WHEREAS, Ed Negron is survived by his mother, Osnaida Rodriguez; his siblings, Ivette Rodriguez-Aponte, Ricardo Negron, Leo Negron Rodriguez, Monica Rodriguez, Luis Irizarry, Moses Irizarry, Clarybell Negron Rodriguez, Heriberto Negron Irizarry, and Marisabell Negron Irizarry; his nieces and nephews, Adrian, Amanda, Ashley, Vanessa, Floryz, Yari, Yovani, Athena, and Nathan; and his many friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Edward "Ed" Negron and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Ed Negron as an expression of our deepest sympathy.