HR0415LRB102 19424 LAW 28191 r


  
1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Edward 
4"Ed" Negron of Chicago, who passed away on July 23, 2021; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Ed Negron was born on November 29, 1970; he was a 
6lifelong resident of Chicago; he graduated from Carl Schurz 
7High School and attended Harold Washington College; he served 
8in the U.S. Army; he received his Sign Language certification 
9and was a certified substance-abuse counselor; and
  
 
10    WHEREAS, Ed Negron was passionate about photography and 
11worked as a freelance photographer, covering various events 
12and private engagements; he had worked as a writer and 
13photographer at Windy City Times; he was employed at Leather 
1464Ten, where he was named Employee of the Year in 2020 and 
152021; and
  
 
16    WHEREAS, Ed Negron was a dedicated bisexual volunteer, 
17mentor, leader, and advocate in the LGBTQ, Latino, and 
18recovering communities for many years; he spoke publicly about 
19his life as a former addict, gang member, and drug dealer to 
20work against the effects of drugs,  addiction, homophobia, and 
21oppression; he also spoke on behalf of U.S. Army veterans; and
  
 
 
 
HR0415- 2 -LRB102 19424 LAW 28191 r

1    WHEREAS, Ed Negron served as a volunteer or leader in a 
2number of organizations, including the Association of Latino 
3Men for Action (now the Association of Latino/as Motivating 
4Action, or ALMA), Orgullo en Accion, Equality Illinois, the 
5Chicago Boys Troop, International Mr. Leather (IML), the 
6Chicago Task Force on LGBT Substance Use and Abuse, the 
7Chicago Crystal Meth Task Force, and Compassion Action; he 
8worked on LGBTQ outreach to youth with the AIDS Foundation of 
9Chicago and dedicated his time to street and event outreach 
10for other HIV/AIDS service providers; he chaired Chicago's 
11first Latinx LGBT Pride picnic in 2006; alongside Michael 
12Oboza, he co-founded the Bisexual Queer Alliance Chicago in 
132010; and
  
 
14    WHEREAS, Ed Negron received a number of awards and honors, 
15including being inducted into the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame in 
162006, honored by The ManKind Project, and receiving 
17recognition from the  White House; and
  
 
18    WHEREAS, Ed Negron was known for his kindness, his 
19unbending determination, his fearlessness, and his joyous 
20spirit; and
  
 
21    WHEREAS, Ed Negron changed lives across Chicago through 
22his leadership and his
many kindnesses, by his courageousness 
23in the face of adversity and his
fierceness in opposing 
 
 
HR0415- 3 -LRB102 19424 LAW 28191 r

1injustice wherever he saw it, and by the
powerful example of 
2the life he chose to lead; and
  
 
3    WHEREAS, Ed Negron is survived by his mother, Osnaida 
4Rodriguez; his siblings, Ivette Rodriguez-Aponte, Ricardo 
5Negron, Leo Negron Rodriguez, Monica Rodriguez, Luis Irizarry, 
6Moses Irizarry, Clarybell Negron Rodriguez, Heriberto Negron 
7Irizarry, and Marisabell Negron Irizarry; his nieces and 
8nephews, Adrian, Amanda, Ashley, Vanessa, Floryz, Yari, 
9Yovani, Athena, and Nathan; and his many friends; therefore, 
10be it
  
 
11    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
12HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
13we mourn the passing of Edward "Ed" Negron and extend our 
14sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew 
15and loved him; and be it further
  
 
16    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
17presented to the family of Ed Negron as an expression of our 
18deepest sympathy.