Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez along with members of the office’s Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual and Transgendered Advisory Council will present Pride Awards to the Honorable Harris, Illinois State Representative, 13th District and Mona Noriega, Commissioner,
Chicago Commission on Human Relations for their leadership and contributions to the LGBT community during a ceremony tonight (Tuesday, June 26) in commemoration of Gay Pride Month.
Greg Harris, Illinois State Representative of the 13th District, is the highest ranking openly gay official in the State of Illinois. Harris was elected to the Illinois General Assembly in 2006 and serves residents in Chicago neighborhoods including Uptown, Ravenswood, and Lincoln Square. He has been a major sponsor of healthcare reform, insurance reform, and breast cancer legislation. Harris was also the chief sponsor of the successful Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Unions Act.
Mona Noriega, a well-known community activist for the LGBT and Latina communities, was appointed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel to head the Chicago Commission on Human Relations in March 2011. Noriega has a long history of service and commitment to social justice and fairness.
She co-founded the Lambda Legal Midwest office and also founded Amigas Latinas, an organization committed to the empowerment of Latina lesbian and bi-sexual women in Chicago. Noriega’s influence was also instrumental in bringing the 2006 Gay Games to Chicago.
Also during the ceremony, a scholarship will be presented to a local law school student by the Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago.
The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Pride Awards Ceremony will be held today, Tuesday, June 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the Center on Halsted, 3656 North Halsted Street, Chicago.