Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) Director Rocco Claps has been re-appointed by Gov. Bruce Rauner to continue in the position that he has held for the past 12 years, Capitol Fax reported Jan. 23.
Claps, the first openly gay cabinet member in Illinois history, was first appointed to the post by Gov. Rod Blagojevich in 2003 and is the longest-serving director of that agency.
Among IDHR’s responsibilities are enforcing anti-discrimination laws that protect the rights of LGBT Illinoisans. Claps oversaw the implementation of those protections on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity after they were included in the Illinois Human Rights Act. The agency has a budget of over $14 million and nearly 150 employees.
Prior to his tenure at IDHR, Claps was deputy assessor at the Office of the Cook County Assessor and worked in a number of posts for Democratic officials. He was inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame in 2013.
Capitol Fax’s article is at: capitolfax.com/2015/01/23/rauner-announces-new-appointments/.