RESOLUTION FOR BOARD MEETING OF OCTOBER 19, 2023
Title
RESOLUTION sponsored by the Board of Commissioners recognizing former Illinois House Representative Gregory S. Harris (As Revised)
Body
WHEREAS, October has been recognized as LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) History Month. The celebration, which began in Missouri, is now embraced throughout the United States; and
WHEREAS, Representative Gregory S. Harris, a native of Colorado, moved to Chicago in 1977 after graduating from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a degree in journalism. In Chicago, Representative Harris accepted a role with the National Home Furnishings Association (“NHFA”), where he served in numerous senior management positions; and
WHEREAS, in 1988, the NHFA left Chicago, but Representative Harris chose to stay. It was during this time that he co-founded Open Hand Chicago, a program that delivered home cooked meals to people living with AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). Open Hand Chicago was Chicago’s first meals program specifically designed to serve HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and AIDS patients; and
WHEREAS, in 1992, Representative Harris became the Chief of Staff to former Alderman Mary Ann Smith in the 48th ward. He served in this capacity for fourteen years; and
WHEREAS, in 2006, Representative Harris was appointed by the Democratic ward committeemen to appear on the November ballot in place of retiring Representative Larry McKeon. His campaign was successful and Representative Harris was re-elected seven times to serve the 13th District; and
WHEREAS, an openly gay member of the Illinois General Assembly, Representative Harris spearheaded the measure to legalize same-sex marriage in Illinois. An arduous battle that began in 2007, same-sex marriage officially became legal on June 1, 2014. Representative Harris was also a key player in the passage of Senate Bill 1716, which recognized the civil unions of same-sex couples in Illinois; and
WHEREAS, Representative Harris was the first openly gay majority leader in the Illinois House of Representatives, a position he obtained in 2019. He also served as the Chairman of the Rules Committee; a member of the Personnel and Pensions Committee, and a member of the Joint Committee on Government Reform, among others; and
WHEREAS, additionally, Representative Harris has been involved in innumerable organizations including the Illinois Juvenile Justice Leadership Council, the Citizen Action Policy Council, the Equality Illinois Institute, the Michael Reese Health Trust, and the Violence Prevention Task Force; and
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago recognizes former Representative Gregory S. Harris for his fourteen years of service to the residents of the 13th District, the greater LGBTQ+ community, and the State of Illinois; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, on behalf of ourselves and our staff, do hereby recognize former Illinois House Representative Gregory S. Harris; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Resolution be spread upon the permanent Record of Proceedings of the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago and that a copy of same, suitably engrossed, be presented to former Illinois House Representative Gregory S. Harris.
Dated: October 19, 2023