The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“TRIBUTE TO DENNIS DeLEON PRESIDENT OF THE LATINO COMMISSION ON AIDS” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Justice was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1314 on June 22, 1995.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
TRIBUTE TO DENNIS DeLEON PRESIDENT OF THE LATINO COMMISSION ON AIDS
______
HON. JOSE E. SERRANO
of new york
in the house of representatives
Thursday, June 22, 1995
Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Dennis DeLeon, a human rights advocate, AIDS activist, Hispanic community leader, and, I am proud to say, a friend. He will be honored today for his great contribution to the community by Manhattan Borough President Ruth W. Messinger at the ``Unity in Community'' event.
Born in Los Angeles to Mexican-American parents, young Dennis started a career of community activism, serving as the president of the student body at Occidental College. He later graduated from Stanford School of Law. His school years were marked by his academic achievements and leadership in law and Latino organizations.
Dennis soon became active in Latino civil rights issues. He was one of the founders of the largest Latino employee organization in the Department of Justice and later, in California, he worked as regional counsel for California Rural Legal Assistance, an organization which provided legal assistance to migrant workers.
In 1982, he was appointed to serve as senior assistant corporation counsel in the New York City Law Department where he provided litigation supervision on civil rights issues including immigration, gay and lesbian antidiscrimination, and gender discrimination.
Besides being an excellent attorney, Dennis has written a number of publications on human rights, Hispanic labor and discrimination issues.
In 1986, New York City Mayor Edward Koch appointed Dennis to serve as executive director of the Commission on Hispanic Concerns. In 1988, Manhattan Borough President David Denkins appointed him to serve as deputy borough president. He later served as chairman of the New York City Commission on Human Rights.
Dennis continued fighting for the rights of Latinos, gays, women, lesbians, immigrants, and other minorities. Presently, he leads the Latino Commission on AIDS. Dennis is tireless in his commitment to the enhancement of services for Latino AIDS victims and their families.
He is a board member of a number of organizations, including the New York State Bar Association, Puerto Rican Bar Association, Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Persons with AIDS Coalition, and the Latino Coalition for a Fair Media.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me to recognize this outstanding individual who is being honored today for his human rights efforts and his dedication to the Latino community.
____________________
