[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 103 (Thursday, June 22, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1314]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  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.


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