Rocco Clapps, the openly gay director of the Illinois Department of Human Rights ( IDHR ), will leave his post on June 30 in order to go to work for the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, according to Capitol Fax.
Claps had been in the position for 13 years.
"Working together we have had many, many achievements in those thirteen years," wrote Claps in a letter to IDHR officials that Capitol Fax obtained. "I have been most heartened by the depth of kindness and support you have all shown me as Directorand I hope that you have felt the same in return. I have said it dozens of times in the pastI am deeply proud of your collective work, professionalism and ability to help peoplepeople who come to our Agency for assistance when they need it the most.
"I hope that you will continue to support the next Director, who will be announced later this afternoon, as the new Director undertakes this important role. I can think of no one better suited for this job and to lead the agency that I, honestly, very much love."
In a June 17 statement, Rauner administration officials announced that Claps would be replaced by Janice Glenn. Currently, Glenn is the director of diversity and recruitment in the Office of the Governor, where her primary responsibility has been recruiting and retaining talent for state agencies, boards, and commissions. She also serves as the agency's equal employment opportunity and affirmative action officer. Glenn previously served as director of Leadership Greater Chicago (LGC), a non-profit civic leadership organization.
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. 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.
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.
Capitol Fax's post is at capitolfax.com/2016/06/17/claps-stepping-down/ .