Less than a week after Mona Noriega became one of the first in Illinois history to get a civil union, the longtime lesbian activist celebrated her confirmation as the new commissioner of the Chicago Department on Human Relations June 8. LGBT activists across the city lauded Mayor Rahm Emanuel over his decision to appoint Noriega, who co-founded Amigas Latinas as well as the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund Midwest Regional Office.
Windy City Times caught up with Noriega after her confirmation to talk about her plans as commissioner, her thoughts on the mayor's commitment to LGBT issues and just how far the city has come in promoting diversity.
Windy City Times: So, I have to ask: You must have been surprised by this appointment?
Mona Noriega: Oh, yeah; I was surprised—absolutely. But you know once they asked me if I wanted to do it, I was like "absolutely." But, yeah, I was, I was surprised. ... This is an honor. I'm honored that the mayor asked me to do this.
NOTE: Also please see Lesbian activist Mona Noriega honored, in this edition of Windy City Times, www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=32239
Windy City Times: Tell me about your sense of the mayor and LGBT issues.
Mona Noriega: The one thing that I've become more clear about the mayor is he really does value equality. The issues that are really important to me, I think he really [ also feels they are relevant ] . I don't think it is just lip service; I think he really does value them—and that's refreshing.
Windy City Times: For people who are not familiar with the role of the Commission on Human Relations, can you explain why it is important both in the LGBT community and generally?
Mona Noriega: The commission actually has a mandate to enforce the human rights ordinance and the Fair Housing Act, and those are both about addressing discriminatory behavior. LGBT is one of many categories that are protected classes, so it's important not just to the LGBT community but all communities that might be victims of discrimination.
Windy City Times: What about the job appeals most to you?
Mona Noriega: Well, there's an opportunity to work on issues of equality. You know, none of us are single-issue people. You know, who we are is multiple things and so I'm always happy to try to work on issues of equality. To have this opportunity to do it—oh my God, it's amazing.
Windy City Times: Is there anything within the commission you are looking to improve or change?
Mona Noriega: Right now my first task is to understand how the commission works. The mayor's mandate is that everybody look at their department and evaluate them for what they do and how to improve on efficiencies. How can we do it better? So I'm really in the process of just understanding what people do here.
Windy City Times: What do you think are some key issues the commission needs to be taking on?
Mona Noriega: Well, you know, right now the mandate is to look at what the commission currently does—which is about discrimination—and to see how we can do that better. It's about all discrimination; it's about the protected classes. So everybody here is committed to fighting discrimination and we do that through education, mediation, enforcing the law around those two ordinances.
We also address hate crimes. We offer support services to hate-crime victims. We try to prevent hate crimes.
Windy City Times: There has been some debate in past years about how effective the commission can be in preventing hate crimes. What does the commission do currently to prevent hate violence and is that something you are looking at improving at all?
Mona Noriega: There's the Intergroup Relations Unit here that when incidents of hate are reported to them, they go out to the community and talk to people, try some interventions, educate them about what a hate crime is and what the penalties are and try to resolve any conflicts so that you prevent hate crimes. ... I'm still trying to meet everybody, talk with everybody, get an idea of what people do, how it intersects with each other, so you'll have to ask me like six months from now. But right now I'm really interested in trying to understand what the work is, how the work happens, how it flows. What are the outcomes? Are they efficient? Are they effective?
Windy City Times: Are there any issues that you are passionate about that you feel like the commission has yet to take up?
Mona Noriega: No. The issues that I'm really passionate about are pretty well-represented here, actually.
Windy City Times: What are the issues that you're passionate about?
Mona Noriega: Well, [ there are ] immigration issues. We have an Advisory Council in Immigration Issues, LGBT, there's a Women's Advisory Council. There are currently councils that address the issues that are of concern to me. There are eight advisory councils. [ Also, ] I'm not a veteran, but I'm concerned about that. I'm not African-American, but I am concerned about those issues.
Windy City Times:: A lot of LGBT people are really excited about your appointment and that's not only because you are respected in the community but that you really represent the community and its history. How far has Chicago come in your lifetime?
Mona Noriega: Well, in my lifetime in Chicago, Chicago was notorious for raiding bars and enforcing the law that required three pieces of clothing that were appropriate to the wearer. So to come from that to the state endorsing civil unions is quite a lot in a lifetime.
Photo for Windy City Times by Hal Baim.
