On his own Facebook page, one of the brothers of the late Chicago photographer/activist Ed Negron has revealed the details of his impending funeral.
According to Leo Negron Rodriguez, Negron's funeral will take place at Drake & Son Funeral Home, 5303 N. Western Ave.
Visitation will be Monday, Aug. 2, 4-9 p.m. Services will be Tuesday, Aug. 3, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Afterward, there will be a procession through North Halsted Street in the area known as Boystown/Northalsted.
Negron Rodriguez had told Windy City Times, "One of the main things for us is having the services in the LGBTQ community because he was so active in it. While he has a blood family, I know how much his extended family meant to him."
In addition, Bisexual Queer Alliance Chicago posted on Facebook that there would be a celebration of Negron's life on July 29 at 8 p.m. at 64Ten, 6410 N. Clark St. (Among other things, Negron was outspoken about being bisexual and was a strong supporter of the leather community.) There will be a candlelight walk and window memorial; also, people will be invited to share their favorite memories of Negron.
Negronwho was inducted into the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame in 2006served many organizations as a volunteer or leader, including the Association of Latino Men for Action (now the Association of Latino/as Motivating Action, or ALMA), Orgullo en Accion, Equality Illinois, the Chicago Boys Troop, International Mr. Leather (IML), the Chicago Task Force on LGBT Substance Use and Abuse, the Chicago Crystal Meth Task Force, and Compassion Action. He has also worked on LGBTQ outreach to youth with the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, as well as street and event outreach for other HIV/AIDS service providers. He chaired Chicago's first Latinx LGBT Pride picnic, in 2006.
Seen by many as fearless, Negron had spoken publicly about his life as a former addict, gang member, and drug dealer, to work against the effects of drugs, addiction, homophobia and oppression.