Mayor Brandon Johnson Advances Community-Driven Framework to Strengthen Support for Trans Chicagoans

CHICAGO — Today, Mayor Brandon Johnson is advancing a new community-driven framework to strengthen support for transgender Chicagoans, building on the City's December 2024 declaration of a Transfemicide State of Emergency and recent investments to strengthen LGBTQ+ leadership across City government. Developed through surveys, listening sessions, and community-led engagement conducted by the Transfemicide Working Group, the framework outlines recommendations to address the systemic barriers that continue to impact transgender residents across Chicago and advance a coordinated, citywide response focused on safety, stability, and inclusion.

"Every Chicagoan deserves to feel safe, valued, and like they belong in the city they call home," said Mayor Brandon Johnson. "For too many transgender residents, that sense of belonging has been denied by exclusion and barriers to opportunity in spaces that should feel safe and welcoming. Since declaring a Transfemicide State of Emergency, our administration has taken meaningful steps to strengthen the City's capacity to support LGBTQ+ Chicagoans. This framework builds on that work by centering the voices and lived experiences of trans Chicagoans and charting a path toward a safer, more connected city."

Since declaring the Transfemicide State of Emergency in 2024, the Johnson administration has taken steps to strengthen the City's infrastructure for advancing equity and supporting LGBTQ+ residents. In 2026, Mayor Johnson appointed Antonio King as Chicago's first Director of LGBTQ+ Affairs, making Chicago the largest city in the nation with an executive-level position dedicated to advancing LGBTQ+ equity. Mayor Johnson also appointed Kenneth Gunn to lead the Chicago Commission on Human Relations, bringing more than three decades of experience advancing civil rights, inclusion, and human rights. Together, these leadership investments reflect the City's commitment to building lasting systems of support, accountability, and equity for transgender and gender-expansive Chicagoans.

"Transgender and gender-expansive Chicagoans have been clear about both the challenges they face and the changes they want to see," said Antonio King, Director of LGBTQ+ Affairs. "Community members shared not only their experiences navigating barriers to safety, housing, health care, and opportunity, but also their vision for a city where they can live authentically and feel a genuine sense of belonging. Their leadership and insight are reflected throughout these recommendations and will remain essential as this work continues."

As states across the country continue to restrict access to resources and protections for transgender residents, Chicago has increasingly become a welcoming city for individuals seeking safety, support, and opportunity. The City remains committed to ensuring that all residents—regardless of gender identity—have access to the resources necessary to thrive.

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The report found that anti-trans violence is often compounded by broader structural barriers that leave many transgender and gender-expansive residents struggling to access some of life's most basic necessities: stable housing, economic opportunity, trusted support systems, quality health care, and pathways to safety. Participants described experiences of housing instability, employment discrimination, social isolation, barriers to affirming care, and mistrust of institutions that can increase vulnerability while making it harder to access support when harm occurs.

"Creating a safer and more inclusive Chicago requires sustained commitment, strong partnerships, and meaningful accountability," said Kenneth Gunn, Commissioner of the Chicago Commission on Human Relations. "Addressing violence and exclusion requires more than a single intervention—it requires coordinated action across government and community institutions. The Chicago Commission on Human Relations is committed to helping advance these recommendations and ensuring that every resident is treated with dignity, fairness, and respect."

Recognizing that public safety extends beyond crime prevention alone, the framework advances a whole-of-government approach focused on addressing the conditions that impact the health, stability, and well-being of trans Chicagoans, particularly Black and Brown trans women and trans youth, who continue to experience disproportionately high rates of exclusion and economic hardship.

"Violence and exclusion do not happen in isolation—they are often the result of systemic barriers that limit access to housing, health care, economic opportunity, and support," said Carla Kupe, Chief Equity Officer. "Advancing equity requires us to address those barriers directly and at their root, strengthen accountability across government, and ensure that transgender and gender-expansive residents can access the resources and opportunities they need to live safely, fully, and with dignity."

"I am so grateful to Mayor Johnson, Director King, Chair Gunn, and all of the leadership of Chicago's trans and gender-diverse community that have brought us to this important step in protecting our neighbors," said Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33rd), Chairperson of the City Council Committee on Health and Human Relations. "Our trans siblings deserve to be safe and to live long, full, beautiful lives."

"I could not be prouder to support this framework, which centers the voices and lived experiences of transgender Chicagoans," said Ald. Lamont Robinson (4th), Chair of the City Council LGBT Caucus. "Every resident deserves to feel safe, valued, and respected, and this work honors our shared humanity while moving us closer to a city where everyone can thrive."

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Developed through direct community engagement, the framework identifies five priority areas for action:
BUILD TRANSPARENT PUBLIC METRICS AND ACCOUNTABILITY STRUCTURES

Strengthening transparency and accountability by establishing measurable goals, improving data collection, tracking outcomes, and ensuring City agencies remain responsive to transgender and gender-expansive residents. The framework calls for coordinated interagency reporting and regular public updates to track implementation progress and identify service gaps.

INVEST IN TRANS-LED ORGANIZATIONS AND SUSTAINED COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

Expanding partnerships with trans-led organizations and trusted community stakeholders to improve service navigation, strengthen community engagement, and ensure residents help shape the policies and programs that affect their lives. The recommendations prioritize sustained engagement rather than one-time consultations and seek to strengthen relationships between City government, community organizations, and the residents they serve.

EXPAND SAFE, AFFIRMING HOUSING AND SHELTER AND TRAUMA-INFORMED, COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY OPTIONS

Increasing access to safe, gender-affirming housing and shelter while strengthening trauma-informed approaches to violence prevention and survivor support. Improving pathways for reporting violence, supporting survivors, expanding trauma-informed responses, and ensuring residents can seek help without fear of discrimination, criminalization, or retraumatization.

The framework also calls for strengthening trust between transgender residents and the Chicago Police Department through ongoing engagement, training, and accountability measures that promote respectful and affirming interactions. Public safety is strongest when trust exists between communities and the institutions that serve them, and these recommendations seek to foster relationships that help all residents feel safe, seen, and supported.

STRENGTHEN INCLUSIVE HIRING, WORKFORCE PATHWAYS, AND ECONOMIC SUPPORTS

Expanding employment opportunities, workforce development programs, small business resources, and reentry supports to address economic instability and create pathways to long-term economic security for transgender and gender-expansive residents. The recommendations seek to reduce barriers to employment while increasing access to opportunities that support stability, independence, and economic mobility.

IMPROVE ACCESS TO GENDER-AFFIRMING AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE

Increasing access to affirming health care, mental health services, legal support, and trusted resources that help residents navigate challenges, improve well-being, and live healthy, self-determined lives. The framework places particular emphasis on addressing gaps in care for trans youth, migrants, residents experiencing homelessness, and others who face barriers to accessing services and support.

Moving forward, the Johnson Administration will continue to work with community stakeholders, City departments, sister agencies, and service providers to evaluate recommendations, identify implementation opportunities, and establish mechanisms for continued public engagement and accountability.

At its core, the framework recognizes that every Chicagoan deserves the dignity of safe housing, access to care, economic opportunity, and the ability to participate fully in community life. By advancing these recommendations, the City seeks to build a Chicago where transgender residents are not merely protected from violence, but are supported, included, and able to experience a genuine sense of safety and belonging in the city they call home.

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