In a city where anti-trans violence has increasingly become a grim reality, Chicago has officially formed a task force aimed at confronting this pervasive issue.
Channyn Lynne Parker, the CEO of Brave Space Alliance, emphasizes the importance of this initiative, calling it both overdue and essential.
For many years, Black and Brown trans women in Chicago have been raising alarms about ongoing violence that has remained largely overlooked by the broader public.
While there have been moments of visibility, the danger continues unabated, prompting community members to gather in mourning, march for justice, and organize for protection in a landscape often neglectful of their plight.
The task force, established in February under the leadership of Mayor Brandon Johnson, seeks to assess the city’s response to anti-trans violence while promoting improved institutional support for Chicago’s trans community.
Despite the initiative being a positive step, Parker warns that it will be challenging to transform this task force into a meaningful protector of lives.
“To some, this may look like just another city initiative,” Parker asserts. “But to us, it’s a matter of survival.”
Chicago stands out as the most dangerous major city in the United States for Black transgender women.
The statistics are harrowing; since 2016, at least 15 transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals have lost their lives in violent acts, yet only four of those cases have been resolved.
Data reveals a concerning pattern, with transgender homicides across the country seeing a solvability rate of just over half, according to researchers at Florida State University.
In Chicago, this rate drops drastically to merely 14%.
A 2022 analysis by the Tribune highlighted similar findings, showing that only 23% of violent deaths of trans women in Chicago have been solved compared to a national average of 38% for all homicides.
The most recent reported homicide involved a 25-year-old trans woman, known as “Red,” who was killed in Austin in September 2024, with another trans woman critically injured in the same incident.
Communities advocating against trans violence have demanded that the city offer a genuine response that goes beyond mere rhetoric.
After two Black trans women were discovered dead in close succession in March 2022, local activists gave the city a dismal report card on its efforts toward trans rights.
Tatiana LaBelle was brutally murdered and found in a trash can, while Elise Malary, a prominent trans advocate, was discovered dead in Lake Michigan days later.
In response to growing concern, Johnson signed an executive order in December 2024, creating the first-ever task force focused on the violence and systemic inequalities faced by transgender residents, particularly those identified as Black and Brown trans women.
This newly formed advisory group will work under the purview of the city’s Commission on Human Relations and the Police Department.
The task force is primarily tasked with reviewing city policies, procedures, and training regarding hate crimes and homicides of trans individuals.
A significant goal for the task force includes enhancing methods of involving chosen families—those not legally or biologically related but who are close loved ones—following incidents of violence, thereby allowing for better support and care throughout the investigative and legal processes.
Silas Leslie, advocacy and community engagement manager at the Chicago Therapy Collective and a member of this task force, highlighted the critical need for this involvement.
“Chicago is one of the deadliest cities for trans women of color,” Leslie stated. “A lot of the murders go unsolved, and there’s a true fear that the lives of these women aren’t being prioritized.”
Advocates argue that the violence faced by the trans community does not simply culminate in lethal events, but is rooted in longstanding systemic inadequacies that exacerbate the vulnerability of marginalized individuals to violence at every life stage.
Parker articulated that public awareness of the discrimination trans people face remains painfully low, despite existing laws and policies.
Barriers to economic and social well-being leave many trans people, particularly Black and Latina women, in precarious situations.
Many find themselves earning less than $15,000 annually, pushing them toward street-based survival economies, including sex work, as legitimate employment opportunities often remain inaccessible.
Leslie also pointed out the dire conditions regarding access to effective health care, especially mental health services within the community.
“Even in Chicago, we lack enough providers who can relate to and serve LGBTQ individuals, especially trans people,” Leslie explained.
Parker noted that the task force should prioritize prevention efforts rather than mere reaction.
“Violence isn’t just physical; it’s structural, and the solutions must reflect that,” Parker stated.
Addressing issues such as housing insecurity, discriminatory policing, and employment barriers is crucial to minimizing violence long before it escalates to deadly incidents.
The involvement of chosen families is not only pivotal for honoring individual lives but can also help fill in critical details for investigations.
Leslie emphasized that observing respect for identity during these processes can allow trans victims to protect their legacy beyond death.
Mayor Johnson asserted in a statement that the solutions forged from this task force will stem from a collaborative effort with community leaders.
However, community leaders have reiterated the necessity of authenticity in this collaboration rather than just symbolic gestures.
Parker highlighted that this task force emerged from grassroots calls-to-action from victims’ families and survivors, who indicated that an ongoing investigation alone would not suffice.
Parker added, “We need measures that strengthen our safety, ensuring that our community receives the attention it deserves and holding leadership accountable.”
The task force, formally named the Transfemicide Working Group, comprises over 20 members, including representatives from the Mayor’s Office and various departments focused on public welfare and human rights, as well as key stakeholders from trans advocacy groups.
Per the executive order, the task force is required to host three public meetings across different city sectors—North, South, and West—to directly engage with trans residents.
A comprehensive report containing policy recommendations is scheduled for release by August 2026, with an interim review slated to occur a year prior.
The first listening session will take place at Amundsen Park Fieldhouse, with subsequent meetings planned in diverse neighborhoods to bolster community engagement in the initiative.
City representatives are eager to ensure that community insights will significantly shape the task force’s final suggestions.
From the city administration’s viewpoint, this task force marks an initial stride towards resolving the systemic failings endangering LGBTQ individuals in Chicago.
Nancy Andrade, the commissioner at the Chicago Commission on Human Relations, remarked, “Given the political climate and the kinds of attacks we’ve seen on trans communities across the country, our goal is preparedness and to communicate that no one should feel targeted or unsafe in Chicago.”
The task force’s focus specifically centers on transfemicide and the investigative response to murders within the trans community, an area ripe for improvement based on historical critiques from advocates.
Andrade stated that city officials are taking a broad view of their mandate to evaluate root causes behind the violence, including factors such as housing and healthcare disparities.
There is a growing realization that many organizations have been addressing these issues for years at the grassroots level, and now city officials are actively engaging with these communities.
Parker expressed that organizations like Brave Space Alliance, though not policymakers, hold valuable insights from daily community interactions.
Leslie also shared that the consistency and reliability of the city’s commitment to this initiative will be crucial in rebuilding trust.
“While there have been many promising first steps, the community yearns for a commitment that transcends the initial phase,” they said.
Parker reinforced the importance of this task force moving beyond symbolism, asserting that genuine systemic change can only arise when the involvement of trans people and grassroots organizations occurs from inception to completion.
For Albie Gutiérrez, an art therapist at Chicago Therapy Collective, real safety for trans women extends beyond survival to include representation in civic affairs.
Gutiérrez declared, “Safety looks like meaningful employment opportunities where the unique contributions of trans women are respected and valued.”
Moreover, allyship is crucial in promoting gender inclusivity and ensuring access to both reproductive and gender-affirming healthcare.
For Parker, true success from the task force’s work must be quantifiable, evidenced by a discernible reduction in disparities across housing, employment, and healthcare facets.
Changes in the data reflecting improved diligence and proactive communication between city agencies and victims’ families are vital indicators of success.
Leslie envisions a holistic approach, describing an “ecosystem of well-being” where trans individuals have secure access to housing, affirmation in healthcare, and ample employment opportunities.
Ultimately, the city aims to convey a message of hope and solidarity to the trans community.
Andrade concluded, “We want to tell the trans community, ‘We’ve got you.’ We’re committed to ensuring that no one falls through the cracks.’
In the wake of tumultuous history often marked by neglect, it’s only natural for skepticism to linger.
Parker acknowledges this sentiment of doubt, stating, “People are absolutely right to be skeptical; there have been too many broken promises. So we have to prove this one will be different.”
image source from：https://blockclubchicago.org/2025/06/05/chicago-created-a-task-force-to-tackle-anti-trans-violence-can-it-make-a-real-difference/
