More than 50 transgender community members and allies attended the annual Equality Illinois transgender social, held Jan. 21 at the Mayne Stage in Rogers Park.
The social was the second networking event for the transgender community held by Equality Illinois, which has amped up efforts to outreach to transgender people in recent years.
The social was the work of Christina Kahrl, board member of Equality Illinois and board Vice President Catherine Sikora.
Kahrl reported that Equality Illinois is presently collaborating with local groups on new Chicago Police Department guidelines for detaining transgender people. The policy, which has been in the works for more than two years, could be finalized as soon as April, she said.
Kahrl also paid tribute to transgender activists lost this year. Lois Bates, the transgender health manager at Howard Brown Health Center passed away in November. Jami Bantry, who ran the Center on Halsted's T-Out Mic event died, in December. Julie Johnson, a co-chair of the Be-All Conference died in February. Sheila Sanow passed away in October.