In late November 2011, June LaTrobe, the transgender liaison at Center on Halsted, got a call that changed her life and her role within Chicago's LGBT community. Lois Bates—a longtime mentor, friend and colleague—had died unexpectedly. It was days before the two were supposed to host Chicago's transgender Day of Remembrance at Center on Halsted.
"For me, Lois was one of the most validating things in my life," said LaTrobe, 71, with a sigh. "I don't really have a person that I go to like I would have gone to Lois for other stuff, frankly."
In her position as transgender health manager at Howard Brown Health Center, Bates, 41, mentored countless transgender Chicagoans through their first teetering steps into gender transition, Among them were two transgender seniors whose names would later become synonymous with trans activism in Chicago: Helena Bushong and LaTrobe.
In the wake of Bates' death, LaTrobe and Bushong were left with a difficult question: What do you as an advocate when the mother of your community—decades younger than you—suddenly dies?
"When Lois died, it had a profound effect on me," said Bushong. "Lois was the one who sat me down and told me how to apply for the correct gender on my driver's license."
Both Bushong and LaTrobe got to know Bates relatively around the same time.
LaTrobe began to publicly transition in 2006 while in her mid-60s. She had met Bates at a Transgender Day of Remembrance event she went to with her friend Jami Bantry, another well-known trans senior who passed away just days after Bates.
LaTrobe eventually accompanied Bantry to T-Time, Bates' transgender support group at Howard Brown Health Center.
"It really was an opportunity to talk to other people, to meet other people," said LaTrobe.
It was around the same time that Bushong, in her mid 50s, began attending the group.
"Another trans woman saw something in me that I didn't see because I was so busy hiding," said Bushong. The woman brought Bushong with her to T-Time.
"By the time I left, I was so empowered I knew I could never wear male clothing again," she said.
Bushong returned to Howard Brown to meet with Bates, who directed her to a therapist.
It was not long before both Bushong and LaTrobe were not only in the process of transitioning but were both organizing around transgender issues.
LaTrobe quickly became the transgender liaison at Center on Halsted. Bushong began to do work on HIV, transgender and senior issues, work that would eventually lead her to a meeting at the White House.
Each made a name for herself and both worked closely with Bates, who—in addition to her role at Howard Brown—organized with Lakeview Action Coalition, Windy City Black Pride, Illinois Gender Advocates and other groups.
But despite her seemingly constant activism, Bates was also reserved in her advocacy.
"She never came across as she presented herself—as a matriarch," said LaTrobe. "You never got a feeling she was talking down to you or teaching you. She was merely a role model."
Bushong, however, sees Bates' reserved nature in another way.
"I felt she needed to be more out there," said Bushong, who said she never figured out why Bates was often silent on issues when other transgender advocates were vocal.
The relationship between Bates and Bushong was never simple. Bushong was Bates' elder in real life, but in the trans community Bates had years on Bushong. Bushong suggested the two had an amicable but tense relationship. They were two out Black transgender women working in the community. Racism and transphobia had their roles in the relationship, she said.
"The rule is, you can only have one in the house," said Bushong. "You can't have two up there plotting your demise."
But Bushong was also full of praise and empathy for Bates.
LaTrobe said she felt Bates' quiet nature was often strategic. "I think she felt she was able to accomplish more negotiating, building bridges," she said.
Neither woman will deny Bates' influence both on young people and on older adults like themselves.
When LaTrobe has to use her identity documents to sort out healthcare and senior housing issues, she thinks of Bates who taught her to change her documents. And Bushong, now 61, remembers that Bates' aided her in changing her driver's license.
LaTrobe can't tally the number of transgender seniors that Bates supported through transition, or the number she advocated for in nursing homes and hospitals.
"Lois played a part in virtually every one of these things that makes Chicago a pretty good place if you are a trans or gender-variant senior," said LaTrobe. Still, she can't yet say exactly what Bates' legacy will be.
But she, like many, may see the contradiction: The role model for so many of Chicago's transgender seniors never lived to be a senior herself.
