Illinois remains a safe haven for transgender people while surrounding states turn hostile

CHLOE WOLFE photographer BRUCE DARNELL sports editor

As the country becomes more hostile toward transgender people, they have started to consider where they and their families will be safest. Illinois is one of those places.

According to the American Civil Liberties Union, 461 anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced across the United States in 2023; many of which were anti-trans bills. Illinois has remained comparatively safe compared to surrounding states.

In Missouri alone, 40 bills have been introduced. The bills introduced would provide guidelines for gender-affirming care, education on gender and sexuality within schools and sports among other things.

One such law is SB 49, also known as the SAFE Act, which would prevent medical professionals from performing transitional surgery on minors and prohibit other gender-affirming care used to treat dysphoric minors.

Illinois, on the other hand, has only proposed four bills. State Representative Katie Stuart (D-Edwardsville), explained how these bills will not be taken seriously.

“It would be very rare for these bills to see anything. I think these are the types of bills that get filed for people to rile up their base, and I think none of them will see any debate or discussion,” Stuart said.

As many states surrounding Illinois move to pass bills similar to SB 49, Illinois has yet to pass or entertain any bills that would prevent care for transgender people. Stuart said that this has made Illinois a safe state, though this can change at any time.

“I think right now, [Illinois] can be considered a safe place,” Stuart said. “I think that’s something that we always have to protect and be vigilant about because, as we see, depending on your administration and who is in your elected assemblies, those things can change.”

With several states passing laws regarding transgender people, those who identify differently with the sex they were assigned at birth are having to think of safety and mental health when deciding where they want to live and work.

Mariah Mack, a gender non-conforming graduate student studying biology, had to deal with this problem after getting a job interview in Missouri.

“I was just afraid of introducing myself and my pronouns.” Mack said. “But it was so much a part of me that it’s like, ‘Maybe I’ll wait for someone else to start that conversation.’ And also, if I get this job, do I want to live in Missouri? Will that be good for me and my mental health in the long term? Will I be able to be me, or am I going to have to live a little pseudo-life for a while?”

Mack is among many who are facing these problems in the U.S. as this legislation is being introduced. Those who live in states with proposed anti-trans legislation are now wondering if they need to leave their homes in order to be safe once again.

Liz Stygar, a sociology instructor, said a similar problem for families who have transgender children.

“It’s hard for me to be totally intellectual about this topic, because I am so emotional about it,” Stygar said. ”I have a friend who has a trans 11-year-old boy, and they’re considering moving to Illinois. Puberty is quickly approaching, and how does that child get the resources that they need? And so, Illinois is turning into a beacon of healthcare in the Midwest.”

While Illinois currently remains relatively safe — for trans people as well as other means of health care such as abortion — this can be subject to change at any moment.

Tristan Sites, a junior online student studying organizational leadership, is an openly transgender man who has had trouble imagining Illinois become like other states in the Midwest.