Chicago Therapy Collective’s advocacy work is rooted in a simple truth: mental health is shaped by policy, funding decisions, and social conditions—not just clinical care. To truly close the LGBTQ+ mental health gap, we work upstream to change the laws, systems, and structures that impact safety, autonomy, and wellbeing for LGBTQ+ people across Illinois.
What makes CTC’s advocacy distinct is that it is directly informed by our clinical practice and community-based programs. Every day, our therapists and staff work alongside LGBTQ+ clients navigating Illinois’ mental health, employment, housing, and government systems. That lived and clinical insight drives our policy priorities, legislative work, and systems-change strategies.
Through advocacy, coalition-building, and public education, CTC takes decisive action to end LGBTQ+ mental health disparities, protect civil rights, and ensure LGBTQ+ Illinoisans—especially trans and nonbinary people—can live with dignity, safety, and self-determination.
Our advocacy work has helped to:
I. Ensure Illinois Remains a Sanctuary for the LGBTQ+ Community
II. Influence Social Drivers of Health Impacting the Trans & Nonbinary Community
III. Affirm and protect autonomy and self-determination in mental health care.
Chicago Therapy Collective engages in direct legislative advocacy, coalition-building, public testimony, and policy education at the state and local level. We partner with community organizations, legal advocates, and policymakers to advance legislation that protects LGBTQ+ people and reforms systems that cause harm.
Legislation Supported in 2025
HB2683/SB2507 — The Equality for Every Family Act
In collaboration with Equality Illinois, CTC provided policy expertise and public testimony in support of the Equality for Every Family Act. This legislation modernizes Illinois’ parentage laws and ensures LGBTQ+ families and families formed through assisted reproduction or surrogacy have equal rights and protections under Illinois law. The bill was signed into law on December 12, 2025.
SB0594 — LGBTQ+ Identity Is Not Mental Illness
CTC drafted and facilitated a statewide working group to refine SB0594, which amend the Illinois Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code to explicitly exclude LGBTQ+ identity from the definition of “mental illness.” This change protects LGBTQ+ Illinoisans from having their identity mischaracterized as delusion or psychosis and shields against erroneous or coercive treatment.
Additional legislation supported includes:
HB1085/SB0055 Mental Health Care Parity Expansion
HB2904/SB1679 Health Care Transparency Act
HB1429 Prohibits the criminalization of homelessness
HB3518/SB2391 Keeping Sex Workers Safe Act
HB1429 Prohibits the criminalization of homelessness
Since 2019, Hire Trans Now has functioned as both a workforce development initiative and a systems-change strategy aimed at transforming employer practices and job access for trans people. CTC provides training and individualized consultation to Chicagoland employers on trans-inclusive hiring and workplace practices, and connects these employers to trans jobseekers through the Hire Trans Now job board.
With more than 150 participating employers, Hire Trans Now expands access to meaningful employment across industries, skill levels, and geographic areas—directly addressing employment discrimination as a key driver of mental health inequity.
The Trans Accountability Project (TAP) addresses the structural conditions impacting the health, safety, employment, and overall wellbeing of Black and Latina women of trans experience. TAP centers community-led solutions and reshapes accountability across health, employment, and safety systems.
The TAP Steering Committee includes Chicago Therapy Collective, Howard Brown Health, and TaskForce Prevention and Community Services, working collaboratively to advance sustainable, community-rooted change.
CTC’s advocacy efforts are strengthened through partnerships, coalition-building, and community engagement. We welcome collaboration with individuals, organizations, and institutions committed to advancing LGBTQ+ mental health and justice.
Ways to engage include:
To connect with our advocacy team, email [email protected].
