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Cook County board approves resolution to coordinate with Chicago on trans femicide working group
Summary
The Cook County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution asking county agencies to collaborate with a City of Chicago working group studying and seeking policy responses to killings of transgender women, particularly Black trans women.
Cook County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution on Jan. 23 calling for intergovernmental collaboration with a City of Chicago working group to better understand and prevent trans femicide.
The measure asks county departments including the medical examiner, Cook County Health, the sheriff’s office, the state's attorney's office and human-rights and public-health agencies to participate in the working group and to center input from transgender-led organizations. Supporters said coordinated data collection and community-led policy recommendations are necessary to address violence against transgender women, especially Black trans women.
Silas Leslie, advocacy manager at Chicago Therapy Collective, told the board the working group should help collect accurate data and reduce misgendering after death. “Cooperation from the Cook County government is imperative for the success of this working group, imperative to working towards reducing violence against trans women,” Leslie said during public comments.
Michael Ziri, director of public policy at Equality Illinois, told commissioners the majority of murders of trans women of color remain unsolved and urged county agencies to “meaningfully participate, engage, and listen to the voices of impacted community members.” Commissioners who spoke in favor described the resolution as a step to align county agencies with the city's effort and said they would hold follow-up briefings in committee once the working group issues its report.
The board voted to approve the resolution during the new items vote. Commissioners Kevin Morrison and Trevor both spoke in support during floor discussion, and Commissioner Quesada led the presentation of the item.
The resolution does not itself create new county programs or funding; it directs participation and information-sharing and anticipates a future report with recommended policy changes from the joint process.
Community groups that spoke in favor included Chicago Therapy Collective and Equality Illinois; county staff and agencies named in the resolution were asked to engage with the city's working group and community stakeholders. The City of Chicago ordinance that established the city working group was referenced during testimony but not reproduced in the board materials.
