Illinois. Land of Lincoln. And home to one of the most diverse populations in the US – a true melting pot. And its geography is just as diverse. Bordered on the north by the Great Lakes, on the west by the Mississippi River, on the south by the Wabash and Ohio Rivers, and the west by Indiana.
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So, where is the LGBTQ+ community in all of this? Is it related? Yes, because this community is deeply rooted in the economy and the politics of Illinois. Let’s take a deeper look.
Legal Status of the LGBTQ+ Population in Illinois
Overall, Illinois is one of the most progressive states in the country when it comes to the rights and status of the LGBTQ+ population, with many firsts:
- In 1961, Illinois was the first state to repeal its sodomy laws and in 1963 lowered the age of consent to 16, later changed to 17.
- Civil unions between same-sex couples was legally recognized in 2011 and provided for recognition of those union from out-of-state couples.
- Same sex marriage was legalized in 2013.
- Since 2006, members of the LGBTQ+ community have been protected from discrimination in employment, credit, housing and other public accommodations. the law specifically states that protected people include “sexual orientation which is then defined as heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality, or gender-related identity, whether or not traditionally associated with the person’s designated sex at birth.” It should also be noted that Chicago had enacted its own anti-discrimination ordinance in 1988.
- 2014 – The earlier anti-bullying law was expanded to include gender identity and sexual orientation and applies to to school districts, non-religious private schools, and charter schools, and includes protecting the privacy of students and the requirement to investigate any accusations of bullying.
- In 2018, the legislature closed a loophole in the anti-discrimination law that exempted businesses with fewer than 15 employees. They are not bound by the state law.
- In 2024, Illinois became the first state to legally protect “LGBTQ+-themed books within schools, libraries, and book depositories.”
- The state allows adoption by gay singles or partners. Lesbians may have IVF, and couples may use surrogates, with a signed agreement. The parents have the right to get a birth certificate with their names as the parents, with a signed agreement with the surrogate, and the certificate is filed with the hospital prior to the child’s birth. Illinois is also an IVF services sanctuary state.
- Illinois has had a hate crime law since 1991, and in 2015, gender identity was added.
- Since 2017, the gay panic defense was taken off the table for defendants.
Rights for transgender and intersex people are as follows:
- Reassignment surgery is not required for someone to legally change their gender
- Anyone 21 years or older can have gender affirming healthcare, and it is covered by state Medicaid
- As of January 2023, anyone from outside of the state can have gender-affirming care in Illinois. And this includes the intersex community as well. It has been further expanded by a cooperative program by the state Department of Human Services and Public Health Institute of Metropolitan Chicago.
- Transgender and intersex people can change their gender designations on official documents such as birth certificates and state ID documents.
- In 2020, the gender identity of “X” was added to an option on all legal documents.
- As of 2021, public schools in the state must have all-gender bathrooms.
- Intersex surgeries on infants may not happen. These individuals can decide on their own gender-affirming healthcare when they choose to.
- Curriculum in public schools must include LGBTQ+ instruction, though parents may opt out for their children.
- As of 2016, conversion therapy on anyone under 18 is illegal.
In terms of public opinion about all of this, a survey in 2022 found that 77% of residents support same-sex marriage and 85% support the anti-discrimination laws.
Now that you know how progressive the state is, you probably won’t have any problem knowing where to meet trans women in Illinois. Then again, you might need some help. And this article will serve as your guide. Let’s start with the easiest places to begin your quest.
LGBTQ+ Organizations & Support Groups in Your State
Whew! There’s a huge list of organizations, advocacy associations, and support groups for the LGBTQIA+ population all over the state. Let’s begin in the windy city.
Organization and Associations in and Around Chicago.
This list is way too large to list. But here are some of them for you if you live in the Chicago metro area. You will find trans women as members and volunteers. Visit some of them.
- Brave Space Alliance: This organization is led by the black and trans communities. It focuses on political advocacy, providing resources to the black and trans populations. Hosts a food pantry, helps with employment and housing opportunities, and provides gender-affirming support.
- The Center on Halstead: Health and wellness dare to the LGBTQIA+ population – sports activities, cooking classes, rapid HIV testing, housing for older people, job training, and therapy.
- Chicago Coalition of Welcoming Churches: A coalition of 80+ churches in the Chicago metro area that welcome the LGBTQIA+ population – all genders and orientations. It provides resources, hosts lots of activities and supports all Pride activities.
- Chicago LGBT Asylum Support Partners: A local branch of the national Freedom and Asylum Network. Supports all LGBTQIA+ people seeking asylum in Chicago from states where rights and protections are not available.
- Equity Illinois: Works to protect civil rights of the queer community – basically a political action organization that educates, trains, and works to support LGBTQIA+ politicians and candidates for office.
- Lambda Legal Illinois: An arm of the national organization. Advocates for rights for the entire LGBTQIA+ community and give free legal representation; works toward changing public policy for protection of the diverse community that makes up all gender identities and sexual orientations.
- Pride Arts: Here is an organization that supports the arts in all forms, especially with its theatre featuring films and documentaries. It focuses on providing all those involved in the arts a safe space to pursue their art goals in all areas.
- Transformative Justice Law Project: activists and legal workers advocating and supporting low-income and homeless trans people. Provide assistance for trans people to change their names and genders on legal documents.
Checking into any of these organization is bound to put you in contact with trans women for whatever relationship you may want. For a fuller list, check this website.
Organizations in Central Illinois
Central Illinois is the “breadbasket” of the state – corn and soybean country. It is also home to the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana and University of Illinois in Springfield. These two campuses have plenty of LGBTQIA+ organizations and support groups that are also open to the surrounding community. If you live in this part of the state, it’s probably time to look for trans women where they are. After all, trans dating is what this is all about. Here are a few campus organizations, but there are many more that embrace transgender people.
- Queer Campus Coalition: This organization is on all three campuses – Springfield, Champaign-Urbana, and Chicago. It is an affiliate of Gender & Security Resource Center. It supports everyone on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum and holds regular meetings to which the community is also invited.
- Campus Union for Trans* Equality and Support (CUTES): This organization is totally focused on supporting the genderqueer, gender fluid, gender non-conforming, nonbinary, and trans communities. It advocates for these groups both on and off campus.
These and other university-sponsored organizations and support groups will be great spots to make meaningful connections for trans dating or simple friendship. Check out this website to find them all.
Organizations in Southern Illinois
Southern Illinois is the mining section of the state and is generally more conservative. Still there are two campuses of Southern Illinois University – in Carbondale and Edwardsville. These two communities are more progressive, and both campuses have organizations and community outreach, including social events. If you live in the southern part of the state, you can make meaningful connections with trans women – after all, transgender dating is your goal, right?
LGBTQIA+ Events in Your State
An obvious way to meet female transgender individuals and possibly make genuine connections is to attend local events where you live. June is a big month throughout the state, as it is all over the nation, but Chicago takes the prize in this state, with great events taking place all year long. Here are just some in Chicago and the Chicago metro area:
- March
- May 3 – Self-Defense Workshop for the LGBTQIA+ population – Titan Gym, Chicago
- May 10 – CARE Connects Equity Training – CARE Suite – Michigan Ave, Chicago
- May 16 – Darren Fleet Show – The Comedy Bar – Chicago
- May 17 – Here to Pee Comedy Tour – in Chicago – The Lincoln Lodge
- May 29 – Out of the Office – The Godfrey Hotel, Chicago
- June 14 – Shedd Pride Night with PFLAG Council of Northern Illinois – Shedd Aquarium
- June 21 – Black LGBTQ Beach Day – 63rd St Beach
- June 21 – DJ Gloria Pre-Pride Party – The Dandy Crown. Chicago
- June 21-22 Chicago Pride Fest – Halstead neighborhood, Chicago. Logan Square will participate with an arts festival, vendors, great food, and more. There will also be a pub crawl of gay bars in several neighborhoods.
- June 29 – Chicago Pride Parade – Boystown Chicago
- July 5 – Chicago Black Pride BLOQ Day Party – The Promontory, Chicago
Many other events in Chicago, and those in the suburbs of Evanston, Elgin, Aurora, and Palatine are also planned throughout the year. For a full list, check out this website. You will surely find events to attend and perhaps make authentic connections with trans females and begin your trans dating.
Another huge Fest takes place in Springfield every year. It will be held on May 17. There will be 100+ vendors, live entertainment, music, delicious food, a drag show, great fun section for families, even teen talent shows. Check out their website.
Other events occur in Carbondale, Champaign-Urbana, Alton, and Edwardsville. If you live in or near these neighborhoods, just Google for events and dates. Again, you should participate and join the festivities because the transgender community will be there in full force. And your ts dating might just begin there wherever you may be on your path.
Now that you’ve had a taste of everything going on in your state, you should consider yourself lucky – you have opportunities to hookup with trans women no matter where you live. And where else can you hook up with trans chicks no matter where you are? Online, that’s where.
Digital Sources for Transgender Dating
What do you do online? Chances are you do work on the web at least part of your day. But think about everything else that you do digitally – you shop; you play games; you keep in touch with friends and family; you may even do some research and get your news. It’s all fast and convenient, either from you laptop or tablet at home or on your mobile devices.
But what about finding and dating a trans person this way? If you haven’t thought about it, you need to, because trans dating can actually begin on the web. Here’s a look at how this can be done.
Social Media
Most of us have joined at least 2 major social media platforms, including you. And you may even know that these platforms have groups for people of mutual interest. What you may not know, though, is that there are groups for all sorts of the LGBTQIA+ population, including the trans community, and many trans chicks join them to talk about their challenges, history of their experiences, future goals, and even ts dating preferences. You can join these groups and look for trans gals who live close by to you.
While exploring social media groups can be a great venue, there are some precautions you should take if you decide to hookup with someone you connected with on a social media site. While there are better methods of exposing fake profiles, they are not fool proof, and some bad actors can get in. Be smart and follow these tips:
- Only daylight hours will do and only in a very public place
- Your own transportation to and from
- A fully charged phone left on the whole time
- A trusted friend of family member who will call during the date with pre-arranged code words and whose call you can use to fake an emergency and reason to leave.
- No drink left unattended
Simple and clear. No fraud will probably accept them. If they do not accept your conditions, delete and block them from your contacts.
Chat Rooms
You’ll find bunches of trans chat rooms with a simple Google search, and these venues will really vary in quality. Check them out before you join and begin to mingle with trans chicks.
The quality ones will have conversations about life experiences, challenges, goals and dreams, and more than just gender identities and sexual orientations. Listen and learn and then begin to participate, eventually stating your preferences for the type of relationship you want and where you live.
The sketchy ones are no more than hookup venues. No meaningful conversations, just locations and setups for sex. Avoid these altogether.
Here’s the thing about chat rooms. anyone can register, and there are no identity verifications – a perfect spot for bad guys to hangout.
If you do agree to a meetup with someone from a chat room, all of the same precautions with social media trans dating apply.
Online Dating Sites and Apps
Over the past 30 years, people all over the world have flocked to online dating services – in fact, it has become the foundation of dating for $425 + million people to be exact.
The history of online dating begins in 1995 with the launch of Match, a dating service that matched heterosexual singles, using what is now considered a primitive matching system of keywords, presenting potentials to users who can then get to know each other and decide if exploring an in-person date would be a good idea. These are the “museums” of matching that are now on the shelf.
Today, there are over 8,000 online dating sites and apps using far more sophisticated high-tech matching systems and serving every possible category of humankind looking for relationships, from friendships to casual dating, to long-term connections that could last a lifetime. You do have some options as you look for trans dating.
- You can go to one of the huge services. they have categories for all types of daters, including trans men and women. But if you look at the number of users among trans females, you’ll find them a bit small. You may want to look for some other platform that has more of what you are looking for.
- There are very small niche platforms for people with common interests and values – based upon religions, age, education levels, and, yes, gender identity and sexual orientation. These are small platforms, and their membership is small as well. The number of trans female users will be small as well, and you may not find users that are located in cities and towns near you.
- You can find and use a large LGBTQI+ platform that has a ton of trans women in cities and towns nationwide, including your state, join it and begin exploring all of the relationship possibilities. If you think this is for you, and you should, then there is only one transgender dating platform for you – Taimi. If you have not checked out Taimi, now is the time to begin!
What Makes Taimi #1 in the Trans Dating Universe
If you haven’t experienced Taimi, now is the time to do so and find out why it is the premiere online dating platform on the planet for the entire LGBTQIA+ community and for the transgender population in particular too.
Here are a few facts about Taimi before we go into the details:
- Taimi was launched in 2017, so it could be considered a relative newcomer on the online dating scene. In 8 short years, though, it has become the largest LGBTQIA+ dating platform in the world – over 27 million and still growing.
- Taimi is fully inclusive of the entire LGBTQIA+ community and its allies. It is all about anyone on the spectrum being who they are, loving who they love, and having the flexibility and fluidity to explore and discover who they may want to be next. Taimi believes that gender identity and sexual orientation may change as someone continues their journey through life as a non-heterosexual being.
- Taimi is focused on creating an environment of respect, acceptance, and care among all of its members – a culture that resembles a family atmosphere where members, in all of their diversity, are equal to every other member.
Still, you are interested in dating trans females and want to know how Taimi does this for you. Here’s how you do just that.
Get on the Taimi Website
You will not understand all about Taimi, what it is and what is does until you get on its website. When you do open it, read through the introductory info. You’ll read about Taimi’s mission to foster “…deep connections and bonds – emotional, intellectual, social, and communal.” And this mission statement is what makes Taimi different from every other online dating platform out there.
- At Taimi, every member is in a safe and secure place, free from criticism, judgement, harassment, and bullying. Offenders are strictly dealt with.
- Every member is on their own path of discovery, and that path is encouraged, supported, and celebrated.
- Every member is a part of a huge community, all centered on supporting one another in their diversity.
- Every member resides in a culture of social connection via the venues of groups to join and form.
- Taimi believes everyone should have fun while celebrating who they are and connecting with others. That’s the reason for the games, the contests, the holiday parties, and the big events held all year long.
As you can see, Taimi has built and maintains an entire “city” of its own, complete with small neighborhoods where like-minded people can discover each other and find the relationships they want. Other online dating platforms are only focused on finding matches for their users. Once they do that, the users are on their own to use the site’s methods of communication. That’s about it.
Navigate On Over to the Trans Dating Section
At the bottom of each page on Taimi’s website, you’ll find links to every page or section. Click on the transgender dating link to open the section of your interest. Here you’ll find all of the details about trans dating on Taimi, as well as success stories of those who have found love and want to share their journeys with others.
You will also find a link to transgender chat, and you can join this “neighborhood” for free and engage in chatting with your tribe and that certainly includes trans females you are looking to connect with.
Now, You’re Ready to Become a Member
Now, you do not Join Taimi directly on the website. The website is for all of the things that Taimi is and does. You join by downloading the Taimi app from either store, and there are buttons to do this all over the website. Click on the one for you device – PC, laptop, mobile devices, or all of them. In fact, downloading the app on all over your devices gives you the flexibility to seek trans chicks from home in your PJs or on the go from anywhere and at any time.
Once you have downloaded the app, you’ll be led through the registration process. Yes, you must provide a minimum of personal info, and once you do, you’ll be directed to complete the process by creating your Taimi profile.
Crafting That Profile – You Get Lots of Help
As you create your Taimi profile, Taimi provides questions for you to answer. They know what engages other members and want you to use those details to make you more intriguing to others. Use those prompts to write your profile, but also to add the key information about your current gender identity and sexual orientation. And what are you looking for? If you are seeking trans gals, then say so!
Add some good action pics showing you engaged in your interests, passions, and hobbies, and you’re good to go.
Important Note Here: You have an option to verify your identity, and you should take this option. It puts a green check mark on your profile, and those who view that profile will trust you more. And you should consider only engaging with trans females who have the checkmark too.
Once you have created and submitted your profile, you are ready to take advantage of the features and benefits you have. You read about them on the website, but may not remember them, so we are summarizing them for you.
Features and Benefits for All Taimi Members
Taimi has the widest array of free features of any online dating platforms. Chew on these:
- Joining and registering is free – not unusual, as most others also offer this
- You have unlimited options for gender identity and sexual orientation to be stated in your profile
- Your information will be entered into perhaps the most sophisticated matching system in the industry (called an algorithm). It was developed in-house at Taimi, and it continues to monitor what you do in your public space on the app – who you keep and pass on, and your other public behaviors, what groups you join and what you post – to further refine who they present to you as matches. So, the more you use Taimi, the better your matches are.
- When there are mutual likes, a match is made. Now it is time to start communicating with that person. Taimi does not leave you tongue-tied. It has a huge list of icebreaker questions and comments you can choose from to get a convo going.
- Communication methods. Here is one area that Taimi beats all other dating platforms. You can chat, message, email, call, and video call all within the app. Other platforms charge for some of these methods.
- Every member may join any of the social groups, post, comment, and message other members. And anyone can start a group of their own and invite others to join. This feature is something that other platforms aren’t interested in.
- Taimi maintains a huge blog with great info, advice, and tips, for every identity and orientation. Members can search for posts that directly relate to them.
- Everyone can have fun. People are more than just their gender identities and sexual orientations. they have goals, careers, and life experiences that have impacted who they are as “3-D” people. And they also want to enjoy and have fun during their life journeys. Taimi brings that fun into their lives with the games, contests, and other activities we mentioned above. Again, something that other dating platforms have no interest in doing.
- Free version members can purchase features offered by premium subscriptions on an a la carte basis. So, for example, if you want to send a gift to a trans chick you have connected with, you can purchase that feature. Or, if you want to buy cards to let you have a secure and confidential meet up for sharing private photos and videos, you can buy that on a one-time basis.
The Premium Features
Taimi has three fee-based subscriptions, with progressively more features – bronze, silver, and gold. These give members:
- Greater detail in geolocation – Going from state to regions, cities and even to a mileage radius for matches. So, you can designate a specific suburb of Chicago.
- Greater control about who sees your profile or is able to contact you. thus, your exes or matches you have decided not to move further on can be blocked by request
- Ability to be anonymous (incognito) until you choose to reveal your identity.
- Free tickets to fee-based events
- More that is detailed in each subscription.
Nothing Stays the Same and Survives
Most dating platforms conduct a lot of data analysis to evaluate the performance of what they do, and they use the results to make improvements. This is important in order to remain competitive.
Taimi believes in making improvements too. But it does not rely on impersonal data analysis. It relies on its own members to give feedback and make suggestions. In fact, it openly solicits this. The Taimi developers take this feedback seriously and use it to make changes and improvements to the apps. To them, this is more realistic than relying on outside data analysis.
Putting it all Together
There are many places you can go to date online. But Taimi is the perfect place for the entire LGBTQIA+ spectrum, of course including the transgender population. Many in this specific population have realized their relationship goals, and many have found love on Taimi, if that is what they are looking for. Whatever type of relationship you may want, it’s there.
And Taimi is far more than just a platform for finding matches for any purpose. It is an amazing place for the LGBTQIA+ community to come together and celebrate who they are in all of their diversity. Romance may be in the air but so are all of the other factors that make a full life.
In fact, Taimi is as close to an on-the-ground relationship with someone as you can get.
And while we’re at it, let’s have a look at those in real life sources for generating trans chick encounters., day or night.
On the Gound Sources
Those Organizations and Groups
We covered these above – no need to repeat. You can find these all over the state, from the Chicago area to the east, the west, and the down through the center. There will be more than one organization, group of gathering center no matter where you live. Check them all out and find what works for you in your quest.
Social Networking
You obviously have friends who know you well and who know what you are looking for in a relationship with a trans woman. And they have friends too, many of whom may be a part of the LGBTQIA+ population themselves. Put out the word and have them put out the word.
This can be a really slow process, but if you are not necessarily in a hurry, it could work for you.
Hang Out in Gayborhoods
You probably already have an awareness of what places are LGBTQ+-friendly in your locale. If you live in the Chicago area, for example, you know that hanging out in the Halstead area can yield encounters with trans chicks. And the suburbs are highly friendly too.
Elsewhere in the state, the college towns are hugely queer-friendly.
Here is your task here. You need to do some research on where you live and develop your own awareness of what is available in the way of the arts, music, festivals, bar, clubs, and restaurants, and even drag shows that give you fertile ground for finding the relationships you want with trans females.
Your Guide is Now Complete
You are lucky. You are alive and kicking it in a state where the LGBTQIA+ community has a highly privileged position and has been the center of legalizing their rights. You are on a mission – to find trans females that are interested in the same relationship goals as you. No problem where you live!