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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING THE LIFE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF ELISE MALARY
WHEREAS, Elise Malary, a 31-year-old Black trans woman activist and community leader died in March 2022; and
WHEREAS, Elise was born on March 29, 1990 and lived in Chicago's Andersonville and Rogers Park neighborhoods before moving to Evanston. Elise was a beloved sister, friend, advocate, and community leader. She was known for her fierceness, kindness, and compassion; and
WHEREAS, Elise moved to Chicago in 2016. She interned at the AIDS Foundation of Chicago before working at Equality Illinois, and the Chicago Reader. She joined the Illinois Attorney General's office where she became a valued member of the Civil Rights Bureau. She was a tireless advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and was passionate about her work. She regularly joined other advocates from across the state to lobby state legislators in support of LGBTQ+ affirming legislation during annual LGBTQ+ Advocacy Days. She was an outspoken advocate for the transgender community, especially LGBTQ+ youth, and had been working to raise awareness about transgender violence and discrimination. She served for three years as a member of the Equality Illinois Community Advisory Group; and
WHEREAS, Elise traveled around the state to lift LGBTQ+ Illinoisans, including several trips to Carbondale where she met with LGBTQ+ youth at the Rainbow Cafe? LGBTQ+ Center. On October 8, 2017, she was the keynote speaker at the Center's gala, and her remarks continue to inspire and offer hope to those who attended the event; and
WHEREAS, Elise was a founding member of the Chicago Therapy Collective, the mission of which is to promote city-wide accountability and action to alleviate LGBTQ+ health disparities and advance collective LGBTQ+ health and well-being through education, therapy, advocacy, and the arts. She helped coordinate the Collective's annual Transgender Day of Resilience and Transgender Day of Visibility events and was a leader on t...
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