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217 Today: Trans Americans are fleeing to Illinois. Here’s why

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While Illinois has moved to protect access to gender-affirming care and enshrined civil rights for the LGBTQ+ community overall, four of the five states that border Illinois have all seen a massive rise in bills that target the queer community, especially transgender youth. According to the ACLU's anti-LGBTQ legislation tracker, Missouri's state legislature has considered 48 bills in 2023 alone that would negatively impact the queer community in areas ranging from healthcare to education to free speech and expression.
  • Photo: Owen Henderson / IPM News

November 17, 2023

Today’s headlines:

  • Governor J.B. Pritzker is stepping in with new funding to help Chicago deal with its immigration crisis.
  • Even though it’s been unseasonably warm this week, Illinois Transportation officials say winter weather is coming and they want you to be ready.
  • The Urbana Police hired a consulting firm this year to evaluate the department. The firm is seeking input from Urbana residents on how — and if — officers should handle many types of calls for service.
  • The Fighting Illini men’s basketball team hosts the Valparaiso Beacons at State Farm Center tonight.

In today’s deep dive, we’ll learn more about Illinois’s efforts to protect trans rights.

217 Today is produced by Stephanie Mosqueda. Reporting contributed by Dave McKinney, Mawa Iqbal, Farrah Anderson, Colin Hislope and Owen Henderson. 

WILL and the Illinois Newsroom are committed to bringing you in-depth, relevant coverage that keeps you informed and engages you with our community and state. Join with thousands of others to keep this important public media-based resource available to all. Donate today >>

Stephanie Mosqueda

Stephanie Mosqueda is a senior majoring in journalism at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with minors in Spanish and public relations. She is the 217 Today producer and a reporter for the Illinois Student Newsroom.