Remembrance, Resilience & Resources
Saturday, November 22, 2025
3:30pm-5:30pm
Center on Halsted
About the Panel
Judge Jill Rose Quinn made history in 2020 as the first openly transgender circuit court judge and the first openly transgender elected official in Illinois. An experienced attorney and lifelong community advocate, she has handled more than 4,000 cases since graduating from The John Marshall Law School in 1983 and later built a practice serving neighborhood residents in financial, family, small business, probate, and criminal matters. Before moving to Chicago, she organized in underserved communities in Houston and Des Moines, addressing issues like zoning, safety, utilities, and taxation. Her own experiences as a transgender woman—and her deep belief in fairness and equality—continue to shape her commitment to justice and to elevating the voices of marginalized people on the Cook County Bench.
Judge Jill Rose Quinn
(she/her)
Panel Moderator
Laura Grimes, LCSW, is the co-founder of Inclusive Insight Psychotherapy & Consulting, a practice built to support LGBTQ+ and marginalized identities. Drawing on nearly 20 years of private-practice experience, she launched the organization to combat therapist burnout and create a space where clinicians and clients can show up fully — especially those from queer, multi-racial, gender-diverse, poly, neuro-divergent, and spiritually diverse backgrounds. Laura deeply values her clinical work, particularly helping clients connect with their identities and relationships. She also works as a sex therapist, passionate about demystifying sexuality, intimacy, and communication. Through her work, she centers compassion, inclusivity, and authenticity.
Laura Grimes LCSW
(she/her)
Panelists
Denton Woodfern LCSW
(they/them
Denton Woodfern, LCSW (they/them) is a psychotherapist at Inclusive Insight specializing in trauma, life transitions, grief, and LGBTQIA+ issues. Their practice is deeply relational and integrative, grounded in radical compassion and informed by critical theory.Denton works with individuals on the autism spectrum to build self-awareness and improve relationships, and also provides letters of readiness for gender-affirming care. They are trained in parts work (Internal Family Systems), somatic practices, and DBT.Identifying as queer and nonbinary, Denton brings nearly a decade of mutual-aid experience focused on trauma, recovery, and community for young adults, sex workers, and others navigating systemic marginalization.
Reyna Ortiz is a proud Indigenous Trans woman who was born and raised in Chicago. Her experiences navigating through this society, poverty and varies levels of systemic oppression has given her a great understanding of the needs in her community. She is an advocate, activist and author.
Reyna works hands on with her community, providing vital resources and has dedicated herself to building and working with her Trans community. She is also the Program Director for Task Force Chicago.
Reyna Ortiz
(she/her)
Xiao Lu is an Associate Immigration Attorney at Fragomen’s Chicago office, where he advises clients on a broad range of employment-based immigration matters. Before joining Fragomen, he practiced corporate immigration law at both large and boutique firms located in Chicago and New York, representing clients across a variety of industries. As an immigrant himself, Xiao brings a personal perspective and a client-centered approach to his practice, guiding individuals and organizations through complex immigration processes. Committed to pro bono service, Xiao has volunteered with organizations including The Resurrection Project, the Chinese American Service League, and the National Immigrant Justice Center.
Xiao Lu
(he/him)
Alexis Martinez
(she/her)
Alexis Martinez (she/her) is a a Court Specialist for the Transformative Justice Law Project, processing hundreds of name changes in the state of Illinois a year. She is also a Chicago Therapy Collective Board Member, Assistant Trainer and Co-Founder of Hire Trans Now a Chicago neighborhood-based campaign to reduce anti-Trans hiring stigma and create pipelines to Trans-affirming jobs. As a prior business owner of 20 years Alexis shares her wisdom about the demands of running a small business in Chicago and caring for a diverse staff. As a former victim of multiple anti-Trans employment incidents, Alexis is passionate about shedding light on the unique discrimination and marginalization that Trans Women of Color in particular face when seeking and retaining employment.
Asher McMaher
(they/them)
Asher McMaher is the Executive Director of Trans Up Front IL and is one of few deaf and trans leaders in the country, with over 10 years of advocacy experience supporting transgender and gender-expansive youth, teens, and young adults and advocating for disability justice. A passionate advocate with a background in legal research, Asher has been instrumental in shaping policies and initiatives that protect and empower transgender individuals. They have led multiple campaigns, including organizing the TDoV protest in Chicago, the rapid action response for U.S. v Skrmetti and was just a featured speaker at the Human Rights Conference in Washington, DC for World Pride. Asher is also a frequent speaker at conferences and workshops, sharing their expertise on transgender issues, legal protections, and community empowerment.
Remembering those we have lost this year
List compiled by Chicago Therapy Collective
Resources
Mental Health Crisis Support
Trans Lifeline (U.S. & Canada)
Phone: 1-877-565-8860
Text (U.S.): 855-503-0907
Website: translifeline.org
Peer support by trans people for trans people.
Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ Youth, under 25)
Phone: 1-866-488-7386
Text: START to 678-678
Chat: thetrevorproject.org/get-help
LGBT National Hotline
Phone: 1-888-843-4564
Chat: glbtnationalhelpcenter.org
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (24/7, all ages)
Phone: 988 (U.S.)
Chat: 988lifeline.org
Youcan connect callers with LGBTQ+ affirming counselors.
Legal Assistance
IL Pride Connect
Website: IL Pride Connect Resource Hub — ilprideconnect.org
Legal Hotline: 855‑805‑9200
Hours: Monday–Thursday, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Languages: English and Spanish
Chicago Resources
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Brave Space Alliance – A Black-led, trans-led LGBTQ+ community center providing mutual aid, housing, food, and support programs. https://www.bravespacealliance.org
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Chicago House / TransLife Care – Offers health, social, and legal services specifically for transgender and gender-expansive people. https://www.chicagohouse.org/translife-care
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Howard Brown Health – Provides LGBTQ-focused primary care, gender-affirming care, and supportive services. https://howardbrown.org
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Center on Halsted – A community center offering programs, therapy, and social support for LGBTQ+ individuals, including trans folks. https://www.centeronhalsted.org
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Chicago Therapy Collective – Works to reduce LGBTQIA2S health disparities and provide trans-inclusive mental health services. https://chicagotherapycollective.org
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Trans Up Front Illinois – Provides advocacy, support, and resources for transgender and gender non-conforming individuals across Illinois. https://www.transupfront.org
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Task Force Chicago – Focused on improving safety, equity, and inclusion for LGBTQ+ communities through advocacy, education, and policy work. https://www.taskforcechicago.org
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Life is Work – Offers career coaching, mentoring, and professional development for LGBTQ+ individuals, including trans people. https://www.lifeiswork.org