The Chicago Gender Support Alliance, CGSA, stands on the shoulders of the pioneers and the supporting members of organizations such as Chi-Chapter, Chicago Gender Society, and Chi-Town Gender Alliance and their respective contributions to the gender diverse community over many decades.

CGSA was established to:

• Promote the common good and welfare of the gender diverse community on a global basis, with special emphasis on Chicago, Northern Illinois, northwestern Indiana, and southeast Wisconsin communities;

• Provide education, resources, and support to gender-diverse people;

• Support and provide educational resources to partners, friends, and families of gender-diverse individuals;

• Educate and inform CGSA members and the larger community of options available for personal growth;

• Raise awareness of the value that gender-diverse individuals add to our communities through efforts to educate the public;

• Work independently and collaboratively with the broader community and other not for profit organizations to support the gender-diverse/LGBTQIA+ community of all ages;

• Extend support and outreach to gender-diverse communities by providing resources that will enhance their lived experiences; and

• Provide a safe and affirming social environment.

CGSA supports gender-diverse individuals, including those who identify as transgender, gender fluid, crossdresser, gender queer, non-binary, gender expansive, androgynous, demigender, two-spirited, agender, pangender, and others.

Some of the ways CGSA supports the community include:

• Provide educational information, speakers, services, resources, and social activities for the support and education of its members;

• Provide educational information, speakers, services, resources, and social support to the Chicago, Northern Illinois, northwest Indiana, and southeast Wisconsin communities, with the goal to increase the recognition of and support for the social issues affecting the gender-diverse community;

• Provide opportunities for gender-diverse individuals to develop self-understanding and self-acceptance;

• Provide members with educational information relating to obtaining appropriate health insurance, securing their legal rights, evaluating medical options, strengthening inter-familial relationships, identifying therapists and professionals supporting the community, and with non-legal advice and efforts to secure workplace safety and non-discrimination in employment; and

• Contribute volunteer services to charitable and educational organizations and projects, as appropriate, for the purpose of supporting the work of other organizations in the gender-diverse/LGBTQIA+ communities at large and to foster goodwill by demonstrating our mutual concern for the social welfare of these communities.

CGSA is a not-for-profit, volunteer, outreach, and gender-diverse support organization. CGSA is organized as a non-profit, though not as a 501c3.

CGSA is an independent, gender-diverse support group. CGSA also collaborates with other groups and organizations which support and promote the free expression of gender.

We hope you find the support and “family” in CGSA to live your best, authentic self.