Lois Bates (1970 – 2011)
There were few in Chicago’s transgender community who did not know — or at least know of — Lois Bates. A fixture at Chicago’s Howard Brown Health Center, a health care and research center that serves the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, Ms. Bates created support groups for trans youth and adults and worked tirelessly on HIV prevention. Besides being and outspoken HIV activist, she was also a former member of the Navy, a cosmetologist, a postal worker, security guard, minister and a member of the Pillar of Love Fellowship United Church of Christ. Of all these achievements, she is remembered for her trans-advocacy work. Bates passed away on Nov 17, 2011 at 41 years old.
http://www.glaad.org/blog/remembering-lois-bates-beloved-minister-and-transgender-
