The City of Chicago will provide insurance coverage for gender reassignment services for its employees and their dependents, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. The decision to implement this change came as a result of the ACLU of Illinois raising the issue with the City, after hearing reports of a City employee who had been denied coverage for gender affirming services under the City’s insurance plan. The Sun-Times spoke with the Director of the ACLU of Illinois' LGBT and HIV Project, John Knight:

“More and more cities, states, private employers and the federal government have gotten rid of these outdated policy exclusions that make no sense, from either a medical or an economic standpoint. It’s wonderful news that Chicago employees will now have access to the gender affirming care they need.”

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Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced the City will begin covering gender reassignment services under its insurance policy for all non-union City employees, making Chicago the largest city with this type of provision, the Chicago Tribune reports. The decision to provide health care coverage for transgender City employees comes after the ACLU of Illinois raised the issue with the City, after hearing reports of a City employee who had been denied coverage for gender affirming services under the City’s insurance plan.

"Chicago is known for being a city that is welcoming to all and inclusive of every resident, and this new policy is in line with our efforts to support the rights and the well-being of transgender individuals," Emanuel said in a statement.

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