Every June, Pride Month offers us the chance to recognize the LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs, advocates, and community builders who help make Illinois a place where people—and the businesses they create—can belong, invest, and grow.
That sense of belonging is reflected in both Illinois’ culture and policy. By the Movement Advancement Project (MAP)’s LGBTQ Policy Score, Illinois stands among the most welcoming states in the U.S., tied for second overall with of score of 45 out of 49 for LGBTQ-friendly laws and policies. For founders deciding where to put down roots, that kind of stability lends to an already strong business case.
By the Numbers: Illinois’ LGBTQ+ Community and Economy
Of Illinois’ 12.7 million residents, an estimated 446,000 adults—roughly 4.5% of the adult population—identify as LGBT, according to the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law (2023). Behind that figure is a sizable workforce, consumer base, and network of families:
- 326K+ LGBT workers (age 16+) statewide
- 40,684 same-sex couples—about 8 for every 1K households
- An estimated 65.4K transgender adults, or .7% of the adult population
- LGBT residents make up 4.1% of the Chicago metro area and 3.7% of the Illinois side of the St. Louis metro area
A quick note on the data: Recent changes to federal surveys have discontinued several questions on sexual orientation and gender identity, which makes independent research like the Williams Institute’s an especially important baseline for understanding the full scope of the LGBTQ+ community.
The demographic’s economic weight shows up in the businesses it builds. According to the LGBT Chamber of Commerce Illinois, certified LGBT Business Enterprises (LGBTBEs):
- Have generated roughly 33K jobs across more than 900 certified businesses
- Average nearly $2.5M in annual revenue each
- Contribute an estimated $1.15B to the U.S. economy
- Count a top-earning LGBTBE bringing in $180M in annual gross revenue
LGBTQ-Led Businesses Putting Down Roots in Illinois
Companies founded and led by LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs continue to choose Illinois for expansion and community investment:
- Grindr: Founded by Joel Simkhai, the company behind the world’s largest social platform for LGBTQ+ people opened a new engineering hub on West Monroe in Chicago (the same downtown building that houses our own Illinois EDC office!).
- Sway: Illinois’ first all-minority, LGBTQ- and veteran-owned cannabis dispensary opened in Chicago’s Northalsted neighborhood (colloquially known as Boystown) in 2024.
- Brave Space Alliance: The organization opened a community center and shelter in Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood focused on supporting and protecting trans women.
LGBTQ+ Trailblazers Who Call Illinois Home
Illinois’ LGBTQ+ leaders have shaped its business landscape, civic life, and culture, including:
- Art Johnson and Pepe Peña: Co-owners of the iconic Sidetrack bar and longtime activists, the pair helped transform Chicago’s Northalsted into own of the country’s most recognized LGBTQ+ business districts. Their decades-long partnership is the subject of the documentary Art and Pep.
- Laura Ricketts: When her family took majority ownership of the Chicago Cubs in 2009, Ricketts became widely recognized as the first openly gay owner of a major U.S. professional sports team. She remains active across LGBTQ+ organizations, including LPAC.
- Fred Eychaner: A DeKalb native and founder and chairman of Newsweb Corporation, Eychaner is known for philanthropy supporting LGBTQ+ and HIV organizations, the arts, public spaces, and historic preservation.
- Tracey Baim: A Chicago journalist and publisher who helped lead the influential Windy City Times and co-founded the local chapter of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association.
- U.S. Rep Eric Sorensen: A Rockford native who came out while attending Northern Illinois University, Sorensen became Illinois’ first openly gay member of Congress in 2023.
Champions of Community
A network of organizations helps LGBTQ+ businesses and residents connect, grow, and advocate:
- LGBT Chamber of Commerce Illinois: The state’s leading LGBTQ+ businesses organization, supporting LGBTQ-owned businesses through certification assistance, supplier diversity, procurement access, and corporate partnerships.
- Equality Illinois: The state’s oldest and largest LGBTQ+ civil-rights organization, focused on public policy, legal protections, and advocacy for LGBTQ+ Illinoisans.
- Center on Halsted: The Midwest’s largest LGBTQ+ community center, with roots going back to 1973, offering mental health and senior services, youth and workforce programming, HIV testing, and cultural events.
Why This Matters to Illinois
For the team at Illinois EDC, inclusion and economic strength go hand in hand. When LGBTQ+ founders, workers, and leaders have the freedom and support to build here, the entire state’s economy becomes more creative, more resilient, and more competitive. This Pride Month, we’re honored to celebrate that contribution—and to keep working toward an Illinois where opportunity is open to everyone.
Curious about what Illinois could offer your company? Get in touch with our team today.
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