LGBTQ+ Friendly Service Providers in Chicago

Kenya NaylorLCPC

Live Oak Chicago

2222 N Elston Ave Ste 300, Chicago, IL 60622

Kenya Naylor is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and relational therapist at Live Oak Chicago. Her specialty areas include Black and POC affirmative practice and LGBTQ affirmative practice, alongside unhealthy cognitive and behavioral patterns, depression, anxiety, stress, adult and childhood trauma, self-esteem and identity exploration, parent-adult child dynamics, and women's issues. Kenya integrates Emotionally Focused, Attachment-Based, and Parts-Oriented therapeutic approaches alongside Schema and Humanistic frameworks, describing her work as helping clients rebuild self-trust and cultivate emotionally secure connections. She holds an MA in Clinical Counseling from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.

Kate Penkethman

Chicago Therapy Collective

5237 N Clark St, Floor #2, Chicago, IL 60640

Kate Penkethman is a Licensed Professional Counselor at Chicago Therapy Collective with an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from North Park University. Penkethman describes herself as "a queer gal living in Chicago" and works with clients navigating complex trauma, anxiety, gender, sexuality, OCD, spirituality, and relationships of all forms. Her approach draws on relational-cultural therapy, intersectional feminist theory, and queer theory, alongside critical race theory, mind-body connection work, and creative therapeutic interventions, with a trauma-informed foundation across her practice with individuals facing anxiety and identity-related concerns.

Patrick DeLoachMA, LMFT

Astute Counseling & Wellness Services

3001 N Southport Avenue, 2nd Floor, Chicago, IL 60657

Patrick DeLoach, MA, LMFT, is a therapist at Astute Counseling & Wellness Services in Chicago whose practice areas include marriage, couples, and family therapy, along with PTSD and trauma, sexuality, sex and intimacy, and anxiety, depression, and mood concerns. His listed specialties include grief and loss, LGBTQIA+ concerns, ethical polyamory and polyamory support, anger management, gender identity and transition, and men's issues.

Angela Campion

Live Oak Chicago

2222 N Elston Ave Ste 300, Chicago, IL 60622

Angela Campion is a therapist at Live Oak Chicago whose practice areas include anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions and interpersonal issues, and couples and partner therapy across various relationship structures, using an integrative style that draws on humanistic therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Internal Family Systems. Angela focuses on clients who often feel misunderstood, alienated, or detached from prescribed social or cultural norms, and on cultural code-switching. She describes her own identity in first person: "As a queer, multi-racial person, I am drawn to working with queer and trans people and/or folks of color." (License credentials are not published on Angela's bio page.)

Allison SchachtMA, LCPC, CADC, CTP

Astute Counseling & Wellness Services

3001 N Southport Avenue, 2nd Floor, Chicago, IL 60657

Allison Schacht, MA, LCPC, CADC, CTP, is a therapist at Astute Counseling & Wellness Services in Chicago whose practice areas include anxiety (generalized and panic), depression, and PTSD and trauma. Her listed specialties include LGBTQIA+ and transgender concerns, with advanced training, alongside support for clients new to therapy. Allison also works with substance use and addiction, holding advanced CADC certification, as well as domestic violence, anger management, interpersonal issues, stress management, life transitions, career and academic concerns, and identity exploration.

Jx Heithmar

Chicago Therapy Collective

5237 N Clark St, Floor #2, Chicago, IL 60640

Jx Heithmar is Associate Clinical Director at Chicago Therapy Collective, an LCSW in Illinois and LICSW in Massachusetts, holding an MA in Social Work from the University of Illinois Chicago and certification in Trauma-Focused CBT. Heithmar describes themself as "a queer, nonbinary, revolutionary socialist" and has provided trainings on trans-competent health care to medical facilities, with a stated focus on gender-affirming care. Their practice serves LGBTQ+ adults and adolescents and clients with complex trauma, substance use, family rejection, or childhood abuse, drawing on trauma-focused CBT, DBT, acceptance and commitment therapy, mindfulness, and liberation psychology.

Sebastian BergeronDC

Nordro Clinic

5015 N Paulina St Suite 345, Chicago, IL 60640

Sebastian Bergeron, DC is a chiropractor and acupuncturist at Nordro Clinic, which he founded in Andersonville at 5015 N. Paulina St. A graduate of Northwestern Health Sciences University, he blends chiropractic, acupuncture, and physical medicine into a patient-centered practice. On his own site, Bergeron states he is 'dedicated to serving Chicago's LGBTQ+ community and neighbors with compassionate, sex-positive, and neurodiverse-affirming care,' with experience spanning perinatal, pediatric, and community health settings. He volunteers with The Center on Halsted and International Mr. Leather.

Jason GodoDC

Godo Chiropractic

3118 N Sheffield Ave, #1S, Chicago, IL 60657

Jason Godo, DC is the sole owner and practicing chiropractor at Godo Chiropractic, located at 3118 N. Sheffield Ave. in Lakeview. With more than 23 years of clinical experience, Dr. Godo writes on his own site that 'as a gay chiropractic physician, I understand why some patients prefer a provider who is familiar with the community,' framing his identity as part of why patients seek him out. The practice offers general chiropractic care with same-day appointments and online booking.

Gary BucherMD

ADC MidWest (Anal Disease & Cancer Prevention)

2551 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614

Gary Bucher, MD is a family medicine physician who has practiced in Chicago for nearly 40 years, with a clinical focus on HPV and anal dysplasia prevention. In 2008 he opened ADC MidWest (the Anal Dysplasia Clinic), one of the region's dedicated practices for high-resolution anoscopy and anal-cancer-prevention screening, and later served as principal investigator for Chicago-area enrollment in the NIH-funded ANCHOR Study, the largest anal cancer prevention trial conducted in the U.S. He is also affiliated with Ascension Saint Joseph - Chicago. Per OutCare Health's OutList directory, Dr. Bucher identifies as a cisgender gay man.

Ramin MedhatDDS

Medhat Dental Excellence

6011 N. Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60646

Ramin A. Medhat, DDS has practiced general dentistry in Chicago for more than 30 years, since graduating from Loyola University's School of Dentistry in 1991. His practice, Medhat Dental Excellence, is based at 6011 N. Milwaukee Ave. in the Norwood Park neighborhood. On its own site, the practice states it has served the LGBTQ+ community for 20+ years and describes itself as a 'proud supporter of LGBTQ+ rights' — framed as an affirming stance rather than a personal LGBTQ+ identity claim from Dr. Medhat. The practice offers general, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry.

Eleanor FoleyLAc

Courageous Heart Acupuncture

1757 N Kimball Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Eleanor Foley, LAc is the sole practitioner and owner of Courageous Heart Acupuncture at 1757 N. Kimball Ave. in Logan Square. She holds a trauma-informed, LGBTQIA-inclusive acupuncture certification and focuses part of her practice on fertility and family-building support for LGBTQ+ and non-binary patients, alongside general acupuncture care. Foley is listed as a BIPOC LGBTQ+ provider (of Puerto Rican and Irish heritage) by both OutCare Health's OutList and the LGBTQ Healthcare Directory (GLMA / Tegan and Sara Foundation) — third-party clinician directories, since her own site leads with general trauma-informed, inclusive language rather than a personal identity statement. Booking is available by phone, text, or SimplePractice.

Bradley BackhausDC

Modern Chiropractic Chicago

3019 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60657

Bradley A. Backhaus, DC leads Modern Chiropractic Chicago at 3019 N. Lincoln Ave. in Lincoln Park. The practice states on its own site that it 'has been serving Chicago's Lincoln Park/Lakeview neighborhood and the LGBTQ community since 2014,' and Dr. Backhaus's care extends beyond spinal adjustment to physical therapy, acupuncture, and massage under one roof. The practice's LGBTQ+ language reflects its stated community commitment rather than a personal identity claim from Dr. Backhaus himself.

Robert Jeffrey

Robert Jeffrey Hair Studio - Lakeview

3153 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60657

Robert Jeffrey is the founder of Robert Jeffrey Hair Studio - Lakeview, listed on the salon's own team page as a Tier 4 stylist alongside owner and business partner Kelly, who says on the site she has "been in the industry since 2003 learning from my business partner, Jeffrey." Robert Jeffrey Hair Studio - Lakeview is a full-service salon on North Broadway in Lakeview East that appears in both the chicago.gopride.com LGBTQ business directory and Yelp's curated "Gay Haircut" Chicago category. The salon also operates sibling locations in Frankfort, Lemont, and Orland Park, Illinois. Book with Robert Jeffrey through the salon's Boulevard booking widget or by phone; the studio's prior domain, robertjeffrey.com, no longer resolves, so use robertjeffreylakeview.com.

Brandon

Logan Parlor

3251 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Brandon is a Level 3 cosmetologist at Logan Parlor specializing in keratin smoothing treatments, creative color transformations, and customized cuts. He draws inspiration from fellow stylists and the style of the surrounding Logan Square and Wicker Park neighborhoods. Brandon says he chose Logan Parlor because "it's a proudly queer-friendly salon with gender-inclusive services, creating a welcoming space where everyone can feel like themselves." Logan Parlor is a Logan Square salon whose HAIR HAS NO GENDER pricing model charges by time, length, and stylist level rather than by gender, and whose team completes Redken Safe Space certification.

Moon

Barbara & Barbara

2925 W Diversey Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Moon (she/they) is a Level 3 stylist and Level 3 colorist at Barbara & Barbara, a Logan Square salon that describes itself as "Queer owned and operated" and an "LGBTQ+ centric salon," built around gender-neutral pricing and celebrating self-expression through hair. The salon's menu covers short, medium/long, and curly cuts along with custom color such as root touch-ups, bleach and tone, balayage, and rainbow highlights, plus blowouts, silk press, and perms, with consultations and deposits required for new color clients. Moon books directly through the salon's online scheduling system.

Scarlett

Twisted Scissors Chicago

3049 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60618

Scarlett (she/her) is a level 3 stylist on the crew at Twisted Scissors Chicago in Avondale. The salon has been a fixture of the Logan Square and Avondale hair scene since it first opened its doors in 2007. The shop offers color services in any shade of the rainbow alongside cuts that range from long and layered to short and edgy. The salon is female- and LGBTQ-owned and operated, lists with Strands for Trans as a discrimination-free provider, and partners with Green Circle Salons on waste diversion. Scarlett is listed on the salon's official team roster with clients booking directly through the shop.

Izi

Logan Parlor

3251 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Izi is a new-talent stylist at Logan Parlor whose hair journey began in 2024, with about two years spent building cutting skills and education. Izi favors lived-in, expressive cuts such as bobs, shags, and pixies, along with other alternative styles, and hopes to grow further into creative fantasy color and a wider range of short and barber cutting. Izi says they wanted to work in a creative field where they could build a craft useful to their community. Logan Parlor is a Logan Square salon that prices services by time, length, and stylist level rather than by gender.

Tori

Twisted Scissors Chicago

3049 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60618

Tori (she/her) is a level 2 stylist on the crew at Twisted Scissors Chicago in Avondale. The salon has been a fixture of the Logan Square and Avondale hair scene since it first opened its doors in 2007. The shop offers color services in any shade of the rainbow alongside cuts that range from long and layered to short and edgy. The salon is female- and LGBTQ-owned and operated, lists with Strands for Trans as a discrimination-free provider, and partners with Green Circle Salons on waste diversion. Tori is listed on the salon's official team roster with clients booking directly through the shop.

Jack Arnold

Arnold Electric Services

6575 N. Avondale Ave, Suite 100, Chicago, IL 60631

Arnold Electric Services is a family-owned electrical contractor founded in 2008 by Jack and Sara Arnold, based on North Avondale Avenue in Chicago and licensed under ECC License 94120-10. The company handles residential and commercial electrical work throughout the greater Chicago area. On its GayPages.com listing, Arnold Electric states that it "proudly service[s] LGBT homeowners in the greater Chicago area" — a stated commitment to the community rather than an ownership claim. The company is also listed on the LGBTQ+ business directory Pride Places. Arnold Electric can be reached by phone or email at its Avondale Avenue office.

Morning Noon and Night Plumbing & Sewer Services

8557 44th Street, Lyons, IL 60534

Morning Noon and Night Plumbing & Sewer Services is a 24/7 residential, commercial, and industrial plumbing and sewer contractor in business since 2005, headquartered in Lyons with an additional Chicago-proper location. The company's service area spans Chicago neighborhoods including Bucktown, Gold Coast, Hyde Park, Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Logan Square, and Wrigleyville, plus dozens of surrounding suburbs. The company is listed on chicago.gopride.com, described there as "a directory serving the Chicago gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities" — directory-context marketing language rather than a first-party ownership claim, since no LGBTQ+ statement appears on the company's own site. Reach the team by phone for 24-hour emergency or scheduled plumbing service.

Rob

Abbott Painting

1000 Skokie Blvd Suite 575, Wilmette, IL 60091

Abbott Painting is a residential, commercial, and industrial painting contractor based in Wilmette, serving Chicago and the North Shore suburbs. Services include interior and exterior painting, water-damage restoration, and electro-static painting for condo and commercial buildings. Abbott Painting advertises in GRAB Magazine Chicago, the city's monthly LGBTQ+ publication, with a banner ad on the magazine's homepage linking to its website — evidence of active marketing to the local Gay community rather than a stated ownership claim. The company's own site carries no LGBTQ+ statement. Abbott Painting can be reached at its Chicago or North Shore phone lines, or by email through its Wilmette office.

123 Remodeling Inc.

5070 N. Kimberly Ave., Suite C, Chicago, IL 60630

123 Remodeling is a Chicago design-build contractor on North Kimberly Avenue, handling kitchen, bathroom, condo, and basement remodeling along with flooring, tilework, and high-rise condo renovation. The company is bonded and insured for over $2 million and carries a Better Business Bureau listing. On gaylesbiandirectory.com, 123 Remodeling's listing describes it as "Chicago's premiere GLBT home improvement contractor and construction repair experts" — directory-written marketing copy rather than a first-party ownership statement, since no LGBTQ+ claim appears on the company's own site. 123 Remodeling can be reached by phone or email through its Kimberly Avenue office for project inquiries.

Michael Goode

Goode Plumbing, LLC

4594 N. Elston Ave, Chicago, IL 60630

Goode Plumbing is a Chicago plumbing and HVAC contractor headquartered on North Elston Avenue, with additional locations in Evanston and Schiller Park. The company is a member of the LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Illinois, and Best Gay Chicago named it a recommended, Gay Friendly plumber with a "5 Pink Crowns" rating in a 2012 reader review. Goode Plumbing handles residential and commercial plumbing, drain, and HVAC work across Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. No LGBTQ+ ownership statement appears on the company's own site — its community ties run through Chamber membership and local press recognition. Reach the Elston Avenue office by phone or email to schedule service.

Siding & Windows Group

Siding & Windows Group is an exterior remodeling company serving Chicago and a wide swath of the suburbs, including Arlington Heights, Evanston, Naperville, and Oak Park. Services include James Hardie fiber-cement siding installation, energy-efficient replacement windows, storm-damage repair, roof repair, and entry doors, along with a separate Deck and Porch Division. The company is listed on Pride Places, an LGBTQ+ friendly business directory, under both its Chicago Home Services and Electrical Contractors categories. No LGBTQ+ statement appears on the company's own site — its community tie is directory affiliation only. Siding & Windows Group can be reached by phone or through its online quote-request form.

Joe Betancourt

Betancourt Realty

2131 W. Division St, Chicago, IL 60622

Joe Betancourt is the owner and broker of Betancourt Realty, based on West Division Street in Chicago's Wicker Park, where he works under the tagline 'Your Real Estate Concierge.' Betancourt is transgender and has spoken publicly about his path in a first-person Windy City Times profile, describing leaving home at 13 and building a career in real estate, and saying he chose to share his story so LGBTQ+ and transgender youth could see people overcome hard circumstances. He is a member of NAGLREP, the National Association of Gay & Lesbian Real Estate Professionals, and the LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Illinois, and serves buyers and sellers across Chicago.

Phil Wrigley

Coldwell Banker Realty (McMullen/O'Hare office)

6400 N Northwest Hwy, Chicago, IL 60631

Phil Wrigley is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Realty, working out of the McMullen/O'Hare office and serving Chicago-area buyers and sellers, with particular specialties in flips, investment properties, and short-term vacation rentals. British-born, he moved to Chicago from London about a decade ago. On his LGBTQ Real Estate Pros profile, Wrigley writes, 'As one of Chicagoland's premiere gay agents, I love helping my fellow members of the LGBTQIA+ community reach the American dream of home ownership,' and describes recommending neighborhoods that feel welcoming and inclusive. He serves North Side neighborhoods including Andersonville, Boystown, Lakeview, Uptown, and Lincoln Park, plus North Shore suburbs, and is a NAGLREP member.

Gary Spangler

G-Spang Real Estate and Property Management

6415 N. Ravenswood Ave., Suite 209, Chicago, IL 60626

Gary Spangler is the Designated Managing Broker and Community Association Manager at G-Spang Real Estate and Property Management, a family-owned firm based in the Ravenswood neighborhood on Chicago's North Side. The company offers full-service residential brokerage alongside property management and condominium and community association management. Spangler holds CAM (Community Association Manager), AHWD, e-PRO, and GRI designations through the National Association of REALTORS. G-Spang is listed in the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance directory and the LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Illinois, serving Chicago and the surrounding suburban metro area.

Olin Eargle

@properties - Olin Sells Chicago Team

806 N. Peoria St., Suite 100, Chicago, IL 60642

Olin Eargle leads the Olin Sells Chicago team as a Top Producer with @properties Christie's International Real Estate, working out of the Goose Island office on North Peoria Street. He earned his Illinois Real Estate Broker's License in 2009 and holds additional designations including Accredited Buyer's Representative, Certified Negotiation Expert, and the National Association of REALTORS' Graduate REALTOR Institute credential. Eargle is a member of the Chicago Association of REALTORS, Illinois Association of REALTORS, and National Association of REALTORS, and is listed as a top-5%-producer NAGLREP member, marketing his services to Chicago's LGBTQ+ home buyers and sellers, alongside a listing in the GayRealEstate.com directory.

Crystal Banks

Landstar Realty Group

2127 W. Leland Ave, Chicago, IL 60625

Crystal Banks is the Broker/Owner of Landstar Realty Group and a Chicago real estate agent with 13-plus years of experience since 2010, having helped more than 500 buyers, sellers, and investors across 21 Chicago neighborhoods. She holds a 5-star rating across 75 client reviews and is an Illinois Licensed Real Estate Broker. Banks is a NAGLREP member, the National Association of Gay & Lesbian Real Estate Professionals, listed in its directory since 2019, and Landstar Realty Group also appears in the LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Illinois directory.

Mark Zipperer

RE/MAX Premier Gold Coast

1207 N Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60610

Mark Zipperer leads The ZIP Group at RE/MAX Premier Gold Coast, working out of the team's office on North Dearborn Street in Chicago. He has more than 20 years of real estate experience and has closed over 300 sales totaling more than $150 million in volume. Zipperer is a longtime NAGLREP member, listed since 2011, and appears in the Gay Realty Network directory, marketing his team's services to Chicago's LGBTQ+ home buyers and sellers. He works alongside fellow brokers Daniel Ledo and Kevin Vi on the ZIP Group team, serving neighborhoods across the city.

Jenna Pollock

Fora Travel

Jenna Pollock is a Chicago-based advisor with Fora Travel, where her bio describes her as a New England-born, Chicago-based "queer mama" who is endlessly curious about the world. Her listed specialties include Off-the-Beaten-Path travel, LGBTQ+ Travel, and Outdoors & Nature, with expertise across the USA, Europe, and Southeast Asia. She's lived in Boston, Atlanta, New Orleans, South Texas, Chicago, London, Manila, Chiang Mai, and Muscat, and speaks English, Spanish, and Dutch. As with other Fora advisors, client contact runs through the Fora advisor platform rather than a personal phone or email listing.

Richard Engle

Protravel International (Chicago)

Richard Engle spent 25 years owning and operating his own Chicago travel agency before joining Protravel International, now part of Global Travel Collection, where he works as an Experiential Luxury Travel Specialist focused on vacation experience design. He plans adventure trips, family vacations, and arts-and-culture itineraries, with particular depth in Australia and New Zealand, the Mediterranean, South Africa, and South America. Engle is included on Protravel/GTC's LGBTQ+ Travel advisor roster alongside two Chicago colleagues, though his own advisor profile doesn't list LGBTQ+ Travel among his named specialties. He books through Virtuoso, the invitation-only luxury travel network.

Zoom Vacations, LLC

2338 N Monticello Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Zoom Vacations was founded in 2002 by Joel Cabrera and Bryan Herb, who personally lead nearly all of the company's small-group tours to destinations including Bhutan, Egypt, India, Japan, South Korea, Laos, the Maldives, Morocco, Peru, Portugal, Rwanda, Kenya, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam & Cambodia. Purple Roofs lists it as a Gay Owned Tour Operator, and it's won Out Traveler's Reader's Choice Award for Best Small Gay Tour Provider multiple years running, plus a Travvy Award (Gold) for Best Escorted Tour Operator LGBT. Co-founder Bryan Herb served four years on the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association board, two as chair, and has appeared as a travel expert on Travel Channel's Vacation Challenge and Logo's Bump.

Peter Carideo

CRC Travel, Inc.

2105 N Southport Ave, Suite 205, Chicago, IL 60614

Peter Carideo has run CRC Travel since 1990, putting the agency at 36 years in business, and has been named to Condé Nast Traveler's Top 125 Travel Specialists list every year since 2003. The agency maintains a dedicated "You Go Girl" Gay & Lesbian Travel Links page on its site and is listed in the ChicagoPride.com/GoPride LGBTQ Chicago business directory under Travel Agencies. CRC Travel's ownership itself isn't confirmed as LGBTQ+; its inclusion here reflects its long-running LGBTQ+ focused content and directory presence rather than an ownership claim. The agency's office is on North Southport Avenue in Lincoln Park.

Mike McMains

Tours With Mike

Mike McMains runs Tours With Mike, leading three LGBTQ Stories walking and trolley tours around Chicago — North Side, Downtown, and South Side — each tracing local LGBTQ history from the 19th century to today. Public dates are bookable directly through the Chicago History Museum, an official tour partner whose ticket includes free museum admission within a week of the tour; private tours run year-round. McMains has been featured on WGN's Daytime Chicago, in a Canadian Pride documentary series, and by Axios Chicago, Block Club Chicago, and the Chicago History Podcast. No personal LGBTQ+ ownership claim is made here — the tours' subject matter is the specialization.

Georgia Stanek-Finkle

Protravel International (Chicago)

Georgia Stanek-Finkle has been selling travel since 1979 and holds a degree in Geography, Travel & Tourism, and Marketing from DePaul University. She's based in the Chicago office of Protravel International, now part of Global Travel Collection, where her advisor profile lists LGBTQ+ Travel among her own specialties, alongside Festivals & Events, Food & Wine, and Culture, History & Arts. She's also named on Protravel/GTC's dedicated LGBTQ+ Travel advisor roster, alongside two Chicago colleagues. Stanek-Finkle books through Virtuoso, the invitation-only luxury travel network, giving clients access to upgrades and amenities at partner hotels and cruise lines worldwide.

Groove is in the Heart DJs

Groove is in the Heart DJs is a Chicago-based mobile DJ business founded in 2018, describing itself on its About page as "a female owned, inclusive, boutique mobile DJ business." The team focuses on reading the room and building well-curated, well-timed playlists for weddings and events, and holds a 5-star rating across Yelp, The Knot, Google, and WeddingWire. Groove is in the Heart DJs markets itself as inclusive and Gay Friendly rather than LGBTQ+ owned, and is based on Chicago's Northwest Side.

Rebecca Pope

Something Profound Weddings

Something Profound Weddings is a Chicago-based wedding planning and event design studio led by owner Rebecca Pope (she/her), who also offers officiant services. On the studio's About page, Pope writes directly about her own identity: "My whiteness, queerness, education, access, and comfort are at the cost of systemic oppression of the marginalized," and the site states, "We stand with the BIPOC and LGBTQIA2S communities and we will continue to advocate for the communities' rights." Something Profound Weddings is a member of the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce and was featured in a "LGBTQ+ Chicago Wedding Vendors" roundup by wedding photographer Mei Lin Barral. The studio carries The Knot 2025 award badges and holds a 5.0 rating across WeddingWire and Zola.

MDM Entertainment

MDM Entertainment is a Chicago-based DJ, lighting, and photo booth company serving weddings and events throughout the area. On its "Chicago LGBTQ Wedding Vendor" page, the company calls itself "an avid supporter of marriage equality for the Chicago LGBTQ community" and describes itself as "one of the premier Chicago LGBTQ wedding DJ and Lighting vendors" listed on EnGAYgedWeddings.com, an LGBTQ+ wedding vendor directory. MDM's ceremony and reception DJs handle both the music and the logistical side of a wedding day — timeline, announcements, and transitions — with optional lighting design and photo booth add-ons.

Morgen Hare

ChiVibe Inc (Entourage Band / Morgen Briana Music)

Morgen Briana is a Chicago vocalist, DJ, and event specialist who leads Entourage Band, a live band and DJ act presented by Arlen Music Productions under the business name ChiVibe Inc. She performs at weddings and corporate events, working with couples on song selection and entertainment strategy for the reception. Choose Chicago, the city's official tourism and meetings bureau, includes ChiVibe Inc / Morgen Briana on its published directory of LGBTQ+ owned Chicago businesses offering event entertainment. Client reviews from couples and wedding parties describe her performances as high-energy and central to making receptions memorable.

BURST Event Co

BURST Event Co is a Chicago wedding planning studio offering full-service, partial, and day-of/month-of coordination for couples across the city. On its root domain, the business brands itself as an "LGBTQ+ Chicago Wedding Planner" and describes its team as a "pro Black, queer affirming, pro woman, pro HUMAN... woman owned and operated business." The studio leans into a scrappy, high-energy approach to planning, working to cut through the overwhelm of wedding logistics while keeping a couple's personality front and center. BURST is affiliated with sister brand Lillian Rose Events, which shares its Instagram and Facebook accounts, and books consultations directly through its site.

Patrick Crosson

PC Events + Experiences (PCXP)

216 S. Jefferson St. STE 102, Chicago, IL 60661

PC Events + Experiences (PCXP) is a West Loop-based event production agency led by Patrick Crosson, Chief Experience Owner, handling corporate conferences, trade shows, galas, and nonprofit events for Chicago-market clients including the University of Chicago Convocation and the Pritzker Forum on Global Cities. PCXP is a Certified LGBT Business Enterprise through the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) and also appears on Choose Chicago's directory of LGBTQ+ owned Chicago businesses. Its team of experience producers and designers builds event strategy, logistics, and on-site execution for organizations rather than individual couples, and the agency has picked up multiple Spark Awards recognitions for outdoor event production.

Lenny Holter-Wellen

Five Point Holistic Health

2866 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60618

Lenny Holter-Wellen is a Licensed Massage Therapist listed in OutCare Health's OutList, a directory of LGBTQ+ affirming health providers, under its massage therapy category. Holter-Wellen practices at Five Point Holistic Health, a multi-practitioner wellness studio in Logan Square offering massage, acupuncture, and other bodywork services. Five Point Holistic Health doesn't market itself as LGBTQ+ affirming beyond a standard non-discrimination clause; this listing reflects the OutCare directory entry only, not a practice-wide claim. Contact for Holter-Wellen runs through Five Point Holistic Health's general practice line rather than a personal number or email.

Jamé

Chicago Queer Fitness

Bucktown, Chicago, IL (exact street address not published)

Chicago Queer Fitness was started in 2018 by Jamé (they/she), an ACE-certified personal trainer who also holds a Karate 1st Dan and pre/postnatal training certification. Jamé launched the business, by her own account, because "there were no fitness offerings explicitly for the queer community in Chicago." Training is offered virtually Monday through Thursday and in person on Sundays in Bucktown, with both small-group and one-on-one formats. Pricing is offered on a sliding scale to keep sessions accessible.

Amanda Flores

heal & flo Massage and Wellness

3759 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL 60613

Amanda Flores is a Licensed Massage Therapist practicing in Ravenswood as heal & flo Massage and Wellness. She is NCBTMB-certified, an AMTA member, and a 2012 graduate of Chicago's SOMA Institute. Her practice focuses on sports massage, lymphatic drainage, cupping, and trauma-informed bodywork, all framed in strictly clinical, professional terms. Flores states her aim is "to create a safe space for folx to feel comfortable," inclusive language that runs throughout her site, though no ownership or identity claim is made. In 2021, Flores was named a Chicago Reader Best of Chicago "Best Massage Therapist" award finalist. Booking is handled through Vagaro.

Nathan PaulusLMT

Five Point Holistic Health

2866 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60618

Nathan Paulus is a Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT, CYT) listed in OutCare Health's OutList, a directory of LGBTQ+ affirming health providers, under its massage therapy category. Paulus is an owner and bodyworker at Five Point Holistic Health, a multi-practitioner wellness studio in Logan Square, a role independently confirmed via LinkedIn and the practice's own website. Five Point Holistic Health doesn't market itself as LGBTQ+ affirming beyond a standard non-discrimination clause; this listing reflects the OutCare directory entry only, not a practice-wide claim. Contact for Paulus runs through Five Point Holistic Health's general practice line rather than a personal number or email.

Larry Minutillo

First American Bank

33 W Monroe St, Chicago, IL 60603

Larry Minutillo is a Vice President and Mortgage Loan Officer with First American Bank, working from the bank's office at 33 W. Monroe St. in Chicago's Loop (NMLS #503658). First American Bank is a Gold member of the LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Illinois in the Mortgages category. Minutillo works with Chicago-area borrowers on purchase and refinance mortgages as part of First American's Personal Banking lending team, and client reviews describe him as responsive and thorough throughout the loan process. He can be reached directly by phone or email through his official First American Bank profile.

Neena Vlamis

A and N Mortgage Services, Inc.

1945 N. Elston Ave, Chicago, IL 60642

Neena Vlamis is CEO and Owner of A and N Mortgage Services, the Chicago-based lender behind the firm's dedicated LGBTQ+ lending page, which states A&N's commitment to fair and equal mortgage opportunities for LGBTQ+ families. She holds Illinois mortgage broker license IDFPR #31.0001093 and individual NMLS #37370 (company NMLS #19291), and has been named a Five Star Mortgage Professional every year since 2011. Vlamis has built A&N into an established independent mortgage brokerage headquartered on North Elston Avenue, and carries a 4.7-star rating across client reviews on Redfin. Under her leadership the firm markets directly to LGBTQ+ home buyers on purchase and refinance mortgages.

David Camp

Key Mortgage Services

David Camp is a loan officer at Key Mortgage Services with more than 18 years of lending and banking experience. He entered banking while attending Western Michigan University, managed bank branches in Chicago, and moved into the mortgage industry in 2020. Licensed in Illinois, Indiana, and North Carolina (NMLS #572506), he works with first-time homebuyers and repeat buyers, with a stated focus on making sure borrowers understand the financing process. He also serves in chapter leadership for the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance in Illinois.

Shimmy Braun

CrossCountry Mortgage (Shimmy & Tom Team)

413 N. Carpenter St., Suite 1W, Chicago, IL 60642

Shimmy Braun leads the Shimmy & Tom Team as Senior Vice President of Mortgage Lending at CrossCountry Mortgage's Chicago branch (NMLS #112849), working from the firm's office on North Carpenter Street. He is ranked among the top 1% of U.S. loan originators nationally, and the Shimmy & Tom Team has closed more than $3 billion in mortgages over the past 20 years. Braun's NAGLREP profile states he identifies as Gay and lists him as a member since 2019; his firm holds a Rainbow Membership with the LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Illinois in the Mortgages category. He previously co-founded PROUD, the LGBTQ+ employee resource group at his prior employer, Guaranteed Rate. Braun works with buyers on purchase and refinance mortgages.

Carol Jones

Metz + Jones LLC

5443 North Broadway # 2-North, Chicago, IL 60640

Carol L. Jones is Managing Partner at Metz + Jones LLC, a law firm on North Broadway in Chicago that states it is "Serving the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Community and Friends" across its real estate, estate planning, and family law practices. The firm's real estate work includes title searches, title ordering and clearance, and drafting and coordinating closing documents, and it can complete home-sale closings without the client attending in person. Jones leads the practice alongside Of Counsel attorney Jill M. Metz. Contact is by phone or through the firm's website contact form; no public email is listed for Jones or the firm.

Christopher Jordan

JRQ & Associates, LLC

141 W Jackson Blvd, Suite 2720, Chicago, IL 60604

Christopher Jordan is a founding partner of JRQ & Associates, a law firm at 141 W. Jackson Blvd. in Chicago's Loop that describes itself on its own site as "an LGBTQ+ owned and operated law firm and a proud supporter of the LGBTQ+ community." The firm handles real estate closings alongside divorce and family law, bankruptcy, immigration, and estate planning. Jordan and his fellow founding partners, Nathan Reusch and Carlos Quichiz, built the practice to guide LGBTQ+ clients through major life transitions, including home purchases and sales. He can be reached directly by phone or email at the firm's office for real estate closing work.

David Frederickson

State Farm Insurance David J. Frederickson Agency Inc

6255 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60660

Dave Frederickson has run the David J. Frederickson Agency, a State Farm agency, from North Clark Street in Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood near Andersonville, since starting the business in September 1996. On his own site, Frederickson lists board membership on the Edgewater Chamber of Commerce and membership in the Andersonville, Uptown, and Chicago Gay and Lesbian Chambers, as well as the Rogers Park Business Alliance. The agency writes auto, home, and life insurance for Chicago-area clients, and self-reports a 4.9 rating across 595 reviews on its own site (not independently verified). Frederickson's inclusion here reflects longstanding chamber membership rather than a stated LGBTQ+ ownership or ally claim.

Jeremiah Stevens

Daddy Bear Insurance Agency LLC

Jeremiah Stevens founded Daddy Bear Insurance Agency, a Chicago-based life and health insurance brokerage affiliated with Symmetry Financial Group. On the agency's own site, Stevens writes that he started the business after seeing how many people in "our LGBTQ+ community were struggling to find inclusive, judgment-free support" for life and health coverage, building it around "community, connection, and care" — because, in his words, when "our LGBTQ+ community thrives... we all do." Daddy Bear is a member of the LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Illinois and works with more than 80 carriers nationwide to write life insurance for individuals, chosen families, and non-traditional households, under the tagline "Protect yourself and everyone in your den."

Paul Cohen

Cohen Insurance Agency (Paul Cohen Insurance)

220 W Campus Dr Ste 100, Arlington Heights, IL 60004

Paul Cohen runs Cohen Insurance Agency from Arlington Heights, roughly 24 miles northwest of the Loop, serving Chicago-area clients with auto, home, and life insurance. Cohen's own site states the agency is proudly working with the LGBTQ community, with dedicated content addressing the distinct financial challenges facing LGBTQ individuals and families — from adding a partner to a life insurance policy to planning for a shared future. The agency is listed in the GaySurance.com directory for the Chicago/Illinois region. Cohen has no stated ownership tie to the LGBTQ+ community; the practice is built around marketing to and serving it.

Michael Plageman

Plageman Agency Inc - American Family Insurance

3257 N Sheffield Ave Suite 101, Chicago, IL 60657

Michael Plageman runs the Plageman Agency, an American Family Insurance agency located at Century Mall in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood, near Diversey and Clark. The agency writes auto, home, and life insurance for Chicago-area clients and is a member of the LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Illinois. Plageman's own site does not include LGBTQ-specific language beyond that membership, so his inclusion here reflects chamber affiliation rather than a stated ownership or ally claim.

Karen Ayers

State Farm Insurance (Karen Ayers Agency)

1428 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60613

Karen Ayers has run her State Farm agency on West Irving Park Road, near Chicago's Lakeview and Boystown neighborhoods, since becoming an agent in 2001. On her own site, Ayers describes herself as a longtime member of the LGBT Chamber of Commerce and the Uptown Chamber of Commerce, and notes she has worked with local block clubs over the years. Her team of licensed insurance professionals writes auto, home, and life insurance, among other lines, for clients across Chicago, Uptown, Lakeview, Andersonville, and nearby suburbs. Ayers's inclusion here reflects her stated chamber membership rather than a broader ownership or ally claim.

Lamont Robinson

Robinson & Associates Insurance (Allstate)

5050 S Indiana Ave, Chicago, IL 60615

Lamont Robinson has owned Robinson & Associates Insurance, an Allstate agency, since 2007. Robinson is openly gay — Wikipedia identifies him as the first openly LGBTQ African American to serve in the Illinois legislature, where he represented the 5th District in the Illinois House from 2019 to 2023. He now serves as 4th Ward Alderman on the Chicago City Council. The agency is a member of the LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Illinois. Robinson & Associates writes auto, home, and life insurance for Chicago-area clients from its South Indiana Avenue office in the Bronzeville area.