A body pulled
from the lake Thursday in Evanston, a Chicago suburb, was identified Saturday
as that of Malary, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Her family had
reported her missing March 11 after last hearing from her March 9. Her car was
found in a parking lot a few days later, and her apartment was unlocked, but
nothing was missing.
An autopsy was
performed Friday, but the medical examiner’s office has not announced a cause
of death. Police said they do not suspect foul play, however.
Malary, 31, is
being remembered as a dedicated activist. She had worked in the civil rights
bureau of the Illinois attorney general’s office but quit the job March 8,
according to local media reports.
“Elise was a
valued member of our Civil Rights Bureau who, as a tireless advocate for the
LGBTQ community, was passionate about her work,” Attorney General Kwame Raoul
said in a statement Saturday night. “Her kindness and infectious smile will be
missed by those who worked with her. The Attorney General’s office has lost a
member of our family, and as an office, we are heartbroken.”
Gov. J.B.
Pritzker likewise memorialized Malary, tweeting, “The loss of Elise Malary is
heartbreaking. My heart goes out to all her loved ones, as well as all of
Illinois’ transgender community.”
Malary had
also worked with Equality Illinois, the Chicago Therapy Collective, and the
AIDS Foundation of Chicago.
Brian Johnson,
CEO of Equality Illinois, recalled her activism to Chicago TV station WBBM. “Everything that she did whether it was standing
up for justice or working with others or being a member of our team was mostly
about how she could make sure that the people she cared about, that she was in
community with, were doing well,” he said.
Iggy Ladden of
the Chicago Therapy Collective, a trans-focused group, issued this statement
about Malary: “Elise Malary was an incredible person. She was a proud Black
Transgender Haitian Woman and a tenacious activist. Elise was both gentle and
fierce and people were drawn to her energy, contagious smile, and kindness.
Elise was never without a thoughtful comment or gesture — this made her
incredibly special as a friend and powerful as an activist — she put people at
ease. The loss of Elise is a tremendous loss to Chicago's transgender and
LGBTQ+ communities. Elise was also my dear friend, family, and co-conspirator;
I am beyond devastated. Now more than ever we must continue uplifting,
protecting, and celebrating Black Trans Women. Elise shone bright light
into the world: I hope that we all take in that light and shine it forward.”
A memorial
vigil for Malary was held Sunday in Chicago’s heavily LGBTQ+ Andersonville
neighborhood. Evanston police are asking that anyone with information about her
disappearance or death contact detectives at (847) 866-5040 or text tips to
274637, starting the message with EPDTIP.
SOURCE: ADVOCATE
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