Tracy is the Publisher of the Chicago Reader newspaper and the owner and co-founder of Windy City Times. She has been an inspirational figure in the Chicago LGBTQ journalism and publishing worlds for the past 35 years. Tracy has authored or co-authored 12 books on LGBTQ issues as well as Chicago life. Tracy is also an active activist. She helped lead the effort to host the Gay Games VII in Chicago in 2006, the March on Springfield for Marriage Equality, the LGBTQ Youth Homeless Summit, and the Tiny Homes for the Homeless Contest and Conference. She founded the LGBT Chamber of Commerce in 1996 and has won numerous awards for her journalism and activism, including the Studs Terkel Award, and lifetime achievement awards from local and national journalism groups.