Amid chants of “Trans Power” and “Visibility is Resistance,” a spirited crowd marked Trans Day of Visibility in Chicago Sunday with a rain-and-shine rally at Federal Plaza and a march down Dearborn and around the Loop.
Trans Up Front Illinois and Indivisible Chicago hosted the event and were joined by a coalition of more than 50 groups that drew an estimated 1,000 people. TDOV is held every year on March 31 to celebrate trans lives and raise awareness about antitrans discrimination.
Speakers included Precious Brady-Davis, commissioner for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and the first Black trans woman elected to office in Cook County.
“Trans is beautiful, and we are all throughout human history,” she said, imploring the crowd to support her run for reelection to the board that protects Lake Michigan — and to follow her on Instagram.
State Rep. Kelly Cassidy, of the 14th District, is the only out lesbian in the state house and one of three queer people in the state legislature. She encouraged the crowd to hold her colleagues in elected office accountable for supporting LGBTQ+ rights — and not to scapegoat them.
“Don’t let people say we lost the election because of trans people because that is a fucking lie,” she said. “If you don’t have the spine for this fight, sit down. Sit the fuck down!”
She called on people to run for office themselves, particularly local offices like library and school boards.
Cassidy also offered practical advice to disable fingerprint and facial recognition on your smartphone because law enforcement needs a warrant for a security code, but has easy access to your biometrics.
Gov. JB Pritzker signed a proclamation recognizing March 31 as Transgender Day of Visibility in Illinois.
“Today and always, we affirm that our transgender neighbors belong, their rights matter, and their lives are worthy of protection, celebration, and love,” Lt. Gov. Julianna Stratton said in a news release.
The Illinois Human Rights Act, touted as one of the most comprehensive in the country, protects anyone who lives in, works in, or visits the state. “The law ensures that transgender people, and LGBTQ+ people more broadly, are treated equally at work, in housing, in access to financial credit, and in availability of public services and accommodations, including health care and education,” according to the release.
Supporting and protecting trans kids was a central theme at Sunday’s rally, with frequent call-and-response chants of: “When trans kids are under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back!”
Four trans teens led a moment of silence for those who are no longer with us or who are missing: “Remember their lives, their stories, their dreams, ever present in our hearts. … We will keep their spirit alive in all we do.”
