About 40 people braved torrential rain and watched a tornado to show their solidarity with transgender youth and adults on Friday in Grant Park as part of International Transgender Visibility Day.
“It's great to be in the community. But it is also to support people who are actively being targeted and/or who will die as a result of the many countries depriving people of their right to life,” said Florence Boggs, one of the organizers of the event, one of them. around 100 marches took place across the country.
The demonstrations come as Republican lawmakers nationwide pursue legislation that threatens LGBTQ rights, especially rights for trans people.
“Parts of this country's government are pushing for the total eradication of the trans community, and that is being met, as atrocities and genocide often are, with apathy,” Boggs said.
Tiegann Melody Rogue said it took her years to be able to access gender-affirming treatments, including hormone therapy and transition surgery.
“Personally, I know the pain is restricted from hormone therapy,” says Rogue. “Forcibly removing a person is earth shattering and highly destructive, causing mental anguish, anxiety, and depression.”
Biff Hartwell, another organizer of Friday's event, called for unity in the face of continued oppression of trans people.
“This is not just an appeal to those who publicly identify as queer. This is a wake-up call to anyone tired of shame, despair and loss of life,” Hartwell said.
“Today is National Transgender Visibility Day,” said Rogue. “And while we celebrate our lives and the freedoms we have here in Chicago, it is time for us to stand up as a nation and collectively say, ‘Trans lives matter.'”