Pro-trans rally takes place in Boystown

Chicago’s LGBT community joined communities across the nation to protest the Trump administration’s rescinded guidance from the Obama administration that protected transgender students in public schools.

Intersectionality was highlighted in nearly every speech at the Feb. 25 event, held at Halsted and Roscoe. The majority of the speakers were trans and non-binary speakers. The non-trans organizers took on a role of setting the stage, providing a platform, but then stayed in the background in a supportive role while a variety of trans voices were centered.

While there were several Latinx people who spoke about their fight for transgender rights as well as immigrant rights, Black trans speakers were noticeably absent. According to various social-media discussions, the reason for this absence was that many Black trans people (among others in the trans community) do not feel welcome or safe the Boystown, and therefore chose not to attend or support this rally.

Another protest, Trans Liberation Protest Chicago, is slated to take place downtown on Friday, March 3. For more information, visit the Trans Liberation Protest Chicago event page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/events/1933015373598471/?active_tab=discussion.