Photo by Katie Rainbow 🏳️‍🌈 for Pexels
Photo by Katie Rainbow 🏳️‍🌈 for Pexels

CHICAGO – AIDS Foundation Chicago, Pride Action TankBrave Space AllianceLife is WorkTaskForce Prevention & Community Services, and over 20 additional community organizations across Illinois issued a letter of solidarity this morning “to push back on the hate and attempted erasure of trans and gender expansive communities by President Donald Trump, his administration, and Congressional Republicans.” The letter, issued during Pride Month, is intended to show strong and widespread support and solidarity for the trans and gender expansive community in Illinois. 

“Since his second inauguration, President Trump and his administration have repeatedly advanced efforts to devalue and dehumanize trans and gender expansive communities through a litany of harmful executive orders,” the letter states. “We categorically reject the Trump administration’s attempts to deny trans and gender expansive communities the fullness of their humanity and the agency to determine their own lives. Trans and gender expansive folks have helped pen the American story since its inception and no number of executive orders will change that—not now, not ever.”

Its authors further indict Congressional Republicans and the Trump Administration for the “big, beautiful bill” and its cuts to Medicaid and other services that would disproportionately impact the trans community, LGBTQ+ community, Black and Brown communities, people living with HIV, and others.  “We are proud to stand shoulder to shoulder to speak out against the hateful actions of the Trump administration and Congressional Republicans towards trans and gender expansive communities. We stand united to do this work together for LGBTQ+ communities—especially Black and brown folks, those living with and vulnerable to HIV, those returning home after incarceration, and those facing poverty and homelessness.”

The full text of the letter is available on the AIDS Foundation Chicago website.  Sponsors and signatories include: AIDS Foundation ChicagoPride Action TankBrave Space AllianceLife is WorkTaskForce Prevention & Community Services,   Affinity Community ServicesAssociation of Latinos/as/xs Motivating ActionCenter on HalstedChicago Black Gay Men’s CaucusChicago House and Social Service AgencyChicago Therapy CollectiveEquality IllinoisGolden Rainbows of Illinois South (GRIS)Greater Community AIDS Project of East Central IllinoisHoward Brown HealthLegal Council for, Health JusticePeoria ProudPlanned Parenthood Great Rivers ActionPlanned Parenthood Illinois ActionRainbow Cafe LGBTQ CenterRainbow Community Health & WellnessSouthern Illinois Pride CollectiveThe Pinta Pride Project/BG PrideThe Project of the Quad CitiesTrans Up Front IL, and Woodstock Pride.