One year after two trans parents organized a protest in a blizzard outside Lurie Children’s Hospital, Trans Up Front Illinois is marking the milestone with two major events: its first Light the Way Soiree and a second annual Transgender Day of Visibility rally.
The organization will host the Light the Way Soiree March 21, followed two weeks later by the April 4 TDOV rally in downtown Chicago. Together, the events mark both a milestone and a moment of urgency for the young organization.
“It feels like a blur,” cofounder Asher McMaher said. “The last year has felt like five years, and also like a blink of the eye. At the same time, I’m so proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish in our first year, and we know that it’s going to continue to be an uphill battle as we go into our second.”
The soiree will serve as both a fundraiser and celebration of the organization’s first year, while the rally will bring supporters back to the streets to demand protections for transgender people amid ongoing national and local attacks on trans rights.
The Light the Way Soiree is designed to highlight both community and hope during a difficult political moment, McMaher said.
“Our donor society is called the Luminary Society because we believe we’re lighting the future,” McMaher said. “It can feel very dark right now. So we’re choosing to light the way—to illuminate the path forward for trans youth.”
The evening will include youth-led programming, interactive elements and the presentation of three awards recognizing individuals and organizations supporting trans communities.
Indivisible Chicago will receive the Luminary Impact Award for its early partnership with Trans Up Front, including helping organize last year’s protests and rallies.
Channyn Lynne Parker, CEO of Equality Illinois and former executive director of Brave Space Alliance, will receive the Living Legacy Award for her mentorship and public support of the organization from its earliest days. Parker spoke at Trans Up Front’s first major protest and helped the fledgling group gain credibility among established advocacy organizations.
Mx. Leo Wilder will receive the Radiant Leadership Award, a statewide-nominated honor recognizing often-unheralded leaders. Wilder, a trans educator based in Springfield, founded a private school serving trans and neurodiverse students in grades 6-12.
“We wanted to recognize someone doing the work—uplifting the community in a way that really aligns with what we do,” McMaher said.
Proceeds from the fundraiser will support programs including Trans Up Front’s TUF Ambassador Program, which helps individuals in rural or underserved areas build local support networks for transgender people and their families.
Two weeks after the gala, Trans Up Front will organize its second annual Transgender Day of Visibility rally in Chicago in partnership with Equality Illinois, Chicago Therapy Collective, Life Is Work and dozens of coalition organizations.
Last year’s rally drew thousands of participants, and McMaher said organizers expect the event to grow even larger this year as political attacks on transgender people intensify nationwide.
“Trans Day of Visibility has always been about community and recognizing who we are,” McMaher said. “I want people to take the hope they feel at the soiree and channel it into action.”
Organizers said the rally will focus on issues including access to gender-affirming care, mental health services, housing discrimination and attacks on LGBTQ+ rights in schools.
Since that snowy protest last February, Trans Up Front has quickly grown into a statewide advocacy network supporting transgender youth and families.
McMaher said the organization has worked with 16 school districts and recently surpassed its 1,000th new intake across its services, which include school advocacy, legal advocacy and gender-affirming care navigation.
The group has also launched TUF CHAT—Caregivers Helping Affirm Transitions—a statewide virtual support group for parents and caregivers, and is preparing to debut a TUF Educators initiative to support teachers navigating policies affecting transgender students.
In addition to advocacy work, Trans Up Front has emphasized what McMaher calls a “Trans Joy initiative,” hosting free community events such as beach days, field days and ice cream socials designed to bring transgender people and families together.
“No matter what’s happening in the political climate, they can’t take our community, they can’t take our joy from us,” McMaher said. “These events remind trans youth they’re not alone—and that they can grow up to be incredible trans adults.”
As the organization enters its second year, McMaher said Trans Up Front plans to continue expanding its advocacy and support programs while remaining flexible in response to rapidly shifting political conditions.
“We will do whatever it takes to help every trans kid grow up to be the incredible trans adult they’re meant to be,” McMaher said.