June 21 marked the commencement of Chicago Pride Fest in Northalsted, yet just six miles south in downtown Chicago, a group of over 200 individuals gathered for a different type of Pride event—protesting a recent Supreme Court ruling.
State Rep. Kelly Cassidy, one of the few openly lesbian members of the Illinois legislature, addressed the crowd at Federal Plaza, emphasizing the need for joy amidst ongoing struggles for LGBTQ+ rights.
Cassidy boldly declared, “You don’t get to take your wedding cake and go home, boys… They are not just coming for trans kids, they are not just coming for trans adults, they are not just coming for abortion rights.” She urged attendees to remain vigilant, noting the potential threats to access to healthcare, including PrEP, for the LGBTQ+ community.
The protest was organized by Trans Up Front Illinois and received support from Lambda Legal, ACLU Illinois, and numerous other LGBTQ+ organizations.
Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, who is also a candidate for the U.S. House, spoke at the rally as a father of a transgender child.
“The easiest thing I have ever done in my life is watch my children show me who they are and listen,” he said, reflecting on the relief his child experienced by living authentically.
The timing of the protest coincided with the Supreme Court’s decision in United States v. Skrmetti, which was released on June 18 and upheld Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for trans children. This ruling drew immediate condemnation from trans organizations nationwide.
Keerthi Nan, a Chicago Public Schools teacher and also a trans individual, shared her experiences, affirming her roles as advocate, ally, and bridge in her community.
She expressed a commitment to fostering understanding among parents, stating, “One of my favorite parts of my job is to be able to talk to them and help them understand.”
With personal connections to the South, including Alabama and Georgia, Nan highlighted the severe consequences of policies in those states, where medical providers face felony charges for offering gender-affirming care to minors.
“State administrators from Alabama and Georgia don’t want trans people in public life. They don’t want trans people to be teachers,” she remarked, describing the harmful effects of the rhetoric surrounding these policies on children.
Despite Illinois maintaining supportive laws for transgender youth, Nan noted that the reality in schools does not always reflect these protections.
“Our trans kids, queer kids—they’re called slurs, they’re bullied,” she said, illustrating the challenges faced by marginalized students.
As protesters marched through downtown Chicago, they received encouragement from passersby, with many showing thumbs up and offering supportive shouts—with some even joining the demonstration.
Although Illinois has no laws restricting transgender care, recent actions taken by President Donald Trump’s administration have posed threats to the state’s autonomy in providing medical support.
Following Trump’s January 28 executive order, Chicago organizations faced funding cuts if they continued to offer gender-affirming care to minors.
In response, some organizations preemptively cancelled gender-affirming surgeries, and although federal judges have blocked the order, services like hormone therapy and puberty blockers remain available.
Asher McMaher, executive director of Trans Up Front Illinois, emphasized solidarity with trans youth across the United States, despite Illinois being viewed as a sanctuary state.
image source from：windycitytimes
