• HAL5146A
    (left to right) Gloria Vu, Commissioner Mona Noriega, Iris G Archilla and another staffer, all of the City of Chicago Commission of Human Relations. Photo by Hal Baim
  • HAL5158A
    Larry Simpson of the American Veterans for Equal Rights Chicago Chapter. Photo by Hal Baim
  • HAL5162A
    Ed Wosylus of the American Veterans for Equal Rights Chicago Chapter. Photo by Hal Baim
  • HAL5171A
    Jim Darby of the American Veterans for Equal Rights Chicago Chapter. Photo by Hal Baim
  • HAL5177A
    Commissioner of Human Relations Mona Noriega reads a proclamation by Mayor Lori Lightfoot declaring Tuesday LGBT Veterans of America Day. Photo by Hal Baim.
  • HAL5187A
    Veterans on stage behind speaker Tatyana Moaton. Photo by Hal Baim
  • HAL5189A
    Tatyana Moaton. Photo by Hal Baim
  • HAL5154A
    Tatyana Moaton. Photo by Hal Baim
  • HAL5203A
    A wreath is placed and taps are sounded. Photo by Hal Baim
The City of Chicago held the annual Salute to LGBT veterans, “Liberty and Justice for All,” at Daley Plaza on Tuesday, June 25.

The guest speaker, Tatyana Moaton, transgender veteran and human resources manager at Howard Brown Health, criticized an order by President Trump banning transgender soldiers from serving openly in the military. The ban, against which multiple federal judges filed injunctions, was ultimately upheld by the Supreme Court and went into effect in April.

Calling the ability to serve “a right we should all be afforded,” Moaton rebuked the president’s claim that trans service members hampered the military.

“In basic training, you are taught you’re a soldier first, and your traits second,” Moaton said. “It is foolish and irresponsible to claim that the service of transgender soldiers is disruptive and burdensome. Trans people have always served in the U.S. armed forces, and the cost has never been any greater than that of our cisgender counterparts.”

Prior to Moaton’s remarks, Mona Noriega, the City’s Chair and Commissioner on Human Relations, read a proclamation from Mayor Lori Lightfoot declaring Tuesday as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Veterans of America Day. The proclamation made note of the Stonewall riots, which began 50 years earlier in June of 1969. Noriega has worked as an activist for lesbian mothers and their families since the 1970s and was appointed to her current position by former mayor Rahm Emanuel.

American Veterans for Equal Rights Chicago Chapter has participated in the Salute event annually since 2002. The ceremony opened with the presentation and posting of colors followed by the pledge of allegiance and the performance of the national anthem by Drew Murley. It closed with a wreath laying ceremony in front of the eternal flame on the north side of the plaza. Echo taps were sounded by Susan Jones and Melissa Terrell of Lakeside Pride Marching Band.

CAN TV will cablecast and stream the event at:

Thursday, June 27th@ 7:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. on Chicago cable channel 27

Friday, June 28th @ 10 am. And 5:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. on Chicago cable channel 27

Saturday, June 29th @ 11:30 a.m., and 8:30 p.m. on Chicago cable channel 27

Sunday, June 30th @ 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Chicago cable channel 21

Sunday, June 30th @ 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Chicago cable channel 27