Weeks after a pro-LGBTQ+ rally in the Loop was disrupted, the event has been rescheduled for Wed., April 27, at Federal Plaza, 219 S. Dearborn St., at 5:30 p.m.
The past few months have been extremely difficult for the LGBTQ+ community, in large part because of a wave of more than 240 anti-queer and anti-trans bills filed across the country as well as anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric, discrimination and attacks.
During a March 28 press conference, a group from Ex-Cons For Community & Social Change interrupted the press conference and drowned out the press conference speakers by using a bullhorn.
Featured speakers are slated to include:
—Mony Ruiz-Velasco, Equality Illinois
—Zahara Bassett, Life Is Work
—David Guana, ALMA board member
—Kara Ingelhart, Lambda Legal
—Radia Mchabcheb, Planned Parenthood of Illinois
—Latonya Maley, Affinity Community Services
—Brian Johnson, Equality Illinois
—Eisha Love and Elizabeth Ricks, Chicago House
—Stephanie Skora, Brave Space Alliance
—Myles Brady Davis, Equality Illinois
Host Coalition members include: AIDS Foundation of Chicago, ACLU of Illinois Association of Latinoax Motivating Action (ALMA), Bisexual Queer Alliance Chicago, Brave Space Alliance, Center on Halsted, Chicago House and Social Service Agency, Equality Illinois, Golden Rainbows of Illinois South, Indivisible Chicago, Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund, Life is Work, Peoria Proud, PFLAG Council of Northern Illinois, Planned Parenthood of Illinois, Prairie Pride Coalition, Pride Action Tank, Rainbow Café LGBTQ Youth Center, She Votes Illinois, Unitarian Universalist Advocacy Network of Illinois, and Youth Outlook.
"Notwithstanding advancements we have made in Illinois, the safety and well-being of our LGBTQ community is challenged in our city, in our state, and across the country. According to a national survey, 43% of LGBTQ youth seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, including more than half of trans and non-binary youth. Today, we are here to show up and speak up to ensure that our communities are not silenced, but rather seen, heard and able to not only live, but thrive with dignity and respect," said Ruiz-Velasco in a statement.
