Fri. November 13, 2026
CHICAGO, ILL. -
By Michael Oboza, Special to GoPride.com
On a brisk, windy autumn morning, Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame inductee Robert Castillo organized and moderated the first transgender flag raising dedicated to transgender leaders who have passed away, including the late Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame inductee Lorraine Sade Baskerville, founder of TransGenesis.
Alderperson Anthony Quezada greeted a crowded Logan Square Park, followed by speakers, transgender advocates and allies.
"In Logan Square, we are the most queerest community outside Lakeview," Quezada said. "That is why we bring our community together, year after year, to remember all of our siblings in our queer community, especially with violence toward our trans siblings and seeing a federal government stripping away rights, access to resources and services transgender people need to live and thrive."
Alderwoman Rossana Rodríguez addressed the crowd, sharing why Transgender Awareness Month is every month.
"Moments like this is really important," Rodríguez said. "When we pause for a second and make sure we stay present with incredible pain this community has to endure including incredible pride in solidarity for each other and resilience that's demonstrated every day, reclaiming of the space."
Equality Illinois CEO and Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame inductee Channyn Lynn Parker also spoke.
"We will hear the names of people taken away from us too soon and the families still waiting for justice," Parker said. "Those names deserve to be spoken. Those lives deserve to be remembered."
Veteran and Brave Space Alliance Development Manager Troy Taylor reflected on his service.
"Yesterday was Veterans Day," Taylor said. "I spent many years of my life serving a country that I believed in. And now, I have the absolute honor to serve the members of our community through Brave Space Alliance."
After inviting all transgender-identified people to the front, Life is Work Director of Communications Jae Rice addressed the crowd.
"Allyship isn't going to cut it anymore," Rice said. "We need accomplices, co-conspirators and those willing to put your privilege on the line for our dignity."
Windy City Times 30 Under 30 Award recipient Emily Jade Aguilar, of Comprensión y Apoyo a Latinos en Oposición al Retrovirus (CALOR), shared her personal experience.
"I bring into the space my undocumented trans siblings who are scared to walk out of their homes to receive resources, and I bring myself," Aguilar said. "I was 14 years old, scary times in 2015 when I almost got shot at for what I was wearing."
Latine educator Dr. Corey M. Blake Lascano urged ongoing action.
"Awareness means nothing if you're not going to fight for the rights of transgender people of all ages," Lascano said. "If we care about building a Chicago rooted in safety, dignity and well-being for all people, then we must stop assuming that transgender people are inherently safe just because we live in a sanctuary city and in a blue state."
Antonio King, Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame inductee and Mayor Brandon Johnson's first appointed director of LGBTQ affairs, thanked those supporting the community.
"Round of applause for organizer Castillo, local ward aldermen who are our allies and supporters as well as photojournalist Carrie Maxwell, who continues to publish amazing articles for Windy City Times," King said. "They are all champions. Champions speak for you in rooms when you're not there, stand up for you when there's no one there to stand up for you and speak your name to places where you're not known."
Notable attendees included Brave Space Alliance Community Health Care Manager Monica Brown, Chicago Therapy Collective Director of Development and Strategic Priorities Stephanie Skora, Howard Brown Health Center Surgical Health Navigator Ella Jasso, Starr De Los Santos, the first Latina chair of the City of Chicago's LGBTQ Advisory Council, and Manuel Hernández, executive director of the Association of Latinos/as/xs Motivating Action (ALMA).
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