Torrential Rain Energizes Trans Rights Marchers On Day Of Visibility

By Dominic Guanzon

Sunday 3/30/2025

CHICAGO — “Ignorance is longer an excuse. Fear is no longer an excuse. ‘I didn’t know’ is no longer an option,” Channyn Lynne Parker of Brave Space Alliance told the gathered crowd. “Do not think for one minute, being cisgender will save you. You are on the menu.”

At least 4,000 rallied at Federal Plaza and marched through The Loop and River North in support of trans rights as part of the “Rally & March for Trans Visibility.” Primarily organized by progressive groups Trans Up Front and Indivisible Chicago, as well as supported by dozens of others.

Activists spoke, led chants, shared stories of hope, and expressed deep anger at the Trump administration. Elected officials, trans and allied alike, also spoke.

“I’m Kelly Cassidy, I’m the State Representative of the 14 District. I use she/her pronouns. I am the only lesbian…I am the only OUT lesbian in the Illinois General Assembly,” she opened, much to the cheers and laughter of the crowd. “And I am one of only three queer members of our chamber. Some of y’all might have heard me step up recently and invite one of my colleagues to step outside and say it to my fucking face,” she continued, again, with the crowd cheering her on.

While I haven’t been able to find the source of this apparent confrontation, it may have been alluded to in her newsletter. This was not the first time Rep. Cassidy has been outspoken on queer issues.

Later, the crowd shifted to the streets, marching up Dearborn before coming back down and around to the plaza. Protest organizers/marshals had a light presence, mirroring an also light CPD bike presence.

Moments of torrential downpour hit the march just before crossing the Dearborn Street bridge, but to the whoops, hollars, and cheers of the most dedicated. The march did not stop at any point. Attendees proudly finished the demonstration with soaked posters, makeup, and clothes.

Click on the Flickr album below for full photo album.