THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

"Today, we mark the fiftieth anniversary of the Stonewall Riots and the night that launched the birth of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. On that night in New York City, brave transgender women of color stood their ground against the abuses of local police and inspired an entire generation to fight for equality and respect. In the fifty years since, we have seen the LGBTQ+ community win protections at state and federal levels, advocate for inclusion in Hollywood, government, and on corporate boards, and achieve marriage equality for all. I am deeply proud to have spent my time in Congress supporting legislation to protect the hard-won advancements of the past fifty years and to advocate every day for even more progress.

"As the LGBTQ+ community faces attack after attack from this administration, we should all pause to recognize that the work of an ally is never done. In particular, we acknowledge that while transgender women of color launched this movement, today they face discrimination and violence at disproportionately high rates.

"In honor of the trailblazers who sparked change fifty years ago in New York, we must recommit ourselves to protecting our LGBTQ+ friends and neighbors and continuing the fight for progress. We will not stop until everyone, everywhere, regardless of who they love or how they identify, achieves equality."