CHICAGO — Hundreds of residents, advocates, and families gathered in the Loop on June 21 to protest the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in U.S. v. Skrmetti, which upheld Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors. The ruling sparked outrage across Illinois’ LGBTQ+ community, especially among those who see the decision as a dangerous step backward in civil rights.
The rally began at Federal Plaza before protesters marched through downtown streets, calling for equal protection, access to healthcare, and dignity for trans and gender-nonconforming youth.
“This Care Saved My Life”
Among the demonstrators was Jey McCreight, a transmasculine person who underwent gender-affirming care in adulthood. McCreight described how hormone therapy and surgery dramatically improved their mental health.
“It was like my depression was magically cured after struggling with it my entire life,” they said. “Gender-affirming care is what made me happy.”
McCreight was one of roughly 200 participants who braved the summer heat, marching and chanting slogans like “Trans rights are human rights” and “Health care is a human right.”
Organizers Call for Action Beyond the Streets
Asher McMaher, executive director of Trans Up Front Illinois, spoke during the rally about the importance of supporting youth.
“They deserve to be the incredible human beings that they’re meant to be,” McMaher said. “We need every single one of them to grow up.”
State Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago), the only openly lesbian member of the Illinois House, warned that the rollback of trans rights is part of a broader threat to LGBTQ+ freedoms.
“They’re not just coming for trans kids,” she said. “We have to keep showing up — at school board meetings, at the ballot box, and on days like today.”
Civic leaders like Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss also joined in, sharing personal stories about allowing his own children to access gender-affirming care in consultation with doctors, not politicians.
Read More: Illinois Awards $1.35 Million to Boost Innovation in Small Manufacturing Businesses
Not Just Tennessee — What This Means for Illinois
Although Illinois currently protects gender-affirming care, protesters warned that no state is immune to national precedents.
Keerthi Nan, a trans CPS teacher, emphasized that even in Chicago, discrimination persists in classrooms and public spaces. Nan urged fellow residents to advocate in their communities.
“Fight like our students’ futures depend on it — because they do,” Nan told the crowd.
Do you believe Illinois should strengthen protections for trans youth amid national legal shifts? Join the conversation or share your experience with community care at ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com.
