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Maritxa Vidal, Midwest Regional Director of TransLatin@, Maya Lozano and Minnesota chapter representative Renata Garcia were among the twelve members of TransLatin@ that organized with numerous allies to encourage cisgender (those living in the gender their bodies ‘represent’) Chicagoans to show their support. After hugging a member of TransLatin@, each supporter was invited to fill out a sheet expressing why they supported the transcommunity. With responses like “they’re just like me,” “being yourself is always the best way to be,” and “i love all life,” supporters’ solidarity privileges their right to live as they choose just like allies themselves do.
The work of TransLatin@ Coalition will continue to bring attention to the struggle of transcommunity members until they are treated with the right to human dignity and the right to determine how they choose to identify in the world. You can follow them on twitter @translatina_c or the hashtag #embracemeiamtrans. You can also find Chicago’s chapter at Translatina-Chicago.