For many transgender people, finding an affirming place where they can simply be themselves isn’t something they take for granted. As transgender identities continue to be the subject of political and legal debates across the country, organizations like Brave Space Alliance say the demand for their services remains constant.

The court’s six-justice conservative majority, which has repeatedly ruled against transgender Americans in the past year, ruled that state bans in Idaho and West Virginia don’t violate the Constitution.

The Trevor Project, the leading nonprofit for suicide prevention in LGBTQ+ young people, may not be allowed to offer the service it had helped develop for the 988 Lifeline just a few years ago.

In a neighborhood where nearly 90% of residents identify as Latino and many families are rooted in Catholic traditions, the queer-led Gage Park Latinx Council has grown into a hub for families.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s annual “June boom” is about to begin, bringing an end to months of speculation. Their rulings could have sweeping implications for birthright citizenship, presidential power, transgender athletes and more.

While the city continues to celebrate Pride, June also marks a milestone in Chicago history — it’s been six months since Mayor Brandon Johnson named the first-ever director of LGBTQ+ affairs: Antonio King.

This week marked Transgender Day of Visibility, an international day dedicated to uplifting members of the trans community while showing support for the protection of transgender rights.

Justice Neil Gorsuch, writing for the court, said the law “censors speech based on viewpoint.” The First Amendment, he wrote, “stands as a shield against any effort to enforce orthodoxy in thought or speech in this country.”

The shift comes as President Donald Trump’s administration pressures health care providers to limit or stop gender-affirming care for transgender people, particularly children.

Among the new cases the justices are expected to consider is a longshot appeal from Kim Davis, the former Kentucky court clerk who refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples following the court’s 2015 ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s new term kicked off last week with culture-war topics and presidential authority on the docket.

Federal education authorities have threatened to withhold grant money from Chicago Public Schools unless the district agrees to do away with its Black Student Success Plan and revises policies regarding transgender students.

The fall arts season is getting into gear. Consider a day trip to Plano to see a masterwork of modernity. Get an early taste of Lyric Opera’s season. Upend country music cliches. Visit an immersive exhibit about family and culture. When in doubt, you can always see a play. Your couch will still be there when you get back.

All transgender members of the Air Force are being separated from the service under the Trump administration’s policies.

Lori Cannon was known for her advocacy work with ACT UP Chicago, the AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power, in the 1980s. It was during that time, she also co-founded Open Hand Chicago, an in-home meal delivery program for people living with HIV/AIDS.

Gender-affirming care includes a range of medical and mental health services to support a person’s gender identity. It includes counseling and treatment with medications that block puberty, and hormone therapy to produce physical changes, as well as surgery, which is rare for minors.