Women & Children First Responds to Anti-Trans Incidents

Chicago's Women & Children First bookstore is planning a Community Activation event this Sunday in response to a recent spate of anti-trans harassment incidents. On three occasions over the past three weeks, anti-transgender stickers have been placed on the front window of the feminist bookstore.

"Join us as we come together to celebrate trans lives!" the announcement reads. "In response to recent transphobic harassment at Women & Children First, we are inviting our community to cover Andersonville in trans flags, trans colors, and trans affirming messages. We will provide chalk, flags, and stickers, but we welcome more donated supplies! Meet up at Women & Children First at 6 p.m. for this community activation event and extend your love, support and protection to all trans women and people."

Store manager H. Melt, who is transgender, told the Chicago Tribune: "This is happening in my neighborhood--and literally in my backyard. I'm extremely paranoid that I'm going to see those stickers again and be triggered again, or that one of my employees is going to see them. It has affected folks for sure."

They brought attention to the issue last Friday, with a tweet that garnered more than 2,000 likes "and sparked an outpouring of support from customers and booksellers, who flocked to the store over the weekend. Celebrated writers--including Celeste Ng and Rebecca Makkai--chimed in or retweeted," the Tribune wrote.

"There have been hundreds of positive, affirming messages from people all over the world," H. Melt said.

Women & Children First co-owner Sarah Hollenbeck said she is devastated by the stickers, which she declined to quote because she doesn't want to publicize the transphobic message. Noting that all of the offending stickers were put on the window when the store was closed and were easily removable, she wondered: "What is the long-term goal? Just to make us feel terrorized and harassed and on edge?"

Yesterday, the bookstore posted on Facebook: "Thank you to everyone who has shown their support for the bookstore in response to the harassment we've experienced. We look forward to joining together on Sunday to demonstrate that hate is not welcome in Andersonville!"

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