The packed entertainment event focused on DJ performances and dancing while raising money for TGAP.
“The goal is to provide a space where people can relate to the music that speaks to them through a mix of music from three different DJs,” said Joe Erbentraut. “styles like rock are under-represented in the community.
Erbentraut, one of the DJs for Subject to Change, described the event as growing out of a desire to provide a broad mix of music to the LGBTQ community outside of the typical dance music.
Despite the party and DJ sets, organizers of the event were met with tension from some in attendance over the language and inclusion of the TGAP program.
The organization faces criticism that the program, which presents itself as providing affirming health services for transgender-identified individuals, leaves transgender women and transgender feminine people out by not providing the same hormone care as it does for transgender men and transgender masculine individuals.
Dee Mitchel created a petition aimed at Chicago Women’s Health Center, demanding changes to the program in order to make it live up to its transgender-inclusive language.
Specifically, the demands include a statement of apology and explanation of the center’s priority in serving transgender men and transmasculine over transgender women and transfeminine individuals, a rewriting of “women’s” to “cisgender women’s” where applicable on the center’s website and a comprehensive plan to provide gender affirming services to trans women and transfeminine individuals.