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Transgender Chicagoans to 'Celebrate Each Other' at Edgewater Beach Party

 Kathy Osterman Beach, also known as Hollywood Beach, in Edgewater, is expected to attract hundreds to the Chicago Trans Pride Beach Party.
Kathy Osterman Beach, also known as Hollywood Beach, in Edgewater, is expected to attract hundreds to the Chicago Trans Pride Beach Party.
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DNAinfo/Benjamin Woodard

EDGEWATER — Hundreds of transgender people and their supporters will hit the lakefront Sunday in Edgewater.

The Chicago Trans Pride 2014 Beach Party expects about 400 people to picnic and sunbathe from 12-5 p.m. Sunday at Kathy Osterman Beach, also known as Hollywood Beach, to "celebrate each other," organizer Crispin Torres said.

"The beach is typically not a trans-positive space," said the 29-year-old, who is transgender. "I think a lot of trans people don’t feel welcomed there — obviously because how they might present their bodies."

He said transgender people also worry about safety and access to bathrooms on the beach.

"There's a lot of body-shaming on beaches in the first place. It doesn't seem like a safe place to wear a bikini," he said. "But being in Chicago, the beach is something we all feel fortunate to have. It’s a very Chicago thing. ... So we thought ... we [should] all go together."

The "grassroots" event is not sponsored or organized by any official group, Torres said, and is not intended to make a political statement.

Initially, Torres expected 100 people to attend. But as of Thursday, about 400 people said they'd show up.

He said attendees should bring chairs and coolers for the "super-no-frills" gathering and look for the trans-pride flags planted in the sand.

"I think it will be really hard to miss 400 trans people on the beach," he said.

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