The spring schedule for the Chicago Humanities Festival (CHF) is out—and there are several LGBTQ+ guests who will be featured.
—Bisexual actress/author Mara Wilson (who played the title character in the 1996 film Matilda) will appear with queer comedian/author/singer Lane Moore on Wed., April 26, at Chop Shop, 2033 W. North Ave., at 7-8:30 p.m. They will discuss Moore's book You Will Find Your People: How to Make Meaningful Friendships as an Adult.
—Director/performance artist Miranda July (Kajillionaire; Me and You and Everyone We Know) will talk with bi musician/actress/author Carrie Brownstein (the rock group Sleater-Kinney; TV's Portlandia) on Saturday, April 29, 7-8 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple, 77 W. Washington St. The title of the event is "A Conversation about Art in All Its Forms."
—"A Night Out with Andy Cohen—Taking on a New Role: Fatherhoood" will take place Friday, May 12, 7-8:30 p.m. at the Park West, 322 W. Armitage Ave. Cohen, known as the mastermind behind the "Real Housewives" franchise and who now is a father of two children, has a book out entitled The Daddy Diaries.
—Openly gay Tony-nominated actor Andrew Rannells will be featured at The Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave., on Thursday, May 18, 7-8:30 p.m. In connection with his book Uncle of the Year & Other Debatable Triumphs, Rannells will discuss being an adult as well as his life and career.
—Drag queens will be front and center in "An Evening with Gigi Gorgeous and Gottmik," taking place Sunday, May 21, at Chop Shop, 2033 W. North Ave., 7-8:30 p.m. The duo released a book entitled The T Guide: Our Trans Experiences and a Celebration of Gender Expression-Man, Woman, Nonbinary, and Beyond.
However, there are many other discussions slated to take place during the festival. Just a few of them are listed below:
—"Susanna Hoffs: From Pop Star to Novelist" features the singer (best known for being in the group The Bangles) talking with The Interview Show's Mark Bazer on Thursday, April 13, 7-8:30 p.m. at Chop Shop, 2033 W. North Ave.
—"Minnesota's Attorney General Keith Ellison on Police Brutality" will take place Saturday, April 29, 12-1:15 p.m., at Venue SIX10, 610 S. Michigan Ave.
—"Ayad Akhtar and Eboo Patel: On Offense—Creative Expression and Democratic Engagement Between Racism and Anti-Racism" will take place Saturday, April 29, 4-5:15 p.m. at Venue SIX10, 610 S. Michigan Ave.
—The Doris Conant Lecture on Women and Culture featuring a conversation between Playwright V (Eve Ensler) and author Rebecca Makkai is slated for Sunday, April 30, 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Francis W. Parker School, 330 W. Webster Ave.
—"Jonathan Eig on the Life of Martin Luther King Jr." is scheduled to take place Thursday, May 11, 7-8:30 p.m. at Chop Shop, 2033 W. North Ave.
—The Joanne H. Alter Women in Government Lecture featuring Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton will take place Monday, May 22, 7-8:15 p.m. at the Riviera Theatre, 4746 N. Racine Ave.
—"Joan Baez: Art, Music, and Activism" will take place Thursday, May 25, 7-8:30 p.m. at the Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln Ave. (NOTE: This program is currently SOLD OUT, except for a limited amount of seats for Charter Humanist members. However, people can add their names to the waitlist.)
—"Stacey Abrams: Rogue Justice"—in conjunction with her new thriller of the same name—will take place at The Vic Theatre, 3145 N. Sheffield Ave., on Thursday, June 1, 7-8 p.m.
See ChicagoHumanities.org for tickets and more info.
