Moreno speaking at NEIU commencement
Award-winning actress Rita Moreno will be the speaker for Northeastern Illinois University's spring commencement ceremony on Monday, May 11.
The event will take place at the UIC Pavilion, 525 S. Racine Ave., at 4 p.m.
Moreno belongs to an elite group of performers, having won each of the entertainment industry's most prestigious awards: the Oscar, the Emmy, the Tony and the Grammy. In 2014, she became the 50th recipient of the Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award.
During the commencement ceremony, Moreno will be awarded a Northeastern Illinois University honorary doctorate degree in recognition of her achievements.
Call for interior design award entries
The American Society of Interior Designers: Illinois Chapter ( ASID-IL ) will be accepting entries for the 12th annual Interior Design Excellence Award Competition starting Friday, May 1.
In celebration of ASID's 40th anniversary, this year's program will underscore the many ways in which design matters by showcasing environments that have influenced beauty and function in the residential and commercial sector this past year.
The deadline for entries is Friday, June 26; the Celebration of Design Gala is Friday, Sept. 18. Visit asidillinois.com .
11th 'Gender Fusions' at Columbia April 24
Columbia College Chicago will host its 11th annual "Gender Fusions" event Friday, April 24, at 618 S. Michigan Ave., on the second floor.
There will be a free expo 3-6 p.m., with a dinner/performance event 6-9 p.m.
The special guest will be model and transgender advocate Geena Rocero, who is also the founder of Gender Proud.
Gender Fusions is annual night of queer performance and community dialogue, offering spoken-word, dance, song, drag and burlesque performances within a context of creative and critical thought.
This year's theme is "Gender Galaxy: An intergalactic exploration of identity, connection and multi-dimensional possibilities."
The expo will include a LGBTQ short-film screening, a photo booth, art and activism installations, HIV/STI testing and even massages.
Admission for the dinner is pay-what-you-can; no one turned away for lack of funds. All proceeds go to YEPP: Youth Empowerment Performance Project.
For more information, email llawson@colum.edu .
Black Alphabet Film Festival July 23-26
The Black Alphabet Film Festival ( BAFF ) returns for its third outing of showcasing films and other works that highlight and explore the Black LGBTQ and same-gender-loving ( SGL ) experience on July 23-26.
This year BAFF's international film festival will now take place beginning Thursday, July 23, and closing on Sunday, July 26, at Center on Halsted and a venue to be determined in the near future.
Tickets will be available for purchase as of early June.
BAFF is conducting an Indiegogo campaign at igg.me/at/BAFF2015. The campaign launched April 17 and ends July 17. Last year, the festival raised $3,120; this year's goal is $5,000.
Also, BAFF is accepting film and video submissions. For details on how to submit a film or video, visit blackalphabet.org/submission or https://filmfreeway.com/festival/baff.
Visit www.blackalphabet.org for more information.
Full calendar of events at the link: www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/chicago/events/upcoming.php .