Comedy BLACKOUT. Join The Discussion. Join The Revolution
- Victoria Elena N
- Jan 27, 2016
- 5 min read
Join Women In Comedy on Sunday as we blackout the institutions in honor of those who have been oppressed. This is NOT a boycott. This is a Blackout. It's like a candle light vigil. We will also be having a community discussion. We invite you to participate in one or both and invite you to take action in whatever method feels like a fit for you. Let's come together and support each other. It is important to remember that this blackout is to honor anyone who has left the comedy world because of harassment, sexism, and assault. Let's do this thang. We want to be funny, and have fun, and continue to create the joyful art we signed up to make. We think that being able to be funny women should not come with a price. We want to create, and laugh, and be joyful without having to worry about if someone is going to grab our breasts, without having to worry if a teacher is going to send us inappropriate sexts, and without being met with sexism on our journey to achieving a paid career in this industry. Women and allies in the comedy community - join us in a safe space for the first of many community discussions with a panel of diverse community members mixed with Sexual Harassment/Assault experts - to discuss your expriences, ask questions, and talk about how we as a community are going to move forward together. YWCA Metropolitan Chicago CEO Dorri McWhorter will join us to moderate the discussion with a panel of community members and experts in sexual harassment, sexism, and assault.
On Sunday, January 31, 2016 join our comedy blackout "in honor of every person who has left the entertainment industry because they were hurt by someone else in it, and did not feel they had any other choice but to get out. We don't go to shows, we don't go to class, we don't go to these theaters. Tag the theater you would have been at with a post about why you are not there and the hashtags #womenincomedy, #madfunnywomen We don't learn to stop playing with fire because someone tells us to. We stop because we get burned." Curtis Shaw of the Laugh Factory has agreed to be an ally for our community by providing us a free, safe space to have these discussions. Join us at the Laugh Factory Chicago at 3175 North Broadway, Chicago, IL. Doors open at 1:30pm Discussion begins at 2:00pm All who support us are welcome. Media are welcome but no cameras allowed. See you there.
Panel Includes:
Moderator: Dorri McWhorter - YWCA CEO
Dorri McWhorter became the CEO of the YWCA Metropolitan Chicago in March 2013. She has embarked upon a journey to transform the 138 year old social service agency to a 21st century social enterprise. Dorri is moving the agency into the digital age by re-launching the TechGYRLS program, which focuses on developing STEM awareness for girls ages 9 through 14 and introducing 3D: Developing Digital Diversity, which provides web and mobile application development training to adult women. Dorri was included in the inaugural list of “The Blue Network”, comprised of the top 100 innovators in Chicago, by Chicago Tribune’s Blue Sky Innovation. In Spring of 2015, the YWCA launched its own e-commerce site, called the YShop, which provides carefully curated goods and services from businesses that support the mission of the YWCA.
A proven leader in the corporate and social change sectors, Dorri prides herself on being a socially-conscious business leader throughout her career. McWhorter is an active member of Chicago’s civic, business and philanthropic communities. Most recently, she was a partner at Crowe Horwath LLP, one of the largest accounting firms in the U.S. She has also held senior positions with Snap-on Incorporated and Booz Allen Hamilton. Dorri is also active in the accounting profession as a member of the Board of Directors of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). McWhorter also serves on the Board of Directors for several organizations, including Chicago Finance Exchange, Chicago Child Care Society and Search Inc. McWhorter is also a member of the Executive Council of Ms. Tech advancing women businesses in technology and a board member of the Chicago Center for Arts and Technology. As an engaged community leader, McWhorter is a member of the Mayor's Commission on a Safer Chicago and served as a member of Mayor Emanuel’s second term transition team. She received her bachelors in business administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her masters in business administration from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.
Sam Gordon - Stand Up Comedian
Kelsie Huff - Stand Up Comedian
Victoria Elena Nones - Women In Comedy Exectuive Director, Musical Comedian
Caroline Sabatier - Comedian, Law Student
Lauren Oprah Walker - Sketch, Improv and Standup Comedian, Diversity at Crowd Theater
Kaethe Morris Hoffer - CAASE Executive Director
Kaethe Morris Hoffer is the Executive Director of the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (CAASE), a legal services, prevention, and policy reform organization serving survivors and working to eradicate sexual assault and prostitution.
Kaethe has been with CAASE since 2009, when a legal services and policy advocacy not-for-profit that she founded became part of CAASE. Kaethe has been working against sexual inequality and sex-based violence for more than twenty years, engaging in feminist advocacy and litigation in many venues.
Patti Vasquez - Comedian
Funny happens. And it always happens when comedian Patti Vasquez is around. You don’t have to take our word for it either. Lewis Black says, “Patti is simply marvelous.” Bill Maher called her, “The funniest woman in comedy since Carol Burnett.”
For some reason being a mother of two with a “stay at home Dad” (which sounds so much better than “unemployed husband”) while living with her parents is a great motivator for Patti to just get out of the house.
But Patti loves being a mom to her beautiful little boys. Griffin, who loves trains, Batman and talking as much as his mom, is the best big brother to Declan, who loves music, water and hugs. Declan also happens to have special needs, a part of Patti’s life that she isn’t afraid to talk about. She has begun sharing her story with humor and heart for groups such as the Iowa Department of Education, The Hope Network and Gilda’s Club.
Patti Vasquez is a Lipstick Mom. She believes that being a wife and mother doesn’t prevent you from feeling attractive. It says something when you can still feel good even if you’ve spent the day doing laundry and washing sippy cups.
Dr. Gail Stern - Catharsis Productions
Dr Gail Stern will be on the panel to help answer questions about the unique predicament we find ourselves in with performance spaces and the fine lines between artistic freedom and harassment.
The co-founder of Catharsis Productions and co-author of Sex Signals. She is also the creator of the programs, Beat the Blame Game, The Canary in the Mineshaft, Moral Development Research: Sexual Violence Prevention in the Military Context, and the co-creator of The Force of Awesome Institute.
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