Elmhurst University will host two lectures in October around National Coming Out Day.
On Tuesday, Oct. 10, the Rev. Ann Kansfield, the first woman chaplain for the New York City Fire Department, will present the lecture “Queer and Faithful.” Ordained in the United Church of Christ, Kansfield also serves as pastor of Greenpoint Reformed Church in New York City, and is the author of Be the Brave One, a collection of ministry adventures told around the theme of living out one’s spiritual values.
Kansfield’s talk begins at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 10, in Hammerschmidt Memorial Chapel. Admission is free and all are welcome. Reservations are encouraged, at elmhurst.edu/cultural.
This event is part of the Religious Literacy Project at Elmhurst University.
On Wednesday, Oct. 11, National Coming Out Day, the University will host the annual William R. Johnson Intercultural Lecture. This year’s speaker is Michael Ziri, director of public policy at Equality Illinois, the state’s civil rights organization for LGBTQIA+ people. His talk, “Telling Our Stories: Moving Illinois Forward for LGBTQIA+ Justice,” will highlight legislative initiatives focused on equality in Illinois.
Ziri’s talk begins at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 11, in the Frick Center, Founders Lounge
Admission is free and all are welcome. Reservations are encouraged, at elmhurst.edu/cultural.
The William R. Johnson Intercultural Lecture is held each fall to coincide with National Coming Out Day and is part of the University’s commitment to the history, issues and life stories of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. The annual lecture is named for the Rev. Dr. William R. Johnson ’68, an Elmhurst alumnus and the first openly gay person to be ordained by a mainline Christian denomination.
Questions? Email marketing@elmhurst.edu