The word SPEAKERS in bold yellow text is displayed against a black background with abstract book-like shapes.
  • A bald man with a trimmed beard, wearing blue-rimmed glasses, a blue blazer, and a light-colored shirt, smiling slightly in front of a plain light background.

    Jonathan Friedman

    Jonathan Friedman, Ph.D., is the Sy Syms managing director of U.S. free expression programs at PEN America. He oversees research, advocacy, and education related to academic freedom,…

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  • A man in glasses and a blue short-sleeve shirt sits at a table outdoors with a blurred city skyline in the background. The lighting is soft, suggesting a sunset or sunrise.

    Javier Fuentes

    Javier Fuentes is a Spanish American writer whose debut novel won the 2024 PEN/Hemingway award. A 2018 Lambda Literary Fellow, Javier earned an MFA in Fiction from…

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  • A person wearing a colorful beanie with brown, orange, and blue stripes. Theyre dressed in a dark sweater and a gray shirt, standing against a plain light-colored background.

    Raanan Gabriel

    Raanan Gabriel, after a successful career in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), dedicated his life to the graphic arts, becoming an award-winning graduate of the prestigious Bezalel…

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  • A woman with long dark hair sits against a white brick wall, wearing a dark jacket, jeans, and red socks. She rests her head on her hand and gazes at the camera, sitting on a wooden floor.

    Rivka Galchen

    Rivka Galchen is an award novelist and a staff writer for The New Yorker magazine. She is the author of five books: Atmospheric Disturbances (Novel, FSG, 2008),…

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  • A person wearing a blue hat and denim jacket sitting outside. A porch with a railing is in the background, along with people sitting at tables, engaged in conversation or activities. The setting appears relaxed and casual.

    Forrest Gander

    Forrest Gander, born in the Mojave Desert, lives in California. A translator/writer with degrees in geology and literature, he’s received the Pulitzer Prize, Best Translated Book Award,…

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  • Person with short, curly hair wearing round glasses and a black sweater against a plain background.

    M. Gessen

    M. Gessen is an Opinion columnist for The Times. They won a George Polk award for opinion writing in 2024. They are the author of 11 books,…

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  • A woman with curly black hair and hoop earrings sits on a white chair. She is wearing a black top with embroidered details and has a slight smile. The background features a brick wall.

    Mojgan Ghazirad

    Mojgan Ghazirad is a native of Iran and graduated from Tehran University of Medical Sciences with a medical degree. She studied pediatrics at Inova Children’s Hospital and…

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  • A woman with curly hair and black glasses smiles outdoors. She wears a black sleeveless top, showcasing her tattooed arms. She has hoop earrings, bracelets, and a cross necklace, standing with arms crossed in a lush, green setting.

    Ariel Gore

    Ariel Gore is a LAMBDA Literary Award-winning author of 13 books of fiction and nonfiction including We Were Witches, The End of Eve, Hexing the Patriarchy, and…

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  • A person with long dark hair and a warm smile is seated with arms crossed, wearing a colorful patterned top and a necklace with a heart-shaped pendant. The background is a soft blend of blue and gray tones.

    Reyna Grande

    Reyna Grande was born in Guerrero, Mexico and is the author of the bestselling memoirs, The Distance Between Us, and A Dream Called Home, as well as…

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  • A man holding a microphone stands on stage under blue and yellow lights, speaking with one hand raised, in front of a curtain and a large blank screen.

    Peter Grosz

    Peter Grosz began his comedy career in Chicago at IO Chicago, The Second City and The Annoyance Theater. Films include The Menu, Stranger Than Fiction, Rough Night,…

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  • A person wearing a black shirt stands outdoors against a clear blue sky, looking to the side. The perspective is from below, emphasizing the sky and creating a serene atmosphere. Trees are faintly visible in the bottom corners.

    Pol Guasch

    Pol Guasch is the author of two collections of poetry and two novels. The holder of a Master’s Degree in Contemporary Literature, Culture, and Theory from King’s…

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  • A smiling person with long dark hair, glasses, and red hoop earrings is wearing a black shirt with a red floral and hummingbird design, standing indoors with a wooden cabinet and floral decorations in the background.

    Xitlalic Guijosa

    Xitlalic Guijosa (she/her) is a poet, writer, printmaker and community organizer from Southeast Los Angeles. For the past 10 years she’s been part of Alivio open mic…

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  • Smiling man with short light brown hair wearing a black suit and white shirt against a plain white background.

    Peter Hamby

    Peter Hamby is an Emmy and Murrow Award-winning political journalist based in Los Angeles. He is a founding partner of Puck News, where he writes about politics,…

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  • A person with a bald head is wearing a blue button-up shirt and looking at the camera. The background is dark gray, highlighting the persons face.

    Adam Haslett

    Adam Haslett is the author of the story collection You Are Not a Stranger Here and the novels Union Atlantic and Imagine Me Gone. He has twice…

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  • Woman with long hair rests her chin on crossed hands, wearing a dark sweater, sitting at a white table against a plain white background. She appears thoughtful, gazing slightly downward.

    Sheila Heti

    Sheila Heti is the author of eleven books, including the novels Pure Colour; Motherhood and How Should a Person Be? She was named one of “The New…

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  • A person with slicked-back hair, thick black glasses, and a small mustache wears a large bow tie and suit, posing with a surprised, wide-eyed expression against a plain background.

    Murray Hill

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