2025 City-Wide Events

09/12/2025 | 12:00pm – 1:00pm | Library of Congress – Madison Building

Paul Karasik, renowned graphic novelist, cartoonist, and comics educator, gives the SPX Lecture at the Library of Congress.

09/12/2025 | 6:00pm – 7:00pm | People’s Book

A graphic guide to chest binding with real-life stories and research-backed advice from bestselling Gender Queer author MAIA KOBABE and University of Maryland professor SARAH PEITZMEIER.

Breathe arose from the need for a resource for folks considering chest binding as gender-affirming care. Dr. Peitzmeier interviewed twenty-five people of different ages and backgrounds about their journeys with binding, and then she and Kobabe combined excerpts from those interviews with evidence-based resources on binding into this extremely accessible guide.

Breathe is both a practical resource for trans and nonbinary folks and an engaging and perspective-broadening read for anyone interested in what it means to be on a journey of expressing one’s gender in ways that are joyful, healthy, and affirming.

Panelists: Maia Kobabe, Sarah Peitzmeier, PhD

09/13/2025 | 11:00am – 12:00pm | Bethesda North Hotel & Conference Center

With Keith Knight, Lalo Alcaraz, & David Brown. In Room Brookside A/B.

Panelists: Keith Knight, Lalo Alcaraz, David Brown

09/13/2025 | 12:00pm – 1:00pm | Bethesda North Hotel & Conference Center

With Steve Brodner, in Room Brookside A/B

Panelists: Steve Brodner

09/13/2025 | 1:00pm – 2:00pm | Bethesda North Hotel & Conference Center

Workshop with Jack Ohman & Friends. In Room Brookside A/B.

Panelists: Jack Ohman

09/13/2025 | 2:00pm – 3:00pm | Bethesda North Hotel & Conference Center

Panel with Locher Award recipient Alexandra Bowman & Kevin Necessary. In Room Brookside A/B.

Panelists: Alexandra Bowman, Kevin Necessary

09/13/2025 | 3:00pm – 5:00pm | Bethesda North Hotel & Conference Center

Film screening and Q&A with director Bill Banowsky. In Room Brookside A/B.

Panelists: Bill Banowsky