who are we?
Queer SPEAKS! - is a Humanities Happening that will amplify the voices of Queer, Trans and Gender Expansive humans intending to foster and engage in dialogue about LGBTQ+ topics.
Go beyond what you’ve heard, read, or seen prior….this event is new, creating a space of support for individuals to share their stories, experiences, and insights. This event brings together engaging keynote speakers, thought leaders, artists, and activists — providing you the opportunity to laugh, cry, learn, grown, and connect with others!
This event would not be possible without the confidence in the speakers and performers who are paving the way for thought provoking discussions, new ideas, and others to share this year. Gratitude to each of our sponsors, volunteers, and partners who graciously give thier time to spend with us.
And to you, our active and curious participant, your support goes beyond purchase, for it began with your belief.
On behalf of the volunteer crew who are working to organize, plan, and promote this inaugural event, I thank you, and will continue to imagine “what’s next?”
vicki kenyon, producer
I am a connector. It brings me great joy to be able to connect people with one another, either because they have a professional need or because it feels like they would fit together as friends. I enjoy connecting people with resources from community engagement to event production and everything in between. Bringing a team of professionals together to accomplish a goal that suits each of us well is exciting for me. And I am doing just that in this new venture called QueerSPEAKS! right here in Madison this summer.
My greatest passion is helping folks within the LGBT+ community find a safe path to their dreams, goals, and aspirations. In this world of uncertainty, you can be confident that the presenters, vendors and service providers that I choose to work with will take care of us all in a way that feels welcoming, and maybe even a little fun! Life can be extra-scary for us and I will always work hard to eliminate the unique (and very real) fears of our community in order to allow for an enjoyable event for all.
Vicki is a Milwaukee native and has lived all over, from Coastal North Carolina to Indiana and Chicago, and she LOVES living here in Madison. She is a self-proclaimed foodie, life-long Milwaukee Brewers fan, and lover of travel. She enjoys local craft beer, a great cup of coffee, and a solid used book store. She believes that getting outside always makes her feel better and standing at the edge of the ocean makes her feel small. Vicki and her Wife Nancy live with their rescue kitty Olivia and share a love of 80’s New Wave Music. They do a lot of cooking for one another and almost never skip dessert.
majestic Theatre
The Majestic Theatre had its grand opening as a vaudeville house on December 15, 1906. It was built by brothers Edward and Otto Biederstaedt and is Madison’s oldest operating theatre. Over the years, everything from silent movies to the shows of Harry Houdini have graced the historic stage. There were even a few years where the theatre showed movies that featured the letter “X” rather prominently after the title. After a brief incarnation as a dance club, the Majestic Theatre returned to its history of show business roots — this time as a world-class live performing arts venue.
Since its re-opening in 2007, the Majestic stage has hosted such notable musicians as Sturgill Simpson, Run The Jewels, Billy Strings, Sufjan Stevens, Tyler Childers, Lizzo, Against Me!, Jack Harlow, Mavis Staples, Skrillex, Fall Out Boy, Noah Kahan, Ghost, Odesza, Luke Combs, Ed Sheeran, Pretty Lights, Twenty One Pilots, and many more.
Beyond live music, the Majestic also features stand-up comedy, dance parties, weddings, community events, and even “Brew n’ View” movies from time to time. Who knows, we may even host an occasional burlesque show now and then to liven things up.
We hope you’ll visit us regularly to enjoy the artistic offerings we bring you. There’s a lot of great live music to discover, and no one can disagree: Beer Tastes Better in the Front Row.