LitFest Gala
The PEN America LitFest Gala is a highlight of the Los Angeles literary calendars, with over 500 guests and an impressive group of leading writers and creatives who sit… More
2019 LitFest Gala: Levar Burton’s Tribute to Toni Morrison
In an intimate tribute to Toni Morrison at the 2019 LitFest Gala in Los Angeles, acclaimed actor and author LeVar Burton honored the late writer's legacy. More
2019 LitFest Television Excellence Presenter: T. Christian Miller
T. Christian Miller is a senior reporter for ProPublica. More
2019 LitFest Television Excellence Presenter: Ken Armstrong
Ken Armstrong is a senior reporter for ProPublica. More
2019 LitFest Special Guest: Blair Underwood
A true multi-hyphenate, Blair Underwood is enjoying success in film, television and theatre, as an actor, director and producer. More
2019 LitFest Dan Eldon Courage in Journalism Award: Julie K. Brown
Julie K. Brown is an investigative reporter with the Miami Herald. More
2019 LitFest Gala Toni Morrison Tribute: LeVar Burton
Two-time Emmy and Grammy award-winning comedian Kathy Griffin will host the 2019 LitFest Gala in Beverly Hills on November 1. More
2019 LitFest Musical Performer: Chrissy Metz
Emmy and two-time Golden Globe nominee Chrissy Metz, a 2019 LitFest Gala presenter, stars on the award-winning NBC series "This Is Us.” More
2019 Distinguished Leadership Award: Theodore J. Boutrous, Jr.
At the 2019 LitFest Gala in Los Angeles on November 1, 2019, PEN America will honor Ted Boutrous with the Distinguished Leadership Award. More
2019 Voice of Influence Award: Ava DuVernay
At the 2019 LitFest Gala in Los Angeles on November 1, 2019, PEN America will honor Ava DuVernay with the Voice of Influence Award. More
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UPDATE. Now being unbanned...
Following our outcry @PENamerica, the Alpine school district in UT will *no longer* be removing 52 books outright, but "temporarily restricting" them, so that parents can opt their kids into being allowed to read them if they so choose. #FReadom /1 https://twitter.com/PENamerica/status/1554209510134525952
The Vandegrift High School #BannedBookClub is one of many teen-led efforts nationwide.
“Teachers are afraid of losing their jobs,” @jonfreadom said. “Principals only have so much that they can do in the face of school boards. But students can protest. Students can speak out.”
How do books end up banned in schools? It’s not the rational process you might think it is, explains #PENAmerica’s book bans expert @jonfreadom (Jonathan Friedman). In one #Florida school district, a warning label has been stuck on a book about babies. #censorship #freadom #1A
