Women In Chicago Comedy Scene Holding Blackout To Draw Attention To Sexual Harassment

(CBS) -- Some women in the Chicago comedy scene are holding a blackout on Sunday, reports WBBM's Mariam Sobh.

For the last week, women have become more vocal about the things they say they've faced as they navigated the Chicago comedy scene.

It all started after a Buzzfeed article from LA went viral, depicting what women in comedy face.

Victoria Elena Nones, executive director of Women in Comedy says she was inspired to post an anonymous Google form for people to fill out and detail their experiences.

She received entries from across the country and around the world.

Nones says they're holding a blackout Sunday as a show of solidarity for those who left the community after facing sexual harassment. She says it's not a boycott.

Nones says they're asking women not to attend comedy class, perform, or attend shows and she's hoping the women will come together for a panel discussion being held at the Laugh Factory in conjunction with the YWCA of Metropolitan Chicago.

They'll be discussing sexual harassment and sexism in the comedy community as well as how to make safer spaces for women.