Hello, it’s June! June is Pride month! Pride month is a great month because we get to celebrate the LGBTQ community, as well as bring attention to the issues many or all of us in this community still face.
The bringing attention post comes next week. But this post is a celebration post. And the people I’m celebrating are queer comedians who make me laugh. That’s it. There are no other qualifications for inclusion in this post.
Without further ado, please make your way through this Pride parade of comedy without fear of branded merchandise hitting your face or drunk straight dudes asking, “Hey, wait, are you actually gay, though?” or passing out from heat stroke and the stress of meeting too many strangers.
Queer comedians I love
I actually didn’t set out to write only about queer female comedians, but when I made a list of my favorite gay comedic performers, that’s what happened. Sorry…but also definitely not sorry. Check out some of the women who make me laugh, and please let me know of other LGBTQ comics I should check out when you’re done reading.
Rhea Butcher
You might think I love Rhea Butcher for her amazing show with Cameron Esposito, Take My Wife, which I’m currently binge-watching. But you would be wrong.
I love Rhea Butcher because she told the best joke about Indiana (my home state) that I’ve ever heard. During a set on Last Comic Standing while wearing a jean jacket over flannel, Butcher says she’s from Ohio, “the thinking man’s Indiana.”
That’s it. That’s the whole joke. And I don’t care if you don’t think it’s funny. I think it’s hilarious, and I love Rhea Butcher for her wit and rad haircut.
Ellen DeGeneres
Look, I know there were queer lady comedians before Ellen. But were there?
There were. But were there any that came out on national television to Oprah herself in the wild ’90s? I don’t think so.
Ellen’s televised coming out episode on her eponymous sitcom inspired sites like AfterEllen— which in turn inspired the creation of sites like Autostraddle, which in turn inspired the creation of this very blog—to report on pop culture trends about and for queer women.
Ellen is the reason why we have nice things. And she won the Presidential Medal of Freedom. From Obama. End of discussion.
Cameron Esposito
I love listening to Cameron Esposito talk about how odd she was as a child on her podcast, Queery, where she also talks to all your other favorite queers.
Esposito told Vulture that her comedy special, Rape Jokes, “was created to make space for survivors’ stories in comedy and expand the dialogue currently happening around sexual assault.” It’s coming out on June 11, and I will be holding my breath in anticipation until then. It will be a very uncomfortable wait.
Abbi Jacobson
Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer made Broad City together, and it was so hilarious that Amy Poehler wanted in on it. If that’s not everyone’s dream, then everyone has stupid dreams.
Though Ilana’s physical comedy and commitment to her strange deals is delightful, I love that Abbi can go from super reserved and shy to a trash-talking competition monster or a secretly seductive lounge singer in the span of one episode. Abbi Jacobson is amazing and brings one of my favorite characters to life.
Sam Jay
Jay joined the SNL writing crew late last year, but she started out in stand-up delivering cutting social commentary followed by a laugh. She hopes to draw from her own life to add more perspectives on gay and urban culture to the show. I’m rooting so hard for her to succeed.
Jane Lynch
Every time Jane Lynch pops up in a movie or TV show as an unapologetically swaggering character, my heart does somersaults.
Plus, she and her wife have adopted many adorable dogs, making the LGBTQ community very proud.
Kate McKinnon
If you didn’t die when Kate McKinnon appeared in all denim in her Vanity Fair photo shoot, you might not have eyeballs. Or you might not be a gay woman. Either way, I hate to be the one to break it to you.
But also, I’m convinced that Kate McKinnon can impersonate literally anyone and that she is one of the funniest human beings on this planet. I would love to go on, but my girlfriend has told me (repeatedly) that I’m not allowed to gush about how much I love Kate McKinnon anymore.
Brittani Nichols
Have you seen Suicide Kale? If not, you’re doing yourself a disservice.
Get this: Suicide Kale is a lesbian movie—made by lesbians, starring lesbians, about lesbians—that’s actually good. The straight people reading this have no idea why this is a big deal. But to all of my queer female readership, this film is a blessing to our community. Go out and buy it now so Brittani Nichols can have more money to make more good movies with her gay friends.
Tig Notaro
I AM STILL SO MAD THAT ONE MISSISSIPPI GOT CANCELLED.
Now that I’ve finished my rant, let’s talk about how cool Tig Notaro is. First of all, she called out garbage-human Louis CK on the show he was producing for his predatory masturbation habit. Second, that show made me cry at least ten times. Third, I nearly cried laughing while watching her latest stand-up special, Happy to Be Here, because Notaro thinks her wife is so great but so weird at the same time. It’s amazing. She’s amazing. If you’ve watched One Mississippi, you’re amazing, and we should be best friends.
DeAnne Smith
If you don’t know who DeAnne Smith is, then you probably weren’t obsessively reading Autostraddle in 2014 to figure out how to be gay, like I was.
My girlfriend’s mom loves this particular DeAnne Smith bit about dating straight men versus dating women who date women, and you should love it, too. Women out there dating women should also give themselves a pat on the back for your good work.
Wanda Sykes
Wanda Sykes is great and doesn’t put up with racism from terrible bigots.
She started her comedy career right here in DC when she got bored of working for the NSA (what?), and she was the first African American woman and openly LGBTQ person to host the White House Correspondents’ dinner. In short, Wanda Sykes is a true American hero whose jokes make me laugh.
Gina Yashere
Gina Yashere is headlining at DC Improv as I write this very piece. I would listen to her hilarious observations about life every single minute of every single day. And if you want to experience some joy this weekend, you should watch her set where she embarasses a lady in the front row by telling her boyfriend(?) what women do in public restrooms.
Who’s your favorite queer comedian?
Look, I know this was a very selfish list. I talked about all my faves and didn’t give you a chance to get a word in edgewise. So it’s your turn, kiddos. Who are your favorite queer comedians? Why do you love them? Show some love in the comments section or give a shout-out on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, and be sure to tag @ComedicPursuits.
Have fun and stay safe at all of your Pride celebrations!
