It’s tiring being the odd one out. It’s especially tiring when you have to be the odd one out on a comedy bill of straight people, and go on stage to talk about being the odd one out to a bunch of strangers, all the while trying to make them laugh. You would have thought in 2024 being an LGBTQ+ comedian would be without its barriers.
After all, the community has seen many trailblazers with the likes of Eddie Izzard, Julian Clary and Miriam Margolyes having flown the rainbow flag in the industry for decades now. But you would be wrong. LGBTQ+ comedians still must climb over hurdles straight people can take in their stride, and it’s getting progressively – or regressively – worse.
For Pride month , Metro.co.uk has caught up with three LGBTQ+ comics trying to break the surface of the industry, who are still fighting battles every time they go to work.
And they’re exhausted. ‘What’s your problem, drama queens?’ is an attitude comedian Kuan-wen Huang is tired of recognising. Victoria groans when I ask her if she performs at straight comedy nights as well as LGBTQ+ ones.
‘Unfortunately, I have to do both,’ she tuts. Lachlan Werner is a self-depreciating ventriloquist with a very silly act, but everyone wants him to be empowering. ‘We are still being appreciated like caged, zoo animals in a way,’ says Kuan-wen, explaining how often audiences want to see a particular version of him – either revolving around his race or gender preference.
They aren’t sati.
