Although many lesbian comics are still closeted onstage, there are now many out lesbian stand-up comics who perform regularly in cities from Seattle to Provincetown. Comedians such as Karen Williams, Lynn Lavner, Gail Hand, Julie Goldman, Lisa Koch, and Georgia Ragsdale give voice to the humor in the lesbian condition and crack jokes as a means to make serious and sometimes poignant observations about the lesbian experience.

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In addition, comedy troupes such as Hysterical Women and Five Lesbian Brothers perform skits and improvisational comedy with a lesbian focus. Many comedy clubs in cities with large gay and lesbian populations have weekly gay comedy nights. Every day new lesbian stand-up comics are born as women continue to take the stage and try to achieve the age old goal of comedy--to translate pain into laughter.

Historically, cabarets and revues have been much more likely to mention or imply same-sex desire than the "legitimate" theater; and same-sex desire has been less frequently condemned in cabarets and revues than in mainstream plays.

Beginning in the 1980s, a new generation of gay stand-up comics began to appear, telling jokes from the perspective of the gay insider.

Sharp-tongued comedienne, writer, singer, and actor Sandra Bernhard is known almost as well for her amorphous sexuality as for her cynical wit.

For most of his life, the specter of the closet lurked threateningly behind the glamorous and often brash public image of American composer Leonard Bernstein.

Comedian Kate Clinton has been comfortably open about her lesbianism from the beginning of her career in the entertainment field.

No matter how great her contribution to the world of comedy, Ellen DeGeneres will probably be best remembered as the first lesbian to star as a lesbian on her own network television show.

A proudly out lesbian from the very beginning of her career, the versatile Lea DeLaria has earned accolades for her talents as an actor, a singer, and a stand-up comic.

The fragile persona and emotion-packed voice of actress and singer Judy Garland are powerfully linked to gay culture and identity; she appealed especially to gay men, but also to lesbians.

America's only nationally broadcast gay and lesbian newsmagazine, In the Life began in 1992 as a variety show, but has since evolved into an acclaimed public-affairs program.

Comedian, writer, actor, and producer Carol Leifer never anticipated that after the age of forty she would find personal fulfillment by recognizing her lesbianism, becoming a mother, and standing up for glbtq rights.

Comedian, actress, television talk show host, and openly gay mom, Rosie O'Donnell has achieved remarkable success in her relatively short career.

Actress and comedian Wanda Sykes, who has never been shy about addressing sensitive or controversial issues on stage, has also become a spirited advocate for glbtq rights.

Charismatic performer and activist Robin Tyler has spent much of her life enmeshed in the struggle for gay and lesbian rights, from planning national marches to promoting same-sex marriage.

Out, proud, pretty, and funny, stand-up comedian Suzanne Westenhoefer is also an outspoken supporter of glbtq and feminist causes.