Queer comedians came out last night (Nov. 9) to take the stage at The Staircase Cafe for the monthly Uncloseted Comedy show.
Uncloseted Comedy happens on the second Thursday of every month.
The Staircase is a small venue but it makes the comedy show feel more intimate, bringing people closer together. The venue had colour-changing lights and candles on the tables adding to the fun, relaxed and intimate vibe.
The comedy show features all LGBTQ+ comedians and creates a safe space for members of the queer community to come out and enjoy an evening of comedy.
“It raises awareness for queer comedians in the community while also giving queer audience members relatable content that they can laugh at which I think is very important,” Lilith Merrily said.
Merrily was one of the queer comedians performing that night and she had her wife Carolyn Lenz there to support her.
“My wife’s performing which is going to be amazing,” Carolyn Lenz said.
The doors opened at 7 p.m. for a coffee social so visitors could get to know each other.The doors opened at 7 p.m. for an hour of coffee social where audience members could get to know one another and interact with the comedians. The show started at 8 p.m. featuring seven queer comedians from Hamilton and its surrounding areas.
Uncloseted Comedy has some repeat attendees who heard of the event through another queer group that also meets monthly at Relay Coffee on the third Thursday of every month.
“I went to one [Uncloseted Comedy] about a year ago…” Lenz said. “After that, I became friends with Rae, one of the organizers. I heard about it from the queer coffee group I was going to once a month.”
“I first went to one [Uncloseted Comedy] about a year ago,” Dana Leaman added. “I heard about it through the queer coffee hangs that happen once a month and started showing up whenever I could.”
Uncloseted Comedy fosters a sense of community, giving queer people a place to get together, mingle and meet other members of the queer community.
“I’m most excited about the community here, it’s always nice to have a little place that we can gather and mingle,” Selene Belladonna added.
For more show information visit, staircasehamilton.com/events/
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