Sophie Santos celebrates the boom in queer stand-up

As a queer person, I was lucky. My first comedy set was on a show literally called Queerball at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in the East Village (RIP). 

Hosted by the marvellous Timothy Dunn, Queerball was a monthly variety show that featured the best queer performers in New York City, like up-and-comers Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang. Once a week, Tim would host Queerball workshops for those who wanted to try out material for an upcoming show. Essentially, Tim helped the newbies navigate coming out as comedians. 

To understand where I was in my comedic coming-out journey, I was only calling my stand-up routines ‘bits’. If someone asked if I did stand up, I said, ‘I do bits’ and then I would run into the nearest bodega. So after bringing in my Tonight Show inspired ‘Thank You Notes: Lesbian Edition,’ Tim offered me a chance to come out perform in front of a live audience. 

Even six years later, it was hands-down one of my favourite standup shows. There’s a camaraderie that we, as queer people, have. There’s so much love and support, and you felt that on that stage. In the green room. In the bar after the show. 

This is not to say there weren’t tough critics, but even the angriest of lesbians would show solidarity because that shit runs deep. 

Queer comedy has been around forever, and it’s a gift. Eddie Izzard’s Dress to Kill was on non-stop in my household, and my mother wouldn’t stop calling me until I watched Tig Notaro’s One Mississippi. So luckily, by the time I got to New York, queer comedy was already starting to seep into the four quadrants.

But after I tore through all of One Mississippi, I still wanted more. And I specifically wanted lesbian comedy. As a lesbian-maybe-non-binary person, I struggled to find comedians who I could really identify with. I felt greedy for wanting my own tribe within the tribe, but the truth is, queer women and non-binary people have different experiences than gay men.

And then, by the grace of the manifestation gods, it happened. 

Kate 'black blazer' McKinnon. 

When I say, I was OBSESSED. I would have died just to breathe the same air as her. The first lesbian cast member on Saturday Night Live?! Are you kidding me?! 

I would Google Kate McKinnon, and the Google search would primarily bring up her talking about her cat son, Nino. Every time I saw her on SNL as Justin Bieber, I felt seen. I could finally say, ‘Yes! That’s what I want to do.’

I couldn’t believe it. I was in heat. I found the person who is on the biggest stage and is so lesbianic.

And then Hannah Gadsby’s Nanette special came out.  

And Mae Martin’s show, Feel Good. 

And Sam Jay’s show, Pause 

And I started to see more and more queer performers getting their due and queer lesbian comedy taking over. And now, you can’t see a comedy special without it being queer or trans.

Along the way, I created The Lesbian Agenda, which is a comedy show about how lesbians are taking over, and our main agenda item is to cast Rachel Weisz in every lesbian movie until she becomes a lesbian. Which was inspired by other queer comedians doing their thing. 

So yeah, comedy is lesbian AF now. Get used to it.

• Sophie Santos… Is Codependent! will is coming to the Edinburgh Fringe – at Underbelly Bristo Square at 7pm from August 2

Published: 21 Jul 2023