Kate Clinton (Comedienne)

Kate Clinton (born November 9, 1947) has been an American comedian for over 25 years, specializing in political commentary from a gay/lesbian point of view. She was born in Buffalo, New York.

She grew up Catholic in New York State and taught high school English for eight years before becoming a comedian. She began her stand-up career in 1981 using her lesbianism, Catholicism and current politics for her jokes.

Kate Clinton is a self-described "fumerist," or feminist humorist, who has set out to prove that being lesbian can be, and often is, funny. She was raised in a large Catholic family.

In young adulthood she jokingly describes herself as a "pre-Michael J. Fox conservative" who attended Le Moyne College, a small Jesuit liberal arts college. She received her Masters from Colgate University, and went on to teach high school English.

In addition to comedy appearances and one-woman-shows such as Lady Ha Ha, Climate Change, Correct Me If I'm Right, All Het Up and Kate's Out Is In, she has written three books, Don't Get Me Started (Ballantine, 2000); What the L" (Da Capo Press, 2005) and I Told You So (Beacon Press, 2009). Kate has 8 CD's, including the most recent, Climate Change', (Whyscrack Records, 2008), and has two DVD's available.

She is a regular columnist for the national monthly magazine, The Progressive and has been a past columnist for the national gay newsmagazine The Advocate. Kate's blogs can be found on the Huffington Post.

She has made numerous appearances on television, and has served as grand marshal of gay pride parades. When the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan began, she was a part-time commentator on CNN.

Kate works extensively with social justice and nonprofit organizations, and has been a regular MC at major fundraising events and dinners for groups like the NYC LGBT Center (at its Annual Garden Party); the National Center for Lesbian Rights; the ACLU; Out & Equal, among others.

Kate Clinton lives in New York City and Provincetown, MA with her partner, Urvashi Vaid since 1988. Urvashi was executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force from 1988-1992 and has been an activist and writer since that time. Clinton's 2006 tour marks her 25th anniversary as a professional stand-up comedian.

Clinton performed on Cyndi Lauper's True Colors Tour 2008. Also in 2008, she toured with her "Hilarity Clinton" one person show.

Clinton is a regular emcee at the Out & Equal Workplace Awards Dinner and is scheduled to perform at the 2010 Workplace Awards Dinner in Los Angeles.

Related Links:
Kate Clinton on Wikipedia
Kate Clinton.com