Kate Clinton

Last updated
Kate Clinton
KateClinton.jpg
Born (1947-11-09) November 9, 1947 (age 76)
Education Le Moyne College (BA)
Colgate University (MA)
Partner Urvashi Vaid (1988–2022)
Website Official website

Kate Clinton (born November 9, 1947) [1] is an American comedian specializing in political commentary from a gay/lesbian point of view.

Contents

Early life and education

Clinton was born in Buffalo, New York. [2] She was raised in a large Catholic family in the state of New York. She attended Le Moyne College, a small Jesuit liberal arts college in Syracuse, New York and received her master's degree from Colgate University in the Village of Hamilton. Clinton went on to teach high school English for eight years before becoming a comedian.

Career

Clinton at Soldier Field during the opening ceremonies of the 2006 Gay Games Kate Clinton.jpg
Clinton at Soldier Field during the opening ceremonies of the 2006 Gay Games

She began her stand-up career in 1981 using her lesbianism, Catholicism and current politics for her jokes. Clinton is a self-described "fumerist," or feminist humorist.

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; What the L and I Told You So. She performed at the inaugural We're Funny That Way! comedy festival in 1997, and appeared in the festival's documentary film in 1998. [3]

Clinton has eight CDs including Climate Change and has two DVDs available.

She is a regular columnist for the national monthly magazine The Progressive and has been a past columnist for the national gay news magazine The Advocate . Her 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.[ citation needed ]. When the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan began, she was a part-time commentator on CNN. [4]

Clinton performed on Cyndi Lauper's True Colors Tour 2008. Also in 2008, she went on her "Hilarity Clinton" one person show tour. [5]

Clinton is a regular emcee at the Out & Equal Workplace Awards Dinner and performed at the 2010 Workplace Awards Dinner in Los Angeles. [6]

Personal life

Clinton lived in New York City and Provincetown, Massachusetts, with her partner Urvashi Vaid from 1988 until Vaid's death in 2022. [7] Vaid was Executive Director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (1988–92) and subsequently worked as an activist and writer.

Clinton's 2006 tour marked her 25th anniversary as a professional stand-up comedian. Clinton works extensively with social justice and nonprofit organizations and has been a regular emcee 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, and Out & Equal, among others.[ citation needed ]

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References

  1. "GLBTQ >> arts >> Clinton, Kate". Archived from the original on 2008-12-30. Retrieved 2008-12-29.
  2. Belge, Kathy. "Famous Lesbians and Bisexual Women". About.com . Retrieved 2010-06-22. She grew up Catholic...
  3. "Laughing out loud: Gay and lesbian comics go the extra comedic mile on TV special". The Gazette , February 9, 1999.
  4. http://andrejkoymasky.com/liv/fam/bioc3/clin1.html Andrejkoymasky.com Retrieved on 05-23-07 Archived February 2, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  5. Clinton, Kate. "Kate Clinton". Huffington Post.
  6. "2007 Out & Equal Workplace Awards | Out & Equal Workplace Advocates". Archived from the original on 2011-08-23. Retrieved 2010-08-30.
  7. Ring, Trudy (14 May 2022). "Urvashi Vaid, Legendary Activist for LGBTQ+ Civil Rights, Dies at 63". The Advocate. Archived from the original on 14 May 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2022.