Kweendom Celebrates Three Years With An Homage To NYC's Queer Comedy Community

One of New York City's most beloved comedy shows, Kweendom, is gearing up to celebrate its three-year anniversary with a birthday blowout that pays homage to New York City's queer comedy community.

It'll be all cupcakes, candles and, duh, the new Cher album Oct. 19 at Pete's Candy Store, featuring performances from Aaron Jackson (The Opposition), Sydnee Washington (MTV), Rebecca Shortall (BBC), Dylan Adler and Andres Govéa .

Launched in 2015 at the onset of New York City's queer comedy boom, Kweendom is a monthly comedy show featuring only performers who identify as LGBTQ.

"I started this show as sort of a challenge to prove there are enough talented queer people in the city to sustain a regular show without adding allies," said host and producer Bobby Hankinson. "I love our allies, but I just think queer people make better art -- don't at me."

Since then, more than 100 diverse, queer performers have graced Kweendom's stage , from up and comers to names you recognize from TV and Netflix. Past performers include Emma Willmann (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) , Matteo Lane (MTV), Kevin Allison (The State), and Julio Torres (SNL).

Kweendom has also been a featured showcase at LGBTQ Comic Con FlameCon, Story Fest at the People's Improv Theater and the Speak Up, Rise Up Festival. Hankinson will serve as a judge at Broadway Comedy Club's upcoming queer comedy competition Yaaas! Fest with a spot on an upcoming Kweendom featured in the winner's prize package.

Kweendom is a free show, but each month donations are collected for an LGBTQ organization with a match for the first $50. Over the last three years, Kweendom has raised more than $3,200 for more than a dozen LGBTQ organizations.

Donations collected at our anniversary show will be given to the Anti-Violence Project, an NYC-based organization empowering lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and HIV-affected communities and allies to end all forms of violence through organizing and education, and supporting survivors through counseling and advocacy. To celebrate 100 past performers, we'll be matching the first $100 collected.

Additionally, Kweendom is partnering with Philadelphia-based queer artist Gabby Grife to create a series of flash sketches of past Kweendom performers to share on social media every day in October. Kweendom recently launched a new Instagram account to post the portraits and celebrate the incredible, innovative work of NYC's queer comedy community.

Hankinson created Kweendom after years of experience as a columnist for leading LGBTQ publication Towleroad.com, as a nationally touring member of Awkward Sex and the City storytelling troupe and as someone who bangs dudes on the regular.

"In 2018, booking a lineup that's not just straight, white, male comedians is table stakes, but there's something magical about a show where no one feels like they have to explain how Grindr works or who Troye Sivan is or how Taylor Swift is obviously dating Karlie Kloss," Hankinson said. "Straight people can enjoy the show too, of course, just like they're free to enjoy The B-52s, the work of Ryan Murphy and anal."

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