A Thank You, a Nomination, and 10 Queer Comedians Worth Celebrating

I wanted to thank you for supporting the Here to Pee tour (which has successfully gone to all 50 states and raised over $30k for LGBTQ+ nonprofits nationwide!). Whether you bought a ticket, volunteered with RMEQ, brought a friend, or just showed up, y’all helped make this possible. Shows like this don’t exist without people who choose to show up for each other.

I also wanted to share something really special with you!

This year, ten queer comedians were nominated for Queerty Awards, and I was miraculously one of them. Since you already supported queer comedy in real life, I figured you might want to know who else is shaping the scene.

Here’s the full list, and why every single one of them deserves your vote:

James Tom

You might recognize James from Hannah Gadsby’s Gender Agenda. He’s a nationally touring comic, featured on Comedy Central, and delivers brilliantly dry, sexy observational humor with effortless cool.

Jay Jurden

A writer for The Problem with Jon Stewart, Jay has absolutely blown up this year. A regular at NYC comedy clubs and an outspoken voice pushing back on toxic comedy culture.

Tig Notaro

Creator and star of One Mississippi, producer of See Me in a Good Light, and an undeniable comedy powerhouse. Truly comedy canon.

Fortune Feimster

From her Netflix special Good Fortune to starring in FUBAR, Fortune shows that mainstream success and queer joy can absolutely coexist—and thrive.

Robby Hoffman

A writer on HBO’s Hacks with a new special directed by John Mulaney. Unhinged in the smartest possible way.

Paris Sashay

Creator of the Queer Agenda stand-up series, a DC Improv regular, and a fixture at queer comedy festivals everywhere. Fearless, commanding, and magnetic onstage.

Wally Baram

Gaining major industry buzz with Comedy Central features and big festivals. Soft-spoken, devastatingly funny, and quietly brilliant.

Caleb Hearon

Host of the So True with Caleb podcast, Comedy Central writer, and a massive Gen Z following. Midwestern gay chaos, perfected.

Hannah Einbinder

Emmy-nominated star of HBO’s Hacks and one of the most respected voices in alt-comedy today. Cool, cerebral, and razor-sharp.

And lastly (somehow) me:

Ren Q. Dawe: The first and only trans comedian to perform in all 50 states through the Here to Pee tour, featuring trans comics nationwide while raising funds for LGBTQ+ nonprofits fighting anti-trans legislation. I’m a touring comic and educator, and I truly still don’t know how I ended up on this list.

Voting is open until February 17, and you can vote once each day, which means you actually can vote for all of them.

Thank you again for supporting live comedy, trans artists, and spaces that make room for laughter, connection, and possibility. Thanks to y’all for helping uplift queer people in Colorado, and for sharing your laughter with me through Rocky Mountain Equality’s events. 

You can vote here