NEW ORLEANS – At a time when LGBTQIA+ communities face escalating political attacks and cultural erasure, LGBTLOL Queer Comedy Fest is fighting back the best way it knows how — through laughter.
“While extremists try to erase us, we’re making it impossible to ignore us,” said New Orleans native and festival co-founder Ryan Rogers.“Comedy has always been a form of resistance, and right now, queer joy is revolutionary. This year’s festival is more than a celebration; it’s a rally cry against censorship, discrimination, and the silencing of LGBTQIA+ stories.”
The nation’s premier queer comedy festival will return May 29 to June 1 in New Orleans, kicking off Pride Month at several queer-friendly and queer-owned venues with stand-up comedy shows dedicated to inclusivity, intersectionality, and representation. The festival is a co-production between LGBTLOL, Sports Drink Comedy Club, and Laugh Life Comedy.
2025 festival headliners include three major touring national comedians:
More than 100 comedians from across America — and Canada — applied to perform. National selected performers include:
- Moisés Araguaney (Portland, OR)
- Janan Araujo-Siam (Houston, TX)
- Ricci Armani (Seattle, WA)
- Barb (San Francisco, CA)
- Brendan Creecy (Chicago, IL)
- Jose Da’Hype (Austin, TX)
- Georgia Dawkins (Sebring, FL)
- Connor Doherty (Boston, MA)
- Helen Driesen (Denver, CO)
- Eddie Estrada (New York, NY)
- Julian Fernandez (Los Angeles, CA)
- Nic Hawk (Plano, TX)
- Aira Juliet (Austin, TX)
- Fay Kanevsky (Valley Glen, CA)
- Kristina Kelley (New York, NY)
- Kě Li (Montreal, Canada)
- Connor Lyons (Atlanta, GA)
- Lane Martin (Hattiesburg, MS)
- Juno Men (Seattle, WA)
- Gene Moore (Phoenix, AZ)
- Dallas James Nelson (Pensacola, FL)
- Delisia Nicholas (Pensacola, FL)
- Calvin Reid (Denver, CO)
- Yaitza Rivera (New York, NY)
- Joe John Sanchez III (Portland, OR)
- Sarah Spear (Austin, TX)
- Daisy Tackett (Jacksonville, FL)
- Molly Zalman (New York, NY)
- Caleb Zeringue (San Francisco, CA)
New Orleans boasts an incredibly bold and diverse comedy scene, with queer comics leading the charge with sharp, fearless, and wildly entertaining performances. Local selected performers include:
- Brittany Bancroft
- Jade Bronte
- Laveau Contraire
- Jeff D
- Dori Dimplez
- Kat Dreher
- Amanda G
- Lee Glass
- Mallory Head
- Shep Kelly
- Sable Levy
- Tina McCrory
- Saya Meads
- Anastassia Medusa
- Nidia Morales
- Prin Pelletier
- Ryan Rogers
- Liv Sabo-Rush
- Laura Sanders
- Madison Thomas
- Bette Tittler
- Celeste Weigel
- Alice Wiche
The four-day festival will take place at locations around the city including: The Howlin Wolf, Urban South Brewery, Oz, Sports Drink Comedy Club, and more.
Festival passes go on sale Friday, March 21. For more information, lineup announcements, and volunteer opportunities, visit LGBTLOL.com and follow @queercomedyfest on Instagram.
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