Suzanne Westenhoefer

Suzanne Westenhoefer worked her way up through the ranks of American comedy since the early '90s with an approach to gay and lesbian issues that was at the same time good-natured and bitterly sarcastic. After moving to New York City to pursue acting, Westenhoefer began to do open mic appearances around the city. Her open, direct approach to gay issues soon garnered her a reputation as "the gay girl is straight clubs." In 1991 she was approached by a producer of The Sally Jesse Raphael Show to appear on an episode dedicated to "Lesbians Who Don't Look Like Lesbians" and soon made other television appearances including Comedy Central and Politically Incorrect. Her reputation grew slowly and she eventually starred in her own HBO special which was nominated for an ACE Award. She soon started to tour extensively throughout the U.S., playing more than 100 a year and in 1997 released Nothing in My Closet but My Clothes on Uproar. Nothing in My Closet but My Clothes won Best Comedy CD from the Gay and Lesbian American Music Awards (GLAMA). Her second release, I'm Not Cindy Brady, was released on Uproar in 2000 and also won the GLAMA for Best Comedy CD. ~ Nate Cavalieri