Standup comedy across the globe has become a more inclusive space. Comedians from the margins are being sought by the big studios to take the stage and break down stereotypes and voice their perspectives in strong specials that are packed with plenty of laughs. But that doesn’t mean the world has been rid of hate and problematic comedians.

A-listers still like to punch down on queer and trans folk and get applauded as “brave” for doing so. But it’s undeniable that standup comedy today is a more colourful, vibrantly diverse space, with plenty of comedians using their talents to break down stereotypes and make us rethink our assumptions about gender and sexuality. They’re loud, proud and funny as hell. Here are some of our favourite standup specials by LGBTQIA+ comedians that put a lens on gender, sexuality and identity with utmost sincerity, never straying far from the brief of “keeping things funny”.

Jerrod Carmichael – Don’t Be Gay 

Jerrod Carmichael has built his career on confessional storytelling. His 2022 Emmy-award winning special Rothaniel served as a platform for him to come out to the entire world. Following that, Carmichael took a less controlled approach to sharing his personal life with us in the unscripted docu-series Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show. Putting his relationship with his white boyfriend and family in North Carolina on display had an unpleasant ripple effect, which became the inspirational fodder for his latest special Don’t Be Gay. 

Don’t worry, it’s not that Carmichael is ashamed of his sexuality. On the contrary, his entire performative career has been built on self-aware, self-referential humour. Here, he takes the backlash he received—for being a Black person in love with a white man—and turns it into comedic gold. Carmichael goes deep, talking about the mental health struggles he faced while the world dissected his relationships, and opening up about going to therapy. True to his old self, he’s throwing out gut-wrenching truths, but this time there’s also a lot more jokes. Carmichael is now a lot more confident in his skin and it shows, making Don’t Be Gay a riotous and heart-warming watch.

Available on JioHotstar.

Joel Kim Booster – Psychosexual

Joel Kim Booster is one of comedians who are unabashedly themselves on stage. He’ll wax poetic about his sexual encounters, drug-addled escapades and wild parties. Sometimes all three overlap and it’s triple the fun. His 2022 special Pyschosexual features all of the above, as well as musings on his ethnicity, sexuality and gender. But unlike specials that can sometimes fall into static, repetitive patterns, Booster has a shtick that sets his apart.

The special is performed as a three-act play, with a straight white male (named Ben) being consulted every now and then to make sure Kim Booster is being “relatable” enough to the “largest demographic in the world”. He’s aware that his material relies heavily on his lived experiences (oh, the tragedy) and certain people will be quick to label him as just another “Oriental comedian”. And then the dance ensues. After every act—whether it includes his takes on PF Changs, drugs or sexcapades—he gets feedback from Ben to make sure he’s doing a good job. The joke monologues have a steady rhythm to them, and the occasional crowd-work bit keeps things fresh. Psychosexual is witty, charming and conversational in all the right ways.

Available on Netflix.

Margaret Cho – HBO Comedy Half-Hour

Margaret Cho is an Emmy-nominated Korean-American actor and comedian whose work—which tackles issues of race and sexuality through a deeply personal lens—has inspired many comedians of Asian descent, including Bobby Lee and Atsuko Okatsuka.

In this 1994 HBO half-hour special, Cho flawlessly lampoons the racist assumptions behind Asian stereotypes in 1990s America. To talk about these issues as a person from the margins—during a time when standup comedy was dominated by white men making largely problematic jokes—was a feat in itself. She takes aim at white people’s urge to make it clear to her that they have Asian friends. That their nieces and nephews like Hello Kitty. Cho manages to tackle the tokenism Asian performers faced back in the day with such style and finesse, making this a must-watch.

In addition to social commentary, Cho talks about her parents’ aversion to her career of choice, going through a dry spell in the dating department and befriending gay men with the panache and confidence of a seasoned comedy veteran. It’s a half-hour special that will leave you howling for hours.

Available on JioHotstar.

Mae Martin – SAP

Two years after the success of their 2020 Netflix show Feel Good—a rom-com series about a queer, nonbinary, ex-addict comedian—Mae Martin returned to the comedy stage with their solo show SAP. A self-reflective hour, Martin makes a case for enjoying the smaller, “sappier” things in life while illustrating how emotional health is directly proportional to a person’s confidence—something Martin has in spades during the hour as they grab our attention and never let go.

Throughout SAP, Martin expertly walks the line between their social and private life, offering a fresh perspective on the need for empathy. They aren’t just criticising us for being glued to our phones all day (Martin is well aware that they’re guilty of it too), but use their time on stage to remind us that we’re all going to sink or swim together. Martin’s capacity to critically think about the world around us—and their subtle subversions of comedy convention—elevates this hour from being merely entertaining to nourishing brain-food.

Available on Netflix.

Matteo Lane – The Al Dente Special 

Matteo Lane is one of those comedians who really capitalised on all the free time people suddenly had during the pandemic. From TikTok to YouTube, the comedian and his sassy takes were all over every platform, raking in millions of views, likes and fans. He self-released four specials on YouTube—three of which were dubbed as ‘Advice Specials’, full of crowd work magic. His 2023 special Hair Plugs and Heartbreak racked up 3.7 million views, cementing his position as a talented comic who excels at strong narratives and vivid visual imagery.

His latest offering, titled The Al Dente Special, includes riffs on the different avatars of white women Lane has bumped into throughout his life—from HR to PR reps, and even the pasta and gelato fiends who show up when he’s doom-scrolling the internet. He’s also got some zingers about his Mexican-Italian heritage, and some wild tales about his encounters with Oprah Winfrey, Mariah Carey and Katy Perry. Throughout the special Lane weaves in his experiences of navigating the world as a gay man. It’s abundantly clear that Lane doesn’t shy away from putting himself in the crosshairs. He’s modest, he’s funny and he isn’t taking his fame for granted.

Available on JioHotstar.

Wanda Sykes – Not Normal 

With 30 years in the standup game, Wanda Sykes is a veteran with razor-sharp wit and a hilarious outlook on life i.e. she finds humour in the bittersweet limbo of existence. On her fourth standup special Not Normal—and the first one for Netflix—Sykes lands many blows at pressing political and social issues at the time, mainly Trump’s presidency.

As the comedian has grown older and wiser, she’s realised she doesn’t have the energy (or the time) to self-censor her thoughts and make her opinion more palatable for larger audiences. On Not Normal, we get to see a rawer Sykes who balances the personal and political with the nous of a seasoned professional, never making her commentary sound heavy-handed. She doesn’t shy away from putting herself under her comedic scrutiny and finding laughs in her own vulnerability—not just with menopause but also with a potentially severe case of sleep apnea.

Available on Netflix.

Navin Noronha – The Good Child 

Navin Noronha is one of the most prominent queer voices in Indian comedy, and the brain behind Queer Rated Comedy, India’s first all-queer lineup show. Last year, Noronha again broke new ground by releasing the country’s first-ever queer comedy special, called The Good Child.

On The Good Child, we get to know Navin Noronha, the person, bit by bit. He describes growing up in a Mumbai chawl, talks about coming out to his mother and lets us in on his other qualities that Indian society would consider equally irredeemable—being a vehement atheist and an incorrigible stoner. With this special, Noronha pushed the envelope and has definitely made it more accessible for other comedians to speak about their journey to self discovery.