Claudia Cogan
Claudia Cogan describes her coming out as ″slow! I started in college, retreated, and then finally broke through forever at 25.″ In her early twenties, the comic and self-described ″daughter of Laverne and Shirley″ began working in improv, ″a surprisingly heterosexual branch of the theater/acting world. So when I came out, I was a little alone. But it toughened me up for stand-up, when I´m often not just the only gay person but the only woman on a lineup.″ That tough attitude has served Cogan well: In addition to being featured in New York and Time Out New York, she has appeared as a semi-finalist on Last Comic Standing; at the Bridgetown Comedy Festival; the Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival; in clubs throughout the country; on YouTube´s Official Comedy Channel; and on Rooftop Comedy. This June, you can catch her on VH1´s I Love the 2000s, another in the series of pop culture specials that make fun of various decades. Of course, none of this would be possible without the fans, and so, when asked what message she wants to send to the LGBT community, Cogan says, ″Thank you. Your support keeps me going.″ -GH
What Do You Think?