Kweendom: A Night of Queer Stand-Up at the NYPL

On June 25, during Pride Month, the New York Public Library honored the book Welcome to Kweendom, published by Wheatfield Press. The book was edited by Bobby Hankinson with a Foreword written by the magnificent Alan Cumming. NYPL Live! is a premier cultural series—bringing together distinguished writers, artists, and scholars for conversations and performances.

You can check out future NYPL Live! events on their website here: www.nypl.org/events/live-nypl

This Pride Month book event was very special. We are in a time when diversity of voices is most needed. Now more than ever, we need to support the endurance of libraries and museums and other cultural institutions that honor freedom of expression and assembly. We’re also in a time when more laughter is needed!

The event was a full house, about 200 people. Audience members wore themed hats and had a night of laughter and true camaraderie in gorgeous midtown Manhattan at the famed Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, Celeste Auditorium.

Hosted by Bobby Hankinson, Kweendom was an all-LGBTQ comedy show featuring some of the city’s sharpest queer comedians and storytellers. Born from Hankinson’s frustration with lineups lacking authentic queer representation, Kweendom presented a wide range of LGBTQ voices, spanning gender identities, cultures, and backgrounds, everyone sharing their distinct experiences through stand-up.

Hankinson and special guests came together for a laugh-out-loud evening where queer stories and perspectives took center stage.

Books were for sale. In addition to Welcome to Kweendom, also featured was Zach Zimmerman’s book Is It Hot in Here? published by Chronicle Books.

The event featured:

Bobby Hankinson is a writer, performer and full-time homosexual. Since 2015, Bobby has hosted KWEENDOM, a monthly all-LGBTQ+ Brooklyn comedy show TimeOUT NY called "consistently dope" and Thrillist described as "extremely gay." In 2021, he curated and edited, Welcome to Kweendom, a book of essays from LGBTQ+ writers, published by Wheatfield Press with an introduction by actor Alan Cumming. Bobby has performed all over the country at venues including Broadway Comedy Club, The Bell House, Punchline Philly, Black Cat DC, Hartford Funny Bone, Laugh Boston and more. His writing has appeared in The Boston Globe, Houston Chronicle, VICE, Gothamist, amNewYork and on leading LGBTQ+ news sources, Towleroad.com and Gay City News.

Zach Zimmerman is a stand-up comedian, TV writer, author, and friend. Zach's first comedy special Surprise Me was named a Vulture Comedy Special You Should Definitely Watch, and their first book, Is It Hot in Here? (Or Am I Suffering for All Eternity for the Sins I Committed on Earth?), was named a Barnes & Noble Best Book of 2023. Zimmerman’s humor pieces and essays have been published by McSweeney’s, Vulture, The Washington Post, and The New Yorker. Zimmerman has appeared on The Late Late Show (RIP), After Midnight (RIP), and wrote for Peacock’s Love Undercover (RIP).

Lorena Russi is a failed pro soccer player turned comedian, filmmaker, and educator. Most recently, Lorena was honored as an IMDB emerging filmmaker of the year, a featured stand-up for Comedy Central and "Netflix is a Joke Fest,” and a writer/performer for CBS Showcase. She's currently developing her original TV pilot with SONY and travels the festival circuit with her short film sponsored by McDonalds (not a joke). Lorena is a Queens native and is, in fact, ‘walkin’ here.’ In a past life, she almost pursued a PhD in Media & Gender Studies (true), but instead opted for a stint as a pro soccer player (also true). And somehow, she’s straight (this is a lie). Lorena’s work is heavily influenced by her Colombian immigrant guilt and she apologizes in advance.

Calvin S. Cato was named one of Time Out New York’s LGBTQ Comics of Color to Watch Out For and has dazzled audiences around the world. His on-air and radio appearances include Oxygen, Netflix, Sirius XM, RISK!, WIRED Magazine, and an unaired pilot for Vice Media called Emergency Black Meeting. His comedy has been featured in numerous festivals and events including New York Comedy Festival, San Francisco Sketchfest, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Gotham Storytelling Festival, Brooklyn Pride, and FlameCon. In early 2021, Calvin was published in Kweendom, an anthology of essays by queer comedians and entertainers. In 2022, Calvin concluded a three month run hosting a daily talk show on RushTix.com.

Veronica Garza is a Brooklyn-based stand-up comedian and writer originally from Dallas, Texas. She's been featured on MTV’s Decoded, NPR, PBS, Sirius XM, and most recently The Kelly Clarkson Show.

Tessa Skara (they/she) is a nonbinary lesbian comedian, musician, and screenwriter originally from Vancouver, Canada, currently based in Brooklyn. Tessa has been performing their unique blend of stand-up and music for years at venues like Joe’s Pub, Carolines on Broadway, The Bell House, Littlefield, Ars Nova, Union Hall, New York Comedy Club, The Duplex, UCB (NY and LA) The Brooklyn Comedy Festival, and The New York Comedy Festival. Previously, Tessa hosted a longtime monthly queer comedy show at C'mon Everybody called Gay Church, and was named one of Comedy Central's Comics to Watch with her musical sketch group Pop Roulette. As an actor, you can see Tessa on Crashing, The Detour, High Maintenance, and Little America. You can also hear them in voice-over roles for Disney, Paramount Plus, Rockstar Games, and national commercials. Tessa took part in the 2020 CBS Comedy Showcase in Los Angeles and is currently working as a screenwriter. You can find Tessa at @tessafuckinskara on Instagram and @TessaSkara everywhere else.

Ren Q. Dawe is a nationally touring comedian, published playwright, and bonafide silly goose. Ren is slated to be the first trans comedian to perform in all 50 states on their current comedy protest tour “Here to Pee” raising funds for LGBTQ+ nonprofits across the country, all of 2025.

Jonnea Herman is a stand-up comedian/storyteller type based in Brooklyn. He has performed in clubs and festivals across from the country from LA to New Orleans to Chicago to even West Haverford, Connecticut. She was a finalist for the 7th Annual Comedy Mob Festival competition, a finalist for 2024 Yaaas! NY Queer Comedy Fest, and a semifinalist for the 2023 Because They're Funny: Breakout Comedian of the Year. He can mostly been seen performing around NYC at venues like, Greenwich Village Comedy Club, The Bell House, Union Hall, Broadway Comedy Club, Rodney's Comedy Club, and more.

And I made an appearance as well, so proud to be a publisher of diverse voices and to be a part of such a special event! Please contact Wheatfield Press with any questions about the book or future events!