By
Maggie Burnett
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Kate Clinton blends political, religious and gay humor in one-woman show
Look out Al Gore, George W. Bush and Ralph Nader - Clinton is coming to town.
Political satirist Kate Clinton will perform tonight at Centennial Hall, incorporating into her show her own insights on current events, the modern family and life as a gay female in America.
"I'm that annoying person at dinner writing down everything people say and asking 'Can I use that?'" Clinton said.
She said her show on campus, "Y2K8.COMedy," is largely based on her new CD, which still remains untitled.
"I wanted to name it 'My Vagina Prefers Dialogue' but my publicist said it would wind up in the health bin," she joked, alluding to Eve Ensler's highly acclaimed play, "The Vagina Monologues."
Although she might make light of a number of modern political concerns and gay issues, Clinton emphasized the importance of working together as a society in order to give more visibility to the gay community.
"There is still an awful lot of work to do. That someone thinks of themself as gay and doesn't immediately think of suicide or hiding doesn't mean that we can stop," she said. "When it no longer happens, I'll be happy to retire."
Clinton added that she is saddened by the number of closet cases she meets while performing at college campuses nationwide.
"It affects the integrity of your work, thinking you've been 'found out,'" she said.
Originally a high school English teacher, Clinton eventually moved into both stand-up and written comedy around 1980. In addition to publishing her own book, "Don't Get Me Started," Clinton has written for "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" and has appeared on "CNN," "Nightline" and "Entertainment Tonight."
The format of Clinton's shows follow that of a typical stand-up routine, using only one microphone while on stage. She added that her performance is laid out much like that of a daily newspaper, as she talks a lot about popular issues covered in the media.
"Often I say what people don't usually hear," she said.
With the presidential election right around the corner, Clinton said there is never a lack of issues to use as material. She plans to hold a straw poll with the University of Arizona audience just to see how the audience sways in terms of political affiliation.
"Based on that poll, I'll probably kill myself," she said while laughing.
Clinton attributes her satirical outlook on life to her upbringing. She was raised Catholic and, despite being a lesbian, draws a lot of her material from her religious background.
"I'm concerned with the separation of church and state," she said. "The line (between them) is being blurred. This is a serious idea but people still laugh."
She said she is an advocate of separation of church and state especially in light of the recent religious and governmental uprisings in the Middle East. Additionally, Clinton is concerned with the role of women in the Catholic church - or rather, the lack thereof.
"I've always been aware of the place of women in the church and that always steamed me," she said. "The whole notion of men as the head and women as the submissive ones - grrr."
Despite her strong opinions and political woes, Clinton said that ultimately, it is the comedy that keeps her going.
"I love to entertain but also to inform and agitate," she said, "Mostly, I love making people laugh, so I do it."
