The upcoming “Cinder Block Comedy Festival” is only accepting submissions
from members of the LGBTQ community, women, non-white applicants and those with
disabilities through March 31st — in an effort to create a diverse lineup of
performers for its shows later this year. (Applications will be accepted from
straight, white males from April 1 through April 30). The early-bird
submissions, however, will also be charged lower application fees. Festival
Director Coree Spencer said the difference in price was to mimic the gender pay
gap between men and women.
“Having a
token LGBTQ person of color woman, in a sea of white-bearded men is not
diversity,” proclaims an ill-crafted, grammatically-challenged video on the comedy
festival’s website. “As an audience you deserve more than one point of view.”
(As we all know, white males only have one point of view. Bernie Sanders, Ted
Cruz, they’re all the same. Not to generalize or stereotype or anything). “We
think comedy shows should be diverse as f—k.” Note to Cinder Block Comedy
Festival heads: I know how you can truly push the envelope of tolerance and
inclusiveness. If you want to shock
people with real diversity, hire a
comedienne who doesn’t drop f-bombs
in her act or in the promotion thereof.
According to an
open letter on its website, the festival is Spencer’s brainchild. She got the
inspiration for the idea after she was severely injured by a flying cinder
block while walking home alone at 3 a.m. on the Pulaski Bridge.
Sounds like a
laugh riot. (There must be an “I was stoned” joke in there somewhere. I’m sure
the audience will be in stitches, too).
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