Playing with stereotypes and building a queer community : race, sexuality and the stand-up comedy of Margaret Cho

This project interrogates stand-up comedian Margaret Cho’s queer community-building and cross-identification with her queer fans through her performance of sexual and racial stereotypes, including the fag hag, the Asian American immigrant, and the black drag queen. A close look at Cho’s work in this respect reveals the efficacy, limitations, and risks of the performance of stereotypes, as well as stand-up comedy and popular entertainment in general, in serving as a site that promotes community-building and challenges sexual, racial, gender, and class oppressions.