Karen Williams

Karen Williams is a force, a buzzsaw joke machine. She is proactively provocative, and fearless in confronting cliches, and investigating stereotypes through hyperbole. Her comedy stands out as a distinct, cantankerous voice in the lesbian community and a unique perspective on the world at large. “Human Beings: What A Concept,” Karen Williams’ debut comedy album, is a glimpse into the inner politics of a marginalized group that, by necessity, became curators and creators of their own culture. Karen addresses conformity in kindness, love, and relationships. She shares misgivings about aging, codependency, motherhood, and sexuality, especially regarding intersections with race and libertine living. Karen tells it like it is, as she sees it, cutting through the pleasantries with nuance, texture, ambiance, ambivalence, and gusto. She has lingo for those in the know and expertly crafted elaborations for those who aren’t. Throughout, Karen displays an unmatched genius for sarcasm, irony, and rhetoric. If something doesn’t make sense, she’ll knock some sense into it, but gracefully. Her technique is impressive. Rather than beat her opponent over the head, she’ll take the egregiously erroneous or misinformed stance as her own, stretch the faulty logic until it’s paper thin, and wrap the whole farce up into a bow. Karen Williams is special. For more about Karen's humor and healing work, visit www.hahainstitute.com  

Elvira Kurt

Elvira Kurt is a Canadian national treasure in the Dept. of Comedy, a trail-blazing queer icon who’s done all the things… like, host her own talk show: popcultured with Elvira Kurt, as well as a game show: Spin Off. She’s been in hit TV shows including Baroness Von Sketch Show - for which she was also a writer- teen TV staple, DeGrassi: The Next Generation and, for the youngest viewers, Treehouse TV’s Emmy nominated, Miss Persona. Then there's the long list of TV shows in which Elvira does it all as writer, producer and director of talent: Netflix’s upcoming Drink Masters, Crave TV’s Canada’s Drag Race, CBC’s The Great Canadian Baking Show, CTV’s Master Chef Canada. Add to that the many scripted and unscripted shows Elvira’s written for: Still Standing, This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Game On, Little Mosque on the Prairie, to name but a few. There’s also the numerous doc series where she’s served as writer and host: First Comes Love, Gayest Show Ever, Adventures In Comedy. And the TV shows on which she’s been a judge or correspondent: The Second City’s Next Comedy Legend, eTalk Daily, ‘Q’ and ‘q'. It's a LOT. In her down time -ha!- Elvira, who is also a proud lesbian dad of two, travels the world with sold-out solo live shows, TV appearances and comedy special tapings. She wins stuff too, namely a few Canadian Screen Awards to go with her Canadian Comedy, SF Film Festival, Toronto Fringe Festival Awards, as well as the Jury Choice Award at the Cannes Short Film Showcase for Reel Women Seen -which she also wrote! Clearly, Elvira is no slouch… what’s next for this tireless teacup butch? Stay tuned! 

Dana Goldberg

Raised by a wild pack of Jews, otherwise known as her mother and two siblings, veteran comedian Dana Goldberg is a force of nature on stage. With performances at the San Francisco International Comedy Competition, The Comedy Festival produced by TBS and HBO, and the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland, Goldberg’s quick wit and playful stage presence have earned her loyal fans across the country and abroad.

A crowd favorite, she has become a triple threat, combining her comedy, hosting, and writing talents to become one of the most sought-after entertainers on the circuit. Deeming her one of the top five funniest lesbians in America, Curve magazine raved, “Goldberg is one of the brightest lights in a stellar comedy landscape,” and Advocate.com named Goldberg one of the top three LGBT comedians in the nation. 

In addition to headlining clubs, theaters, and festivals around the country, Goldberg has performed at and emceed dozens of high profile events and has shared the national stage with luminaries such as President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, President Bill Clinton, Kerry Washington, Jennifer Lopez, John Lithgow, Alfred Molina, Jennifer Hudson, Sir Elton John, Mariah Carey, Shonda Rhimes, and many more. Combining her gift of humor with humanitarian efforts, Goldberg has helped to raise over thirty million dollars for nonprofits around the country in the fight for marriage equality, LGBT rights, women’s rights, and HIV and AIDS education and prevention.

Sandra Valls

“Comedic Gold!” – Latina Magazine

“A Knockout” – My San Antonio

"She brings to light issues that impact the women of color community!" - QWOC Media

"Valls is as true to her ethnicity as she is to her sexuality; knocking TV audiences on their behinds!" Curve Magazine

Sandra Valls is a comic, actor, singer, writer, and badass. Her unique mix of physical comedy, brilliant storytelling, and powerful soulful vocals make it easy to see why the Los Angeles Times calls Sandra “Talented and Hilarious”. Curve Magazine named her One of the Most Influential Queer Women in the Country and One of the Top 10 Funniest Lesbian Comics. Latina Magazine voted Sandra One of the Top 33 Bad Ass Comics with Latin Roots and Go Magazine feels she’s One of the Top 100 Women We Love.

Sandra will star in the much-awaited world premiere of Real Women Have Curves –The Musical this Christmas season at the prestigious American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge, MA. Produced by Barry and Fran Weissler (Chicago, Waitress), Directed and Choreographed by Tony Award winner Sergio Trujillo (Ain’t Too Proud), Book by American Theatre Critics Award-winning and Pulitzer Prize-nominated playwright Lisa Loomer (Girl, Interrupted, ROE), Music and Lyrics by Grammy Award winner Joy Huerta (from internationally renowned Mexican pop duo Jesse & Joy) and Benjamin Velez (Kiss My Aztec, The Tempest). Real Women Have Curves will be Broadway bound in 2024!

Sandra also co-wrote and co-starred in the critically acclaimed Off Broadway show, LATINA CHRISTMAS SPECIAL at the famous Soho Playhouse in NYC. Named Critic’s Choice by the L.A. Times, this show is three hilarious, touching and surprisingly touching stories of holidays past as told by three acclaimed Latina actors. Sandra’s story is about her life growing up a queer, Mexican, Catholic kid in Laredo, TX and later in her adult years, being her mother’s caregiver until the end.

Her other television credits include The Latin Diva of Comedy, Gay and Lesbian Comedy Jam (Showtime), Nick Mom Night Out (Nickelodeon), One Night Stand Up (LOGO), Comic’s Unleashed with Byron Allen (ABC), Habla! (HBO)

Sandra is also a favorite onstage as an emcee. Her hosting credits include Creating Change Conference, TEDX Women, Women in Medicine: Lesbian Health Fund Conference, San Antonio LGBT Chamber of Commerce Coming Out Day, Equality San Antonio – Spirit of Texas Brunch, Latino Institute at Creating Change, La Femme Film Awards (11 years in a row), Power UP 10 Amazing Gay Women and Men Gala, and GLAAD Awards and London Lesbian Film Festival…to name a few plus countless Pride Festivals.

Always a human rights activist, Sandra was also honored in her hometown of Laredo, Texas with the International Woman’s Day Award for being a trailblazer and empowering women and was chosen by Unidos-The National Latino LGBT Human Rights Organization to be part of their prestigious list for Project VISIBLE Latinos LGBT in the USA and Puerto Rico: Out in Leadership. www.welovesandra.com

Be Steadwell

Be Steadwell (They, She, He, Be) is a queer pop composer and storyteller from Washington DC. Be composes songs on stage using looping, vocal layering and beat boxing. Be's original music features earnest lyricism and affirming queer content. Be's goal as a musician is to make other black girlies, introverts and weirdos feel seen and loved.

Be earned a BA in Black Studies from Oberlin College and an MFA in film from Howard University in 2014. Be's thesis film Vow of Silence screened in film festivals around the world, including Black Star, HBO's OutFest, The Schomburg Center, and Inside Out Toronto.

In 2019, Be composed the music for The Alvin Ailey Dance Company's production of "the gone". Later that year, Be wrote and directed A Letter to My Ex, the musical. A Letter to My Ex imagines a queer black woman's experience of healing after a breakup. In 2021 Be released their latest album, Succulent.

In 2023, Be joined the cast of Parable of the Sower, the Opera by Toshi Reagon and Dr Bernice Johnson Reagon.

DJ Rockaway

Born and raised in Queens, DJ Rockaway has been bringing her passion and love for music to US and international dance floors for nearly two decades. Although she is true New Yorker (just listen to her talk!), she is a regular on both the East and West coasts. You’ll find her spinning at nightclubs, weddings and other private events, and galas for national nonprofits, such as NCLR, HRC, and Equality California, to name a few—and she is also a regular DJ on Olivia cruise and resort vacations.

The executive producer of the San Francisco Women’s Stage and the founder of PLAY San Francisco and PLAY San Jose, monthly events for women who love to dance, DJ Rockaway has created a unique mix of music styles—dance, hip-hop, R&B, house, club, retro—that allows her to play for all who love to dance and feel the music. In her spare time, you can find her behind a camera lens, playing with her drone, or filming and editing music videos. For DJ Rockaway, music is more than a blend of sounds, music is an experience… she wants you to feel it, live it, escape into it.

Richelle Donigan

Richelle Evelyn Donigan is a masterful Yoga Instructor, Life Coach, Author, and Speaker. She has been in the work and study of transformation for more than 40 years. Richelle has an extraordinary gift for creating safe empowering spaces for beginners and communities that have been traditionally underserved. She has created and led numerous retreats and workshops focusing on LGBTQ Communities. Her Butch Yoga workshops allow Butch Identified women to come as they are, listen and be heard by other Butches and support one another as they share and practice together. Richelle’s Vision Workshops are life changing. You will walk out with powerful clarity and strategies to create a life that you absolutely LOVE. A consummate teacher, Richelle embodies wellness and is dedicated to uplifting community with the profound healing practices of Yoga & Vision.