‘STAND UP, STAND OUT’ + LGBTQ+ Comics

As AIDS-ravaged San Francisco, a gay and lesbian comedy club flourished in, of all places, an old mortuary. From 1981 to 1986, the Valencia Rose Cabaret blossomed as the home of queer comedy, the birthplace of many well-known careers, a de-facto community center, and a gathering place for activists.

STAND UP STAND OUT is a 35-minute documentary that plunges into a little-known, but widely resonant, chapter of queer cultural history: the story of the Valencia Rose (1981-1986), believed to be the first and only gay-owned and –operated comedy club in the USA. Through the voices and humor of Rose’s performers, the film explores gay comedy as an outgrowth of the rich traditions of activism and performance in San Francisco, empowering response to the conservative politics of the era, and a valiant quest for joy and laughter amidst the horrific onslaught of the AIDS crisis.