Hannah Gadsby announces genderqueer, trans-inclusive Netflix special
"I am looking to broaden the scope of opportunities for genderqueer performers," the comedian says
Emmy-winning lesbian comedian Hannah Gadsby is producing and hosting a live stand-up special that is set to “showcase queer gender voices from around the world.”
She’ll be recording the show for Netflix during the Sydney leg of her world tour, Body of Work, at the same location her revered Netflix show Nanette was taped.
The 44-year-old comedian shared on Twitter: “I am pretty excited to be filming my new ‘feel-good show’, Body of Work, at the Sydney Opera House…yep…I’m back at the scene of the Nanette ‘crime’.”
“I am chuffed to announce that Netflix has agreed to work with me on a stand-up special that will showcase queer gender voices from around the world,” she added.
“I won’t lie… this made my decision to do a third solo special with them a little easier.”
The new show will include six gender-queer comedians selected by Gadsby, the Independent reports.
Alongside the opportunity of a Netflix appearance, Gadsby is also offering a mentorship initiative for the up-and-coming comics to “foster the professional development of a demographic that is still struggling to have their voices heard.”
Gadsby continued that with the world of comedy being a “notoriously transphobic industry” this is a step to expand “the diversity of offerings to audiences on one of comedy’s biggest platforms”.
While Netflix has been the home of Hannah Gadsby’s Nanette, the comedian has been vocal about the streamer’s platforming of transphobia.
Following Netflix’s boss, Ted Sarandos, siding with Dave Chappelle after the comedian received backlash for his transphobic jokes on his Netflix special The Closer (saying he is a TERF and defending JK Rowling), Gadsby condemned Sarandos specifically in a public note where she labelled Netflix as an “amoral algorithm cult”.
She continued: “You didn’t pay me nearly enough to deal with the real world consequences of the hate speech dog whistling you refuse to acknowledge, Ted.”
You can find out more about Gadsby’s tour of Body of Work here.
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