Outlaugh comedy festival in West Hollywood June 2-4

Kicking off Thursday June 2, Outlaugh 2011 is a three-day comedy festival featuring standup comedy, sketches, short comedy films, and improv comedy workshops at the World Famous Comedy Store on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood. Headlining the weekend is Suzanne Westenhoefer whose impressive career includes appearances on The Late Show with David Letterman, HBO, Bravo, Logo and GSN as well as performances across the US in popular theatres, clubs and fundraisers. Suzanne will end the festival with a performance on Saturday night.

As America’s first Gay and Lesbian Comedy Festival, Outlaugh has seen such big names as Lea DeLaria, Margaret Cho and Bob Smith in past years. Other comics gracing the Outlaugh stage this year include: Jennie McNulty (One Night Standup LOGO), Nico Santos (Finalist San Francisco’s Best Comic Standing), Charlie Ballard (LOGO), Diana Yanez (Margaret Cho’s Sensuous Woman Show), Julie Goldman (LOGO’s Big Gay Sketch Show), Sabrina Matthews (Comedy Central), Mike Player (The Gay Mafia), Jason Dudey (LOGO), Sandra Valls (Showtime’s Latin Divas of Comedy), Andre Kelley (Comedy Central, LOGO), Justin Martindale, Fortune Feimster (Chelsea Lately), and many more.

On Saturday night the first Outlaugh Comedy Award will be presented to lesbian activist and comedian Robin Tyler, executive director of The Equality Campaign and a pioneer within the grassroots movement of the LGBTI civil rights fight. She has played a seminal role in the struggle for equal rights and was the first lesbian plaintiff to sue the state of California challenging the ban on same sex marriage.

A portion of the ticket price goes to support www.GetEqual.org. To buy tickets or for more information please visit www.outlaughfestival.com. Accommodations are available next door to the Comedy Store at the Andaz West Hollywood for the nights of June 2 through June 5. A rate of $189 is available if booked before May 18. Guests should book online at www.westhollywood.andaz.com using the group code “G-laug” in the corporate/group field or call central reservations at 800.233.1234 and reference the code.

Outlaugh 2011 is sponsored by the West Hollywood Marketing and Visitors Bureau and the City of West Hollywood Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission and Lesbian and Gay Advisory Board.