Pride OSU is teaming up with Ohio State comedy clubs for a night of laughter from LGBTQ performers this weekend at Independence Hall. Courtesy of Pride OSU

Pride OSU is teaming up with Ohio State comedy clubs for a night of laughter from LGBTQ performers this weekend in a comedy showcase fundraising event.

The showcase will include performances from members in Backburner Sketch Comedy, Buckeye Standup Comedy Club, The Sundial Humor Magazine, Fishbowl Improv and 8th Floor Improv.

Pride OSU said in an email that all performers are a part of the LGBTQ community.

Nate Super, a second-year in biochemistry and the club’s officer of diversity and inclusion, is a member of 8th Floor Improv and one of the performers in the showcase. They said working with strong characters and physicalities is one of their favorite parts of doing improv.

“Improv is very collaborative, so I really enjoy doing it with people that I am friends with,” Super said.

Super added that the fundraiser not only allows Pride OSU to host more events in the future, but to support the performers and the LGBTQ community.

Ryan Cloutier, president of Pride OSU and a second-year in science and mathematics, said the club’s main purpose is to provide a social outlet for students in the LGBTQ community and described the club as a safe, cheerful space where members will not have to worry about their identity being questioned.

“We think it’s really important to have something a little more light-hearted as part of the community,” he said.

Cloutier said the showcase provides audience members with a version of comedy with which they might not be familiar.

“There’s not a lot of comedy that really focuses on LGBT experiences, and I think there’s a lot of humor that you can draw from there,” Cloutier said. “It’s a lot of humor that you don’t really get to see represented in a lot of mainstream culture.”

Although the showcase features LGBTQ performers, Cloutier said the event welcomes all and provides people who do not identify as LGBTQ with an opportunity to experience comedy to which they might not be exposed.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Pride OSU’s fundraiser comedy show will start at 8 p.m. Saturday at Independence Hall in Room 100. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $2.