Comedian Leo Kearse on Male Privilege/Transitioning

My Perth Fringe venue cancelled my show due to social media outrage over this clip. I'm surprised that anyone perceived the material to be transphobic. Ironically I wrote it with a transgender woman I was dating because we were annoyed that big comedians (Chappelle, Gervais) were doing transphobic material and wanted to write more inclusive material. The material in the clip is about the ridiculous disparity in beauty standards society places on genders, and how difficult it would be for me to transition because of my physical characteristics.

I'm a big believer in tolerance and diversity. I'm one of the very few openly right wing comedians on the circuit. My show is a tongue in cheek look at what it means to be right wing. Part of this is a criticism of traditional right wing homophobia and a celebration of progress (the right wing government in the UK passed the Same Sex Marriage Act). The clip that people are complaining about is from the free speech comedy night Comedy Unleashed which is co-run by Andrew Doyle, an LGBTQI+ comedian.

I understand The Court provides a safe space to the LGBTQI+ community. I have performed in many LGBTQI+ venues over the years and never had a problem so I didn't think twice about doing my show there. But the last thing I would want to do is make marginalised people feel like their space is compromised, so I completely understand The Court cancelling my run.