University of Illinois at Chicago Office of Public Affairs (MC 288)
601 S. Morgan St., Chicago, IL 60607-7113, (312) 996-3456, www.uic.edu/depts/paff

March 15 , 2000

Contact: David Barnett (312) 413-9862; barnett@uic.edu

EDITORS: Kate Clinton photo available

COMIC CLINTON PERFORMS TO BENEFIT NEW UIC SCHOLARSHIP

Kate Clinton, nationally known political comic, will give a benefit performance of her acclaimed new show, "Y2K8.comedy," to help create a new Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender scholarship fund for University of Illinois at Chicago graduate students. The comic will attend a reception following the performance.

The performance takes place Friday, March 31, in the Illinois Room of UIC's Chicago Circle Center, 750 S. Halsted St. The doors will open at 7:30 p.m. This free performance is sponsored by UIC's Chancellor's Committee on the Status of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues, as part of Women's Heritage Month.

The new scholarship will provide financial support to graduate students who are researching lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender topics as part of their graduate studies. The committee's goal is to raise $12,500 for an endowed award, providing $1,000 annually. The Kate Clinton reception is the first in a series of activities that the committee will undertake to reach this goal.

"There are not yet any doctoral programs in lesbian and gay studies anywhere in the United States, although faculty in graduate programs in university departments across the country are interested in the research possibilities of gay/lesbian studies," said David Barnett, director of UIC's Office of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Concerns. "This new scholarship for UIC graduate students will be a way for us to validate the significance of their choice to study lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender people and encourage them to make further academic explorations of topics in this area."

Kate Clinton is one of America's brightest political comics. Her savvy send-ups of modern family relationships and illuminating perspectives on life as a gay American are demonstrated in her book "Don't Get Me Started" (Ballantine, 1998).

A columnist for "The Progressive" and for "The Advocate," she also has written for the "New York Times" and "George." Clinton was a writer on the "Rosie O'Donnell Show" during its rollout period in 1996. Her newest show, "Y2K8.comedy," played The Public Theater, New York City, and is touring the United States through 2000.

Clinton has appeared on "Comedy Central," "Good Morning America," "Nightline," CNN, C-Span, "Entertainment Tonight," and "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" and has hosted "In the Life" and "The World According to Us." She has five comedy albums to her credit including the newest "Comedy You Can Dance To."

The suggested donation to attend the benefit reception is $35 per person. Tickets may be purchased in person with cash or checks, weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the UIC Office of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Concerns, Behavioral Sciences Building, 1107 W. Harrison St., room 1180.

If purchasing by mail, enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope or request that tickets be held at the door. Checks should be made payable to "Scholarship Association for the University of Illinois at Chicago." This donation is fully tax-deductible under the law.

This is the second scholarship fund sponsored by the Chancellor's Committee on the Status of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues and the first to recognize outstanding scholarship and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender activism among UIC's undergraduate students.

The mission of UIC's Office of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Concerns is to provide education with, about and on behalf of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities at UIC. In this capacity, the office serves all students, staff, and faculty at the university.

With 25,000 students, UIC is the largest and most diverse university in the Chicago area. UIC is home to the largest medical school in the United States and is one of only 88 national Research I universities. Located just west of Chicago's Loop, UIC is a vital part of the educational, technological and cultural fabric of the area.

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