Our mission is to empower people who are queer, trans, nonbinary and/or women in comedy. We further prioritize people who are Black, Brown, Indigenous, Asian, BIPOC, first-generation, and/or low-income.
In 2022, Nomie Keusch Baker started Lavender Laughs as an open mic in Atlanta, on Muscogee and Cherokee lands. The first several were held virtually due to a rise in COVID infections, drawing participants remotely from other locations. Once safer to meet in person, the mic was held twice a month at a brewery. Lavender Laughs quickly evolved to include booked shows at an art space and in a public amphitheater.
Later in 2022, Keusch Baker brought LL to New York City on Lenape land with shows, open mics and other events across Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. The original Atlanta LL continued for another year but is no longer active.
Independently produced shows support each other in the mission of Lavender Laughs:
– In 2023, the Lavender Fizz open mic began in Kitchener-Waterloo.
– In 2024, a show in Chicago rebranded as Lavender Laugh Lounge.
Lenape Lavender Laughs works with a variety of venues and organizations, including Black Women in Comedy Laff Fest. The third annual fundraiser, BLACK & LAVENDER, on Sunday January 25th, 2026, at Whiskey Cellar has been rescheduled due to snow. Sponsor Black & Lavender or donate here.
Lavender Laughs is thrilled to host the premiere annual Festival of Lavender! Read more here.
If you are interested in working with Lavender Laughs, contact nkb@lavenderlaughs.org.