Queer Comedy at Zanies has been named the Advocate.com‘s “9 LGBT Friendly Comedy Shows You Should Be Supporting,” Timeout Chicago‘s “Critic’s Pick,” The Redeye’s “Do” and included in Chicago Reader’s “The Agenda” and “Culture Vulture” with the praise “More, please.”

Chicago’s queer community is so amazingly diverse that it can be difficult to include everyone on stage but for Pride, we want to include the entire rainbow with gay, lesbian, bi, straight, trans comedians who are black, white, Indian and Asian. On Tuesday June 25th at 8:30pm, join us as we welcome headliner Carey Callahan, host Adam Guerino and featuring Kellye Howard, Sapna Kumar, Joel Kim Booster and Michelle Rene Thompson. Portions of the proceeds from the show will go toward The Night Ministry’s The Crib, the only youth homeless shelter in Lakeview.

Twenty-six percent of LGBTQ youth were kicked out of their homes when they came out. Queer youth are seven times more likely to be victims of crime and three times more likely to engage in survival sex. There are 15,000 homeless youth in Chicago and up to 40% of them identify as queer.

The Crib, created by The Night Ministry, not only provides queer homeless youth with food and shelter throughout the night, but with a sense of community and confidence–empowering them as they search for housing and employment. It is the only shelter of its kind in the Midwest and the only resource for youth from Chicago and several surrounding states. If there are 15,000 homeless youth in Chicago and 40% of them identify as queer, that means 6,000 homeless youth no longer have a safe place in Chicago overnight. Where will these youth go?

Carey Callahan is a trans comic making his home in Berkeley via his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. He’s been catching audiences off-guard with a mix of bold authenticity, insightful observations, and aggressive goofiness since 2006. He’s performed at diverse locales such as Zanies, Chicago’s Mayne Stage, Chicago Underground Comedy, Chicago’s “Lincoln Lodge,” The Cleveland Comedy Festival, and the Ohio Lesbian Festival. You should download the podcast he hosts: “The Awkward Sex Show,” a bi-weekly storytelling competition that explores the exciting and uncomfortable details of Millenial sexuality. That’s available on Itunes and Stitcher, and also at www.awkwardsexshow.com.

Hosted by Adam Guerino. Guerino has opened for James Adomian, Beth Stelling, Cameron Esposito and Brad Loekle and has been credited as a “comedian-producer-genius” by Chicago Reader’s Culture Vulture section. He is the creator of OutLoud Chicago which has brought queer entertainment to the mainstream for almost 2 years. He writes the relationship blog Boyfriend Land and the storytelling blog Before The Story. He has been featured in comedy clubs all across the country and in Timeout Chicago’s Joke of The Week, The Redeye, Gaper’s Block, Huffington Post and Chicago Public Radio. For more info, www.adamguerino.com is a great place to start.

Joel Kim Booster is a comedy baby who was conceived in the back alleys of Boystown, Joel is relatively new to the comedy scene in Chicago. In his short time performing stand-up, he has performed at some of Chicago and New York’s best comedy shows including Zanies Chicago (where he won their Queer Comedy Contest), Entertaining Julia, The Blackout Diaries, Making Out With Wes Perry and Friends, Laughtrack at Sidetrack, Brasschuckles Comedy, The Sarcastic Squad and the Alligator Lounge showcase to name a few. Joel’s bits have also been seen all over the stage at Steppenwolf, Victory Gardens, various libraries and other weird and unusual places bits don’t normally show up. Currently, Joel is co-writing and guest-starring on the second season of the hit webseries Kam Kardashian (created by Chicago superhero Fawzia Mirza and acclaimed director Ryan Logan). The series premiered a first look of Season 2′s opener as a part of OUTlander at SXSW. Season two is slated to be released in March 25 2013.

Michelle Renee Thompson grew up in Columbus, Ohio, where she received a BFA in Theatre Performance from Otterbein University…you know, one of those degrees that guarantees a fast track to the big bucks!  Since moving to Chicago, she’s performed stand up comedy, improv comedy and has appeared in a few independent films and commercials. She has also performed with several different theatre companies, including: Chicago Actors Ensemble, Touchstone Theatre and The Bailiwick Repertory. She is a founding member of Corn Productions, where she has performed, directed, choreographed and written several plays. Michelle can currently be seen as David “Slide” Rothstein in Reality Recap Reunion at the Annoyance Theatre.

Sapna Kumar recently performed with Olivia Travel in the Dominican Republic. Other credits include the film Promise Land, which will be in the Sundance Film Festival, LOGO TV’s “One Night Stand-Up,” and NBC’s “Last Comic Standing 4.”

Kellye Howard is the girl next door that everyone loves to know. She’s FUNNY, energetic, VIBRANT, silly, TALKATIVE, intense, PEACEFUL, spontaneous, and CREATIVE! As a comic, she gives you more than just a show. Check out her site, www.kellyehoward.com

Presented by Outloud Chicago, OutLoud Chicago is a series created by Adam Guerino in July 2011 to bring queer entertainment to mainstream Chicago venues. Queer Comedy at Zanies showcases the best queer and straight comedians of the country who have appeared on Comedy Central, BET, TBS Just For Laughs, A Night At The Apollo and Last Comic Standing. Each show has continued to show that no matter if the comedians or audience members are queer or straight, laughter knows no sexuality.

Tuesday June 25th at 8:30pm, Zanies Comedy Club 1548 N Wells. Tickets are $10 in advance (call the club or visit the Zanies website) or $15 or at the door. Audience members must be ages 21 or over. Two item minimum. For questions, hi res images or a saved seat, email outloudchicago@gmail.com.