LOL WITH IT: Todd Glass speaks about coming out of the closet

Two weeks ago, Todd Glass, Philly's most beloved comedy export since Bill Cosby, went on WTF with Marc Maron to tell the world he's gay. But not in those words, exactly.

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LOL WITH IT: Todd Glass speaks about coming out of the closet

POSTED: Friday, February 3, 2012, 2:14 PM

Filed Under: Comedy LOL With It

Every Friday, Ryan Carey covers the people and events that are giving Philly the giggles.

Two weeks ago, Todd Glass, Philly's most beloved comedy export since Bill Cosby, went on WTF with Marc Maron to tell the world he's gay. But not in those words, exactly. The 45-year-old comedian seemed to struggle with the "g" word, and I don't blame him. If there's one working sector that's particularly exposed to the filth of humanity's worst instincts, it's comedians. Still, Glass was sure-footed about why he wanted to come out: a two-fold purpose to be more honest with his friends who already "know," and to support young people who might be suffering in the closet.

"I watched those [Republican] debates and I was going out of my mind, because it seems like we're going backwards. We'll live to see the day when they're embarrassed about what they're saying. It's not going to happen in fifty years, it's going to happen in ten years. They're gonna have to show their grandchildren this footage and it's gonna be mortifying."

Glass has made the comparison before, regarding homophobia as a civil-rights issue. It's one of the many human-decency problems that he's passionate about. He's also known for being vocal against beating one's kids, as well as against rudeness to people in the service industry.

"Imagine if there was footage of you — not in 1950 but in 1989 — and somebody [asks], 'Do you think black people and white people should be able marry each other?' Wouldn't you be proud if your answer was, 'Yes!’ But people are afraid to [defend LGBTQ] with that anger."

For you die-hard comedy nerds, Glass's material isn't going to be changing, at least not anytime soon. I asked him if he expects to address his sexual orientation on stage, to which he replied, "Right now I'm not really ready. I'll stop saying “girlfriend,” and speak in more of a blanket statement, but I think it'll be a slow process."

In the meantime, you can expect Todd's regular mixture of socially conscious and ridiculously silly when he comes to Helium this March (I'd start getting tickets now, if you want them).

Wed.-Thu., March 21-22, 8 p.m., Fri.-Sat., March 23-24, 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m., $12-$33, Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St., 215-496-9001, heliumcomedy.com.

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Featuring everything from event roundups to concert reviews and sex talk, City Paper's Critical Mass is a space for off-the-wall coverage of Philly's A&E scene.

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