— Hannah Gadsby, Nanette (2018)

“Do you remember that story about that young man who almost beat me up? It was a very funny story. It was very funny, I made a lot of people laugh about his ignorance, and the reason I could do that is because I’m very good at this job. I actually am pretty good at controlling the tension. And I know how to balance that to get the laugh at the right place. But in order to balance the tension in the room with that story, I couldn’t tell that story as it actually happened. Because I couldn’t tell the part of the story where the man realized his mistake. And he came back. And he said “Oh, no, I get it. You’re a lady faggot. I’m allowed to beat the shit out of you.” And he did! He beat the shit out of me and nobody stopped him. And I didn’t… report that to the police, and I did not take myself to the hospital, and I should have. And you know why I didn’t? It’s because I thought that was all I was worth.

And that is what happens when you soak one child in shame, and give permission to another to hate. And that was not homophobia pure and simple, people. That was gendered. If I’d been feminine, that would not have happened. I am incorrectly female. I am incorrect, and that is a punishable offense.

And this tension, it’s yours. I am not helping you anymore. You need to learn what this feels like because this… this tension is what non-normals carry inside of them all of the time because it is dangerous to be different.”

— Hannah Gadsby, Nanette (2018)