Pat Harrison (born 1935) and

Robin Tyler Robin Tyler (born Arlene Chernick, April 8, 1942) is the first lesbian or gay comic to come out on national television, a feminist and pioneer in the grassroots struggle for LGBTQ civil rights and marriage equality in the U.S., and a producer. S ...

(born April 8, 1942) were a feminist

comedy duo A double act (also known as a comedy duo) is a form of comedy originating in the British music hall tradition, and American vaudeville, in which two comedians perform together as a single act. Pairings are typically long-term, in some cases fo ...

, noted as the first lesbian, feminist comedy act. They came together during the 1970s, performing in small venues like colleges and using comedy as a tool to make fun of a system that oppresses lesbians, women, and members of the LGBT community. In 1970–1971 the comedy duo performed at Boston College where they met

Maxine Feldman Maxine "Max" Adele Feldman (December 26, 1945 – August 17, 2007) was an American folk singer-songwriter, comedian and pioneer of women's music. Feldman's song "Angry Atthis," first performed in May 1969 and first recorded in 1972, is considere ...

. Feldman joined Harrison and Tyler on their national tour, performing at colleges across the country and at a women's penitentiary, the California Institute for Women. Harrison and Tyler continued to tour college campuses throughout the U.S. for several years, bringing their particular brand of pointed, insightful, and decidedly gay, humor to students, while actively pushing for equal rights for women and LGBTQ people. In October of 1975 the comedy team was met with protestors when they performed at one of

California State University, Long Beach California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) is a public research university in Long Beach, California. The 322-acre campus is the second largest of the 23-school California State University system (CSU) and one of the largest universities i ...

's first Gay Pride celebrations. Tyler, in her persona as "Reverend Ripoff," delivered a scathing critique of rape culture, which was met by picketers carrying signs like, "Don't be a freak--be a normal Christian." This was the first national college tour of a lesbian comedy team. They soon moved to even bigger opportunities with the

American Broadcasting Company The American Broadcasting Company (ABC) is an American commercial broadcast television network. It is the flagship property of the ABC Entertainment Group division of The Walt Disney Company. The network is headquartered in Burbank, Cali ...

signing Harrison and Tyler to create a variety show. Unfortunately, they did not get picked up. The duo then began to make appearances on the Krofft Comedy Hour and at many feminist and gay rights demonstrations. During one demonstration, they asked for more athletic scholarships for women after running onto the field at a Raiders versus Rams football game. In 1972, Harrison and Tyler produced

’s “Angry Atthis” and began to produce their own comedy albums, ''Try It, You'll Like It'' (1972) and ''Wonder Women'' (1973). Tyler and Harrison broke up as a comedy act, though not as a couple, in 1978.

went on to become the first out lesbian comic and a prominent leader in the movement for marriage equality and LGBTQIA+ rights.

Works

* ''Try It, You'll Like It'' (1972) * ''Wonder Women'' (1973).

References

American comedy duos American stand-up comedians American feminists Feminist comedians Lesbian feminists Lesbian comedians Living people 1935 births 1942 births Place of birth missing (living people) {{US-comedian-stub