Judy Gold jokes about her life as a gay, Jewish mother
by Maggie Hames Indiana Daily Student
Offensive does not even begin to describe Judy Gold’s humor.
Between cracks about everyone from her kids to homosexuals to Jews, it was impossible for any particular group to feel singled-out during her show Monday night in Whittenberger Auditorium.
"If you’re already offended, you better leave now," Gold said.
Having an open mind was important during her performance, especially when free red T-shirts sporting the words "Gay? OK with me!" were handed out as souvenirs.
"Prejudice is such a learned behavior," Gold said. "It’s amazing the things you can teach your kids."
Within the first 30 seconds, Gold had already insulted five different minority groups, yet the crowd was rolling with laughter.
"I wasn’t offended at all. I actually thought it was great. I was glad it was recommended to me," sophomore Stephen Hiller said.
Being a gay Jew, Gold has insight into plenty of awkward situations. "It’s always the ’lezzies’ that don’t have a sense of humor," Gold said. "It’s kind of like the way they always wear a fanny pack."
Gold was open about her religion and her gay relationships. She allowed everyone to see how homosexual relationships can be just like straight relationships, including one she had.
"We were together for over 19 years, which doesn’t even constitute a marriage," Gold said. "We went to couples therapy, which was basically her crying for an hour and me apologizing. Our big problem was that I called her too much. I didn’t respect her work."
And other times they can be very different.
Gold said she was the guy because she gave birth vaginally to one of their children while her partner had a C-section.
Coming from a Jewish mother, Gold knows all about the issues that can occur when a person decides to come out to his or her parents.
"When my mom tells people about my kids, she says, ’Judith’s roommate had a baby, and then Judith adopted it.’" Gold said. "Yeah, I was like, ’We were splitting the rent, and then I just decided to pay for half of the kid as well.’"
Although several audience answers were shot down with Gold’s sarcastic "ew," the audience was a part of the show.
The free laughs were sponsored by the Union Board and the Hillel Center. Junior Rebecca Waxman, a member of the Helene G. Simon Hillel Center’s student leadership cabinet, proposed the idea to bring Gold to IU.
"There are always so many events going on at IU, and I never go," junior Lexi Siamas said before the show. "I decided that I should check this one out because it was my last chance before break, and I’m glad I did."
After the show, Siamas said she thought Gold was hilarious and the show made her want to see more comedians.
Other sponsors included the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Student Support Services Office, Hoosier Rights Campaign, OUT, Borns Jewish Studies Program, the Panhellenic Association and the Interfraternity Council.
"It’s not every day that a show comes to IU that can unite Jewish, GLBT and even greek communities through such diverse sponsoring organizations," Waxman said, "She was fantastic, and I am so glad we had her here. Everything she said was so true."
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