Lea DeLaria, born on May 23, 1958, in Belleville, Illinois, is an American comedian, singer, and songwriter known for her work in traditional and modern bebop jazz. She began her career with the comedy musical Dos Lesbos (1987-1989) and gained recognition through her show Girl Friday: We're Funny That Way, which won the Golden Gull Award for Best Comedy Group in 1989. DeLaria's first album, Play It Cool, a CD of jazz standards, was released in 2001. Her other albums include Double Standards (2003) and The Very Best of Lea DeLaria (2006). She has also been an advocate for LGBT rights, and in 1993 she became the first openly gay comedian to appear on American television, with an appearance on The Arsenio Hall Show in 1993.
