Trans Vietnamese Comic Nina Nguyen
In the world of stand-up comedy, voices that challenge the status quo and bring fresh perspectives are always welcome. This week on Stereotypes, we introduce you to one such voice—Nina Nguyen, a gay, transgender Vietnamese comedian who is making waves in the comedy scene.
Nina's journey into comedy began in an unexpected place—an open mic night at a bar in Houston, Texas. The comics were so bad that Nina thought, "If these motherfuckers can do it, so can I." And thus began her career in comedy.
Since her debut in 2011, Nina has moved to California, transitioned, and now puts her transness front and center in her stand-up routines. Her unique perspective as a transgender comedian allows her to tackle topics that many cisgender comics either shy away from or handle insensitively. Nina's comedy is not just about making people laugh; it's about representation and giving a voice to marginalized communities.
Despite the notoriously boys' club atmosphere of stand-up comedy, Nina has found more joy and success post-transition. "I'm not hiding this big, giant part of myself, and I'm not depressed. Coming from a place of joy reflects in my comedy. I'm truer to myself, so it's way better post-transition," she explained.
If you want to catch more of Nina Nguyen's comedy, you can follow her on Instagram at @ninanguyens. She's also opening for Margaret Cho this weekend in LA—a testament to her rising star in the comedy world.
Tune in to this week's episode to hear more about Nina's journey, her unique perspective, and her hilarious take on life as a transgender comedian. It's an episode filled with laughter, insights, and a whole lot of heart.
Recorded at the San Francisco Eagle during Safewords Comedy Showcase “Laughs In Trans Nation” on August 28, 2024.
Nina Nguyen & Christopher Beale
8/28/24 @ San Francisco Eagle
LINKS
Follow Nina on Instagram
Follow Christopher on Instagram
Stereotypes
Christopher J. Beale
Team Wonder Dave
TRANSCRIPT
Christopher Beale: Heads up. Right at the top here. This episode will contain adult language.
Welcome to stereotypes. Straight talk from queer voices. I'm Christopher Beale. This is the weekly podcast where I give you a glimpse into queer news, culture, and history.
I happen to be a big fan of stand up comedy, so each month, I like to visit this super queer event called Safe Words Comedy Showcase It happens at the San Francisco Eagle. It's one of my favorite bars on the patio. It's usually a really nice night and always a really good lineup. And last Wednesday, they happened to do a show with an all trans cast. And, like, the show kicked ass from top to bottom.
But I want to introduce you to the headliner.
Nina Nguyen (on stage): So I like to think I bring a unique, fresh perspective as a gay, transgender vietnamese woman stand up comedian in Los Angeles in her thirties, and her favorite band is Weezer, which is a marginalized community. Every time I tell people I like, they want to beat the shit out of me.
Christopher Beale: This time on stereotypes, stand up comedian Nina Nguyen.
Nina Nguyen was born in New Jersey and later moved to Houston, Texas, and that's where she started her stand up career.
Nina Nguyen (interview): In 2011, we went to this open mic called Sherlocks, and we just went to this bar just. Cause that's the bar we went to. And then we stumbled into to open mic, and the comics were so bad that it just seemed very accessible. And I was like, these motherfuckers can do it! They were so bad. It was inspiring, and I was just like, oh, you can just go. Anyone can go up. And so that's how I started.
Christopher Beale: Since her debut over a decade ago, Nina has moved to California, transitioned, and these days, she puts her transness front and center in her standup.
Nina Nguyen (on stage): Okay, so my dad really wanted sons, and I have two older sisters. I'm, the youngest. So when I was born, he was, like, happy that he got his wish, but, like, yeah, all is correct. I think, he must have wished with, like, a monkey's paw or something. Cause he got scammed. We know how that ended up. And he. Because, like, he was, like, in hard denial. I'm trying to, like, explain it. He was like, he denied it my entire. I was mulan for three halloweens in a row. He was like, this is fine. Let's just ignore this. And I knew I was. I knew I was trans from, like, as early as I can remember, like, three, four years old. I just didn't think, like, transitioning was, like, this realistic option that we were allowed to do, and so I didn't. And I was closeted for a long time, and I. So I was secretly a girl, pretending to be a boy in order to defeat the huns. my dad wrote and performed that song. Did they send me daughters when I asked for sons? Is the lyrics that's way too on the nose for a trans kid. That's crazy. I want to recite the lyrics to you right now for, a reflection with beautiful song that mulan sings in the movie. But the lyrics fucked me up as a kid. All right, so here's the lyrics. an asian Disney person singing this to a little asian trans girl. Look at me. I will never pass for a perfect bride or a perfect daughter. Can it be? I'm not meant to play this part? Now I see that if I were truly to be myself, I would break my family's heart. And, like, that was my favorite movie. And I would, like, be crying in my room. and then my dad would just be, like, joyfully singing in the shower. I'll make a man outta you.
Christopher Beale: Talk about the importance of representing your transness in your comedy.
Nina Nguyen (interview): It was just born out of seeing cis comics do so many trans jokes, and I just got sick of it. And I was like, I need to. Be doing the trans jokes, not like non trans people.
Nina Nguyen (on stage): I used to work at an Amazon warehouse, specifically for their transgender healthcare benefits. Very good. Transgender healthcare. And then after I got all my gender affirming surgeries, literally the next day, I quit because, fuck you, Amazon. okay. I just think it's really cool that you can get your pussy off of Amazon. Thank you, daddy Bezos. Customers who bought a vagina also bought a hitachi wand. I'm like, that's a cart. If you bundle your purchases, you save money. And now I have five vaginas. So if anyone needs some merch after this show, I'm slangin pussies. Promo code, Amazon box. And I. You know, I would have done anything for surgery. I would have given. I would have given my left nut to get rid of my right nut also. And I was declared the winner of last year's no nut November. I did it. If you're waiting for me to change topics, I'm not going to. I told you. This is all I talk about.
Christopher Beale: Nina has been a stand up comedian since before her transition, and despite comedy being a notorious boys club atmosphere, she says she's actually enjoying it more now post-transition.
Nina Nguyen (interview): Transition has been way better for me. You know, I'm not hiding this big, giant part of myself, and I'm not depressed. You know. and it's just, you know, coming it from a place of joy is, it reflects, I think, my comedy's better. I'm truer to myself, so it's way better post transition.
Nina Nguyen (on stage): okay, so back when I legally updated my name and gender on my car insurance, it immediately went up in price and I had to look into it. And apparently women my age often pay more for their car insurance, which is, like, super fucked up and not very progressive. Progressive. And this next part of the joke sounds like I'm making it up for comedy, but I swear to God this is true. About two weeks after I legally updated my gender, I might have crashed into my neighbor's car. I'm so sorry. To both Asians and women. That's not fair. I was driving like I normally do, just doing my nails and eating fried rice.
Christopher Beale: If you want to catch up with Nina Nguyen, you can do that on Instagram @NinaNguyens, and she's opening for Margaret Cho this weekend in LA. That is not small. Congratulations and thanks for making time to be on the podcast.
Special thanks to my friends at Team Wonder Dave and Safewords Comedy Showcase Do me a favor.
Like, rate and review this show on your favorite podcast platform. It'll help more people find straight talk from queer voices. I'm Christopher Beale You can find me at christopherjbeale.com and I'll catch you next time with another all new stereotypes, straight talk from queer voices. Bye for now.
