Comedian Julie Goldman gave students and community members their weekly dose of expletives, sexuality and bathroom humor in Stackhouse Theater on Oct 8.

Goldman is Jewish and a lesbian, a background she utilizes for her comedy. She’s a series regular on Bravo’s show, The People’s Couch. She was the star of Logo’s Big Gay Sketch Show and is the former comedy writer for E!’s Fashion Police.

Director of Hillel Megan McLean and LGBTQ Coordinator Rallie Snowden worked together to bring Goldman to campus for the event, which was free in honor of Pride Week.

“We see Hillel and the Resource Center as natural allies,” McLean said. “[Both are] organizations that are at the forefront of the effort to encourage diversity on this campus while creating safe spaces where students can be their whole selves.”

Goldman used the forum of a packed Stackhouse Theater to mesh straightforward talk about her body and sexuality with issues like dealing with Jewish family members as a lesbian woman.

“I told [my mom], ‘I’m not a man. I like being a woman—I’m into it.’” Goldman said. “So she said to me, ‘Well then why are you wearing men’s clothes?’ I said, ‘When I wear them they’re women’s clothes.’”

During the show, Goldman also commented on her thoughts about Pride Week, saying she thinks it’s important to recognize differences, whether they’re in the form of gender, race or really whatever it is that makes a person feel special.

“I love that pride week is for everybody to be whatever they want,” Goldman said. “I like difference—I don’t want to pretend there’s no difference. I like gender; I like race; I like those things—it makes you special. I want to see it in you. Then I want to talk about it and make fun of you.”

“It was the kind of event that you don’t expect to happen in Lexington or at Washington and Lee,” McLean said. “I think the success of [the] program shows that there is an interest, even a need, for voices like Julie’s to be heard.”

Pride shirts from the LGBTQ center and “Hot as Hillel” cups from W&L Hillel were given out to students at the event. Hillel depends almost entirely on donations for programming and operating costs.

“Because of our fundraising efforts, both the Resource Center and W&L Hillel are able to provide a wide-range of services throughout the year at no cost to students,” McLean said.

Goldman’s college tour is sponsored by Hillel International, Keshet and OUTmedia. Donations can be made to the LGBTQ Resource Center or W&L Hillel to bring more programs like this to campus in the future.