Trans Joy Jamboree: Mandy Goodhandy and Bren D'Souza bring the laughs, activism and sexiness

15 May 2025. by Drew Rowsome -Photos courtesy of the artists

The funny folx at Gay AF Comedy are kicking off the Pride season with a Trans Joy Jamboree as part of their Comedy on the D(anforth) series. Host and Gay AF Comedy mastermind Robert Watson (The Gay AF Comedy Tour, The 5th Annual Gay AF Christmas Spectacular, The 4th Annual Gay AF Christmas Spectacular, Gay AF at Just for Laughs, Pride 2022, Gay AF Christmas Spectacular 2021) has assembled a top tier roster of comedians: Bee Bertrand, Bren D'Souza (Laugh Riot) and Ada Nicolle with headliner Mandy Goodhandy (Just Call Me Lady: The Musical, Just Call Me Lady, Tranny). Goodhandy is familiar to, and beloved by, everyone in the queer community, so we couldn't wait to let her apply her wit to a few questions about comedy, queerness and sartorial choices. And to balance it out we managed to get answers to the same questions from Bren D'Souza because they are "brilliant, genius, revolutionary and sexy," which sounds just like Goodhandy (except that we'd have to add glamorous). The results below are brilliant, genius, revolutionary and sexy. And hilarious.

Drew Rowsome: A “Trans Joy Jamboree” sounds like a fabulous event. What are you going to wear?

Mandy Goodhandy: I will probably wear something age appropriate. So, whatever I want. As long as it doesn’t clash with the drapes. Their drapes, not mine.

Bren D'Souza: Oh god, imagine I planned that far ahead for anything. Classic Bren silhouette is a baggy pant and a cut off crop top, so almost assuredly something in that realm. Maybe a fun jacket?

The Epochal Imp is a very intimate space. What do you hope the audience wears? What would be your ideal dress code?

Mandy Goodhandy: Anything they want. As long as it does not clash with the drapes. My drapes, not theirs.

Bren D'Souza: I hope the audience wears whatever they want. I’m kind of opposed to dress codes as a concept on an ethical level, they are an oppressive tool of the elite used to exclude marginalized people and when I’m president I will be making them illegal. Wear what makes you happy or go to jail!

What is the funniest thing about the trans experience?

Mandy Goodhandy: The fact that conservatives think we do recruitment drives. It may not be funny. But it is laughable.

Bren D'Souza: I don’t know, probably the cat ears.

Will you be performing any special material for the event? Do you feel pressure to do “trans jokes?” 

Mandy Goodhandy: I have been doing trans and sexwork material for years. Pressure to do certain comedy material would take away from the natural flow of comedy. I will just have fun and hope the audience joins in on that fun.

Bren D'Souza: All my jokes are trans jokes by virtue of me being trans, and all my material is special on account of me being special, and all my comedy is brilliant, genius, revolutionary and sexy because I am all of the aforementioned, so yes, and no.

How does performing for a queer audience compare to performing for a straight audience?

Mandy Goodhandy: I like both crowds. With a straight crowd? I like to educate with humour. With a queer crowd? I like to show we can respectfully laugh at ourselves.

Bren D'Souza: Really depends. Queer audiences can be more inviting, and ‘safe’ but they can also be shy, and harder to sell trickier concepts to. Whereas straight audiences are easy because you’re not beholden to any standard of your community. I don’t really notice a difference anymore, every audience is a new relationship you have to build and maintain, navigating that is part of the fun.

What pronouns do you use? What is the correct way to ask that question? (asking for a friend).

Mandy Goodhandy: Tell your friend it’s totally fine to ask about pronoun choices, in my opinion. What are your friend’s pronouns? Asking for myself. Mine are: She/Her.

Bren D'Souza: They/Them. Is there a correct way to ask that question? Is there an incorrect way? Queer people aren’t a monolith, if someone is mad at you for asking how to best respect them, apologize and move on.

The show is a benefit for the 519. How are planning to shill?

Mandy Goodhandy: Mention the cause and hope for the best.

Bren D'Souza: For the duration of my set, I will be sending a hole pic to anyone who makes a donation. 

Do you have a story about the 519 to share?

Mandy Goodhandy: I do not have a particular story about the 519. But I appreciate they are helping queer folk find their way.

Bren D'Souza: Nothing that I can disclose to a publication that my mother might come across someday. 

What is your take on the current political situation just south of us and threatening to spill over?

Mandy Goodhandy: We have been here before. Difference is, this time they are focusing on the T. Create a boogyman and the simple minded will follow. The danger is? Now they have been given permission to hate out loud.

Bren D'Souza: I think everyone should just, like, be nicer.

What advice do you have to counter anti-trans propaganda and political rhetoric?

Mandy Goodhandy: Meet them where they live. Speak out in a welcoming way. They may not invite us to their table. When given the opportunity, perhaps we can invite them to our table? Open dialogue and education may be the key. When we see posts with fake information about trans folk, follow up with the facts.

Bren D'Souza: There is nothing any person can legislate into law, or preach in a church, or yell on a street corner that can dictate who you are or your right to exist. Get informed, get involved, get tested. 

What advice do you have to counter despair and anger over the current political situation?

Mandy Goodhandy: Stay informed and VOTE.

Bren D'Souza: Counter despair? Are people managing to do that? I’ve just been doing LSD and watching cartoons, and bullying politicians. It has not been helping.

How do you keep creating laughter in a nasty climate?

Mandy Goodhandy: Comedians have been doing this for generations. Help people laugh at themselves by pointing out how ridiculous the situation has become. No finger pointing and blaming. What I find works best is, “Look how silly WE are being." 

Bren D'Souza: Life is a nightmare, try to make it a nightmare for your least favourite billionaire while you’re at it.

Where do your roles as a comedian and as an activist intersect?

Mandy Goodhandy: Ninety percent of my material is activism. Masked in satire, sarcasm and a dash of self-deprecation. If I reach at least a handful, I have done my job.

Bren D'Souza: They’re the same thing. Queerness is political, there’s an inherent striving for a better world in creating queer art, be that raising awareness of queer issues, advocating for marginalized voices, or just normalizing the intersections and interactions of multifaceted identities living in and working for community. Using a platform like comedy to bring awareness to issues, to create spaces for difficult conversations, or just a breather from the horror of being alive, just happens naturally. For me at least, but as mentioned, I am preternaturally brilliant, genius, revolutionary and sexy.

Any quick opinions of the other comedians on the bill?

Mandy Goodhandy: I do not know much about them yet. But I am looking forward to watching their sets.

Bren D'Souza: Gowns, beautiful gowns.

On Robert Watson and the Gay AF Comedy juggernaut?

Mandy Goodhandy: Robert is not just a funny comic he is a successful comedy show producer. We need more like him. He flaunts his queerness like all accomplished artists flaunt their art: with unstoppable courage and totally unapologetic.

Bren D'Souza: Gowns, beautiful gowns.

What gigs do you have planned for Pride season and beyond?

Mandy Goodhandy: I will be appearing at a handful of music events this June for Toronto Pride and Q-Musicale. Visit my website for all appearances mandygoodhandy.com.

Bren D'Souza: I’m actually doing another fundraiser for Rainbow Railroad at Second City on the Sunday, June 22 that I’m pretty jazzed about. This year a really cool thing happened where all my Pride gigs are also low key fundraisers for various queer organizations. It’s nice to know that I can spend June being an absolute menace on stage, and still end the day being a good person.