THEATER REVIEW : Kate Clinton’s Adult Ed Class on Gay Politics

Kate Clinton is the lesbian you want to take home to meet your parents. Or to tell your kids a good-night story. She’s so far out of the closet, so natural within her sexual identity, that a homophobe would beg her to spend the night. Outrageous, Clinton ain’t; gracious, yes. She’s maternal, astute and--above all--amusing.

Well, “amusing” is too conservative. Perhaps “hersterical” more accurately defines this self-proclaimed “fumorist” (as in feminist humorist). At Highways, Clinton’s comedy routine “Out Is In” is never too in. Gay community outsiders don’t miss her jokes. She works a room in such a way that her final comments about “we are family” embrace everyone, gay, straight and bi. It’s no accident that the show ends with an audience in tears of laughter and gratitude.

Nor is it an accident that her career star is rising with the first Democratic White House in 12 years. Is she President Clinton’s sister? No, but she could be a spokeswoman for the “Gaysinthemilitary” debate. (This Clinton pronounces it as one word.) She has been photographed wearing a shirt labeling her “Hilarity Clinton” and, yes, she could be the nation’s first lesbian lady.

Her simple, straight-forward delivery reminds us that her first work experience was teaching high school English. Indeed, Highways becomes an adult education class on gay and women’s politics. Teacher Clinton politely thanks everyone for “coming out,” then warmly instructs the audience in social and political lessons.

We learn that the “pink triangle” signs mean “slow moving gay people.”

We learn that a medical study claiming that homosexuality could be predicted by the hypothalamus left out data on women because “the researcher said he was unable to locate any lesbian brains.” (Quips Clinton: “I’ve been in that bar, too--in Long Beach.”)

We learn about dental dams and the eight people of color at the Republican Convention, as well as why the gay rights march on Washington needed better cheers. (One chant that just will not do: “We’re dykes! Don’t touch us! We’ll hurt you!”)

We discover the significance of history’s “bathroom moments”--the civil right’s era drinking fountains, the ERA’s shared bathroom argument, and now the boys-in-the-shower military debate.

We learn how the media’s current obsession with “lesbian chic” began with piglets, and why Clinton’s 5-year-old niece, after watching her aunt on “Nightline,” asked her mother: “Why do un-gay people not like Aunt Kate?”

At Highways, not liking Kate Clinton would be impossible--even for the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

* “Out Is In,” Highways, 1651 18th St., Santa Monica. Wednesday-Fridays, 8:30 p.m., Saturdays, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m., Sundays, 3 p.m. & 8:30 p.m. Ends Aug. 1. $14-$16. (213) 660-8587. Running time: 90 minutes.