GAY PEOPLE'S

Chronicle

LGBT Pride Guide 2000 ▼ Section C

Bern,

baby, bern

Quintessential queer hot mamma Sandra Bernhard speaks out

by Michelle Tomko

She's so quick, funny, raw and out there that Sandra Bernhard has become, among other things, the poster child for bisexual people, and now mothers. She is so good at what she does that it is easy to forget she is also smart, spiritual, solitary, and sexy.

That's why in a recent phone interview, the comedienne on the line did not, unlike other entertainers, quote jokes from her routine. The sultry redhead definitely has something to say on several topics. She talks about motherhood and family-she has a daughter, Cicely, who will be two next month– and spirituality and culture. Bernhard is an avid student of Cabala, a Jewish mysticism that defines humans' place in the uni-

verse.

Michelle Tomko: How's motherhood treating you?

Sandra Bernhard: It's great. It's one of the best things I ever did. You are approaching the “terrible twos" soon.

She exhibits some of that behavior. But it's part of a normal process. So you don't really get too bent out of shape about it.

Has motherhood changed your perspective on the world at all? No. My perspective has evolved over the years anyway in a broader, more spiritual, compassionate sense. But I'm still a pretty tough critic of culture and people's laziness and ability to accept whatever's put in front of them. So I think if anything I've gotten more diligent about critiquing things that I think need to be looked at and examined and changed.

What would you like our readers to know about the show you are bringing to Cleveland?

Well it's a combination of the show that I did off Broadway/on Broadway and a lot of improvisation. Even if they think they've seen it, they will probably experience something that will be a oneof-a-kind evening. It's really

Continued on page C-6