Scott Kennedy

A Funny Man With A Heart Of Gold

SCOTT KENNEDY
(July 7, 1965 – March 14, 2013)

Once upon a time, I had a short but sweet online correspondence and friendship with comedian Scott Kennedy. I was a fan of the fellow gay Texan’s comedy.

I wrote him a fan email—back in my AOL heyday—and was shocked when I got a reply. Scott was a total sweetheart (and a total flirt). Though I only met him and saw him perform live once, I remember him fondly and hope more people will enjoy his brand of comedy with heart….

Scott Kennedy was a beacon of laughter and authenticity, a proudly gay comedian whose sharp wit and big heart took him from packed comedy clubs to war zones, where he performed for troops overseas. He had a rare gift for connecting with people—whether they were part of the LGBTQ community or serving on the front lines.

His sudden passing at just 47 left a deep void, but his legacy lives on: one of brave humor, fearless honesty, and genuine compassion. Kennedy was a true original who made people laugh when they needed it most.

FROM OPEN MIC TO LGBTQ TRAILBLAZER

Born July 7, 1965 in Albuquerque and raised in New Mexico and Texas, Scott found his calling at an open-mic in Lubbock in 1986—an entry that led him to Houston and Los Angeles comedy scenes.

In 1992, donning his iconic football jersey and ball cap, Scott came out publicly onstage in Houston. The powerful visual “straight guy” persona gave way to an unexpected reveal, upending stereotypes and opening hearts and minds.

Alongside partner Kevin Maye, he co‑founded Gay Comedy Jam in 1994, which toured 150+ cities across North America and was released as a comedy album.

LOVE, LOSS & LASTING LESSONS

Scott and Kevin were both life and creative partners until Kevin’s death in 1999.

Scott’s humor, rooted in love, took on deeper meaning after his loss. And garnered the love and respect of his comedy colleagues.

“He made people think, question their values, and change their opinions in only the way Scotty could.”
Al Bahmani

PATRIOT WITH PUNCHLINES

Kennedy’s sharp observational style earned him a Comedy Central special in 2004, appearances on Last Comic Standing, The Late Late Show, and Good Morning America.

After noticing the USO avoided too-dangerous zones, Scott launched Comics Ready to Entertain. In his tours across Iraq and Afghanistan, Scott Kennedy and friends, often performing five shows a day, brought smiles to service members when their morale was the lowest.

By 2010, Kennedy had visited Iraq around 40 times and Afghanistan 11 times. His efforts to entertain the troops garnered praise even from the likes of General David Petraeus, recognizing Scott as a “selfless, talented, tireless American” who uplifted spirits “on far-flung bases.”

THE COMEDY LEGACY OF SCOTT KENNEDY

Scott Kennedy used his blue-collar stage persona to subvert expectations and challenge stereotypes, telling personal stories that humanized gay identity.

Whether on Pride stages or military bases, Scott used humor as a balm—offering comfort, connection, and much-needed relief from the weight of the world. He forged connections across divides—teaching inclusion and kindness through laughter.

Scott Kennedy’s conviction—that laughter can heal, unite, and challenge—echoes in every show he gave and every life he touched. His authenticity, humor, love, and patriotism continue to resonate.

Though he passed away in 2013, Scott’s spirit lives on through recorded specials, troop testimonials, and LGBTQ history. Scott’s story isn’t just one of tragedy—it’s a manifesto of comedic bravery and heartfelt humanism.

Keep calm and laugh on!
Clint 🌈✌️

COLLIDE PRESS is a reader-supported publication.
Please consider becoming a paid subscriber or patron.

Big thanks to all who’ve subscribed and/or supported!

FYC = STORIES + SUBSTACKS

• One Week In... (Mr. Troy Ford)

• Palangeau Park: Episode 11 (Dan Pal)

• Talking To Strangers (Jamal Robinson)

• Gay Erotic Filmmaker & .Com Pioneer William Higgins (Demystifying Gay Porn)

• Canvas, Polaroid, Pixel: Hockney’s Triumphant Celebration of Gay Life (Rogue Art Historian)

---

ON THIS DAY = JUNE 9

BIRTHDAYS

• 1849 = Michael Ancher = Danish painter and academic

• 1890 = Leslie Banks = English actor, director, and producer

• 1891 = Cole Porter = American composer and songwriter 🌈

• 1910 = Robert Cummings = American actor, singer, and director

• 1915 = Les Paul = American guitarist and songwriter

• 1922 = George Axelrod = American filmmaker

• 1931 = Jackie Mason = American comedian, actor, and screenwriter

• 1943 = Charles Saatchi = Iraqi-English businessman and Saatchi & Saatchi co-founder

• 1951 = James Newton Howard = American composer, conductor, and producer

• 1952 = Bülent Ersoy = Turkish singer and actor 🌈

• 1961 = Michael J. Fox = Canadian-American actor, producer, and author

• 1963 = David Koepp = American filmmaker

• 1963 = Johnny Depp = American actor

• 1965 = Scott Kennedy = American comedian and activist 🌈

• 1981 = Natalie Portman = Israeli-American actor

• 1981 = Parinya Charoenphol = Thai boxer, model and actor 🌈

• 1988 = Mae Whitman = American actor

EVENTS

• 1924 = "Jelly-Roll Blues" is recorded by American jazz pioneer pianist and composer Jelly Roll Morton.

• 1934 = Donald Duck first appears in the cartoon The Wise Little Hen.

• 1954 = Joseph N. Welch, special counsel for the US Army, lashes out at Senator Joseph McCarthy during the Army–McCarthy hearings, giving McCarthy the famous rebuke, "You've done enough. Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?"

HOLIDAYS + OBSERVANCES

• National Donald Duck Day

• National Earl Day

• Pride Month (ongoing)

PORTRAIT + QUOTES OF THE DAY

“Birds do it, bees do it, even educated fleas do it; let's do it, let's fall in love.”
Cole Porter

“I'm a worthless check, a total wreck, a flop
But if baby I'm the bottom, you're the top.”
Cole Porter

MORE COLLIDE PRESS

• SHOP = Art Prints + Merch + Pride

• SUBSCRIBE = Substack + YouTube

• SUPPORT = Amazon + Ko-Fi