Margaret Cho
2014 Icon

Entertainer

b. December 5, 1968, San Francisco, California

“Try to love someone you want to hate, because they are just like you, somewhere inside, in a way you may never expect.”

Margaret Cho is a nationally known comedian. She was born to Korean immigrant parents in San Francisco, a place that she calls “different than any other place on Earth.” Despite this melting pot of ethnicities and sexualities, Cho faced discrimination because of her weight.

“Being bullied influenced my adult life because I grew up too fast,” Cho said. “I was in such a hurry to escape that I cheated myself out of a childhood.” Through this struggle, she found the emotional strength to advocate for those facing discrimination and ridicule.

At age 14, Cho channeled her experiences into stand-up comedy. In college she won a stand-up comedy contest. The first prize was opening for Jerry Seinfeld. Upon seeing her act, Seinfeld suggested that Cho quit college and pursue a career in comedy. Cho was among the first to bring LGBT rights out of the shadows and into the mainstream comedy circuit.

About her own sexuality Cho stated, “I refer to myself as gay, but I am married to a man. Of course, I’ve had relationships with women, but my politics are more queer than my lifestyle.” Cho’s uncensored stand-up routines often include queer politics. Her stance against bullying and discrimination earned her a GLAAD Golden Gate Award for enhancing the understanding, advocacy and visibility of the LGBT community.