Cameron Esposito

In a world where ill-conceived wisecracks about sensitive topics often go unchecked, a wave of conscious joke writers and comics are exploring taboo subjects with greater care. In 2018, LGBTQ comedian Cameron Esposito rocked the entertainment world with her hourlong standup special “Rape Jokes,” an unblemished challenge to one of comedy’s most problematic areas. Calling on her own experience as a survivor of sexual assault, the performer artfully and sometimes painfully pulled the issue out of the shadows and onto the stage. Celebrate Pride Week with Esposito Thursday through Saturday, September 5 through 7, at the Vermont Comedy Club in Burlington.