Kia Barnes

Kia Barnes has transitioned from a teacher and researcher to a celebrated stand-up comedienne, event producer, and advocate for LGBTQ equality and diversity, leveraging her platforms to promote inclusivity and create safe spaces. After chairing Atlanta Public School’s LGBTQ Taskforce’s Curriculum and Policy Board, Kia Barnes transitioned from a dedicated educator to a celebrated stand-up comedienne, event producer, and influential advocate for LGBTQ equality and diversity. Demonstrating a consistent commitment to institutional advocacy, she currently serves on the Fulton County District Attorney’s LGBTQ Inclusion Board and previously served on the city of Atlanta’s first LGBTQ Advisory Board under Mayor Keisha Bottoms. In 2014, Barnes strategically shifted her focus, leaving her teaching career to pursue stand-up comedy and event production, immediately launching Queer Comedy Jam, her first professional project, which brought LGBTQ comedians to Atlanta to film comedy specials.

Her extensive partnerships include the OUT GA Business Alliance, the Human Rights Campaign, Georgia Equality, Atlanta Pride, Pridelines Miami, Clexacon Las Vegas, Women of Color Weekend, and SisterSpace. These collaborations underscore her unwavering dedication to community building and support, leveraging her platforms to promote inclusivity and drive meaningful change within the LGBTQ community. Building on her successful touring productions, Barnes spearheaded the highly anticipated revival of the Andro Fashion Show in 2023. This iteration was meticulously planned to be significantly larger than previous productions, showcasing androgynous LGBTQIA models, musicians, and dancers sourced from across the country.

As a multifaceted talent, Kia Barnes continues to leverage her influence as a stand-up comedienne, event producer, and social media personality to champion equality and create vibrant, inclusive spaces within the entertainment industry and wider community.