Communication alumnus Pasha Zalutski gaining attention as Russia’s first openly gay comedian

UMSL Daily

Pasha Zalutski, a native of Belarus and 2003 UMSL graduate, performs earlier this year at the Kiev Independent Standup Festival. He was chosen “Best Male Comedian.” (Images courtesy of Pasha Zalutski)
Pasha Zalutski walked determinedly onto the stage and shook hands with host Andrew Beburishvili as the spotlights flashed in all directions in the background.
Then he turned to the audience and the judges, pulled the microphone from its stand and launched into his set.
Zalutski, a 35-year-old native of Belarus who graduated from the University of Missouri–St. Louis in 2003 with a degree in communication, was debuting on the Russian television show “Otkryti Mikrofon,” which translates to “Open Mic” and has similarities to the former NBC show “Last Comic Standing.”
His first bit was about the importance of how people carry themselves, and he began with an observation that, because he looks nervous about getting his bag checked by security while riding the subway, he’s the one who always gets stopped.
“There’s a different way,” he told the crowd in Russian.
Then he deepened his voice and continued toward the punch line: “I should be like, ‘Sir, sir, you! The one in the uniform. You, you, you. I’m talking to you! Get over here right now and get to work! Don’t forget to pat me down. I ain’t paying taxes for nothing.’”
Zalutski paused briefly to soak in the laughter of the audience. He had their attention.
He was about to leave them in disbelief.
“See?” Zalutski said. “You gotta carry yourself right. Especially when you’re gay. Which I am.”
There was momentary silence, and the camera panned to judge Yuliya Akhmedova, whose jaw had dropped. She let out a low groan and began clapping her hands together slowly.
“But it’s not important. It’s not important,” said Zalutski, breaking the tension. “Let’ ...

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