Jade Esteban Estrada says he doesn't quite fit in here in Nebraska.

The gay Latino comic, singer and dancer knows he's in the minority in the state, and he's aware that Nebraskans overwhelmingly approved a gay marriage ban.

     But that makes Estrada, a 31-year-old San Antonio native of Mexican descent, want to come to Omaha even more because he's addicted to making people laugh, and those who are oppressed the most, he says, tend to laugh the loudest.

     "My message, whether it's to Latinos or the gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered community, is to remind them that they are equal," Estrada said by phone from Tallahassee, Florida.

     That's a pretty serious statement from a man who's been lauded from coast to coast for his humor.

     Estrada promises that his message won't overpower his jokes when he headlines "Seriously Funny," a comedy show and silent auction taking place at the Old Market Events Center on Saturday. It's a fundraiser for Citizens for Equal Protection, which is sponsoring the event.

     Estrada has been a choreographer for singer and comedian Charo. He was a scratch vocalist for the Backstreet Boys. He appeared on Comedy Central's "The Graham Norton Effect" and PBS's "In the Life TV." He dabbled in Broadway acting and headlined a solo show portraying personalities from gay history.

     Now Estrada is focusing on what he loves the most: stand-up comedy.

     "Throughout my career, I always had a thirst for making people laugh," he said. "I never minded filling my cheeks with grapes to make everybody laugh."

     When his director said it wasn't a funny scene, he kept trying to get laughs. When his choreographer said his comical moves weren't beautiful, he kept trying to get laughs.

     Now, when he thinks the United States is less than friendly to Latino immigrants and members of the gay community, he's still trying to get laughs.

     Material isn't hard to find.

     "With all this prejudice and ridiculous scandals, there's so much out there," he said. "It is sad in some ways, but it still is humor. The only thing that can lift us out of this state is to laugh and relax."

©2006 Omaha World-Herald