But whose standards of beauty are we required to adhere to? They are the author of Femme in Public (2017), Beyond the Gender Binary (2020), and Your Wound/My Garden (2021). they tell us that someone jumped in front of the tracksthat he died upon impactso we just sit there in silence as they remove his remains. Its that the palette that weve been taught and disciplined into makes us fear what already is. And then people began to tell me that the way that I moved my body was wrong, because it was feminine. And I remember speaking it and being like, whoa, this is what I, not just what I want to do for the rest of my life, but this is what I am. Because there are things more important to me than that. Because thats the substance of life itself. And what does it mean to move from there? I see interconnectivity with nature, the earth, humanity, and a deep practice of humility. And so you default back into your self-sabotaging coping strategies, and then two months later, something falls apart and youre like, oh, Ive been meaning to address this and I never did. Whether ALOK is selling out an international performance tour, publishing essays and books advo-cating for LGBTQ equality or speaking at some of the most prestigious universities outlining a 21st century approach to gender rights their distinctive mix of charisma, poetry, and intellect has made them one of the most dynamic artists of our times. But what I like about a wedding dance party is everyone is just being gnarly and foolish and playful. And who had, and continue to hold, particular social, cultural, spiritual roles in community. Im going to act like a fool because it makes me feel good. comedian. And what I gained was my life back. Before making any financial decisions, you should consult with professional adviser, such as a financial planner or CPA. Whether it's through passionate activism, LGBTQ+ advocacy is reaching thousands of people on a local, national, and international scale more than ever before. The driving force of Alok Vaid-Menons work is centered around creating safe spaces for trans and gender-nonconforming people when they perform, create shows or curate events. This podcast is supported by Barbara Bowman, the Ellen Bayard Weedon Foundation, the Prospect Hill Foundation, Bob and Lois Baylis and public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. in america!(i understand), the ways we have been taughtto apologize for our sadness.to blame ourselves for the hurt.to erase the violence.to numb the pain.to normalize the death.to wake up in the morning anddeny that sometimes when thetrain crawls into the station thatwe may see a pill in its place. This false choice of boy or girl, man or woman, male or female is not natural - it is political. And I really want to say that art was that for me. ", "I dont need your help. as if this struggle is not your struggle. Because the thing is, you have revelations about yourself, but youre not ready yet to live those revelations. Be the first to learn about new releases! Start by following Alok Vaid-Menon. Its not just that you internalize the shame; rather, it becomes you. You no longer need the people at school telling you not to dress like that; you already do it to yourself. I am sorry that the only way we have been taught to heal is to hurt. We silenced our own differences, subdued our creativity, and toned down our own gender non-conformity in order to fit in. WebFuneral by Alok Vaid-Menon. Leaving us a review is one of the best ways to help this podcast reach more listeners like you. When he overcame these forces, the Buddha was able to achieve enlightenment. I feel like every day is an artistic and spiritual endeavor to be what is. Fill out a, Booking fees for Alok Vaid-Menon, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. We prove that we are real by telling them that they are not. The feeling I get in me is that we have been so structured by the logics of cinema that have made us feel like there has to be this kind of transcendental moment of realization. All American Speakers is a "buyers agent" and exclusively represents talent buyers, meeting planners and event professionals, who are looking to secure celebrities and speakers for personal appearances, speaking engagements, corporate entertainment, public relations campaigns, commercials, or endorsements. And if youre enjoying this podcast, leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Is this my own gender? say: these past thirty minutes were the first time i have been forced to publicly grieve death in a long timeand there is somethingbeautiful about that say: what if we stopped moving more often, took a second to absorb the pain,let it fill us a little less empty. . . Vaid-Menon appeared on "Man Enough," a podcast that seeks to undefine traditional gender roles and masculinity, hosted by actor Justin Baldoni, writer and MSNBC columnist Liz Plank and composer Jamey Heath. If youre hungry to continue the conversation, join us on Instagram at @rubinmuseum. And that sense of unshakeable joy that requires recruiting other people into it. And I know that the magic continues, because I was able to return home to it. Copyright 2023 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. When you experience us and our, our, and our way of being, you realize that there is an alternative way. They've repressed their own creativity.". But color was one of the first realms of resistance I had. Toward the start of the conversation, Heath told Vaid-Menon that when he listens to them speak, he asks himself, "Why do I not fight for them?". "I'm nonbinary, which means it's not just that I'm challenging the binary between male, female, man and woman, but between us and them," Vaid-Menon, author of " The team at All American Entertainment represents and listens to the needs of organizations and corporations seeking to hire keynote speakers, celebrities or entertainers for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment. Fill out the booking request form or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Alok Vaid-Menon for your next private or corporate function. Is this me? When I play music, its not just that Im playing music, its that Im setting the scene to be alive. When I see things that I love, when I learn new things, when I read new books, when I encounter new ideas, I want to share it with everyone in the world. I guess the academic in me would say, I felt like I was no longer a subject. What I recollect is a feeling of unbridled joy, a feeling of wonder, of the enormity and potentiality of my body and this universe and art. Look around: there are no princesses. Nonbinary activist Alok Vaid-Menon broke down the history of and problems with the gender binary and how people can fight against it in video that has gone viral on social media. Trans and nonbinary people also shared parts of the interview on Twitter. So my organic predisposition was actually one of radical self-acceptance. We punish them until they conform. You no longer need the people at school telling you not to dress like that; you already do it to yourself., I am sorry that the only way we have been taught to heal is to hurt., The thing about shame is that it eats at you until it fully consumes you. To live in America is to already attend a funeral with complete strangers.. Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Alok Vaid-Menon and other top speakers and celebrities. I think that when it comes to trans people, the narrative right now is so obsessed with us and a collateral damage of existing and having in the world as a trans person, like, woe are them. Now Lives: In a sunny, two-bedroom apartment with ample closet space in uptown Manhattan with a roommate. This site uses cookies. Like I was interconnected with everything: the air, the people around me, the music. At her funeral I had to dress as the man she wanted me to be. I think for me it also takes the form of style. How do I express it? "They've repressed their own femininity. Gauge interest and check availability for speaking engagements, appearances or corporate events, Provide you with the speaking fee to book Alok Vaid-Menon or other celebrity appearance fees, Give you personal recommendations for the best keynote speakers or celebrities, Assist you with any questions you have throughout the talent booking process, First Transgender Man to Make Team USA, Transgender Advocate, Triathlete & All-American Duathlete, Founder of TransTech Social Enterprises & Actress in the FX Drama "Pose", Attorney, Author & LGBTQ Rights Activist; Motivational Disability Speaker; Founder of the Trans People of Color Coalition, CNN & ESPN Columnist; Celebrated Voice on Sports, Race & Gay Rights, Openly Gay Actor Known for My So Called Life, Thirteen Reasons Why & Star Trek: Discovery, Executive Director of "Equality for HER", Activist & Mental Health Advocate, Transgender & Gender-Nonconforming Activist; Executive Editor of "Out" & Former National Organizer for Transgender Law Center, Transgender Activist; National Face of Transgender Student Rights, Peloton Instructor & Makeup Artist; Founder of SPEAK Instagram Live Series, Tony Award-Winning Actor; Best Known NBC's "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" & "Mr. This writer and performance artist is fighting for a world where all people are able to self-determine their gender. And thats, I think, where the spirituality comes in. And sometimes you wonder if you caused the fire. All American Entertainment has successfully secured celebrity talent like Alok Vaid-Menon for clients worldwide for more than 20 years. Premium Powerups . And so the connotations that we inherit of color are that color is something that should be feared or something that should be relegated to the special event. Alok Vaid-Menon and the Art of Standing Out. Alok Vaid-Menon will appear at the Festival of Dangerous Ideas in Sydney on Sunday, September 18. And I am your host, Laurie Anderson. Do you know who you are outside of who you have been told you should be? Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Did anyone teach you about the question words? And so then color became associated with anti-reason, emotion, unrestraint, unbridled ways of being. In this episode, we examine our divine nature and consider who we truly can be in the absence of judgment. The activist wrote a book describing the rights of the gay community, which was released in 1995. To which I would ask, why wouldnt you do this? I feel beauty right now in being a disembodied voice. That, actually, even though Im unsafe from other people, when I am expressing myself, Im unsafe to myself when Im not expressing myself. When Alok Vaid Menon performed this spoken word poem live at #Spoken2019, they left the crowd What kind of person do I want to be? Josefina Santos for The New York Times By Julia Carmel Dec. 4, But, in my experience, a commitment to honest self-actualization yields unparalleled peace and conviction. Special thanks to Alok Vaid-Menon for sharing their experience with us. "And in your statement, you said, 'Why don't I help them?' To live in America is to already attend a funeral Awaken is produced by the Rubin Museum of Art in collaboration with Sound Made Public. They are the creator of #DeGenderFashion: a movement to degender fashion and beauty industries. An insistence on radiant beauty, despite all of the vapidity and the vehement violence. Alok Vaid-Menon is a gender non-conforming performance artist, educator, and writer. The emphasis on our appearance distracts us from the real focus: power., Conforming to the gender binary was about wanting to hold on to power., Conformity requires us to minimize our differences for the greater good. That idea of the only witness necessary being the earth I think is really powerful to me, because I think that so much of what the dilemma of humanity is that were constantly trying to prove what already is. Diversity and inclusivity are not just industry buzzwords. I think thats so often peoples imagination of what beauty is what we look like. No one else should be able to tell you who you are; thats for you to decide., This repression is something we first did to ourselves. It depends on each persons experience. I now know that there are as many ways to be beautiful as there are people. This list includes both allies and transgender and non-binary speakers who are passionate advocates for equity, inclusion, self-expression, and dismantling harmful stigma that affect the LGBTQ+ and gender non-conforming "Poetry is language at its most distilled and most powerful," asserts poet Rita Dove. I dont know if Ill ever be able to account for the grief of it, but I think that what I can do and what I hope to do is to believe that healing is possible. To have a relationship with our body thats our own body? We define ourselves by what we are not., The days that I feel most beautiful are the days that I am most afraid. Basically, there was a space heater that I didnt turn off, that my mattress got embroiled with. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent. Take a look at Button's Privacy Policy. Their work as a leading figure in the movement for gender fluidity takes them from starring in HBOs "The Trans List" (2016) and "Random Acts of Flyness" (2018), to designing three gender-neutral fashion collec-tions, to modeling for New York Fashion Week and Vogue editorials, and to gracing the stages of venues such as Beautycon, the New York Times Global Assembly, and SXSW to speak about overcoming marginalization and self-acceptance. Our agents find the right fit for your event, Full access to all speakers & celebrities, Your personal Logistics Manager who takes care of all event details. And what a delight and what a joy it is to be foolish together. I was dematerialized and less concerned with form than I was with flow. Why wouldnt you live in the pulse of the universe? Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. And its just a model for me of what I want the world to bethat. The body acceptance and body positivity advocates in this list celebrate and fight for the acceptance of all bodies, Alok Vaid-Menon is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Keynotes, Endowed Lectures & Commencement Addresses, Beyond the Gender Binary and Femme in Public. Valheim Genshin Impact Minecraft Pokimane Halo Infinite Call Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Claim to Fame: Mx. I just was. We use these artworks as a jumping off point to better understand the paths our guests have been on and where they are going. And then everyone loves it and theyre clapping. Theres this term thats circulating called chromophobia, fear of color. Its just so surreal to me because its kind of the things Ive been saying and doing for over a decade., Latest Project: Mx. So I think spirituality for me is a kind of cultivation of compassion and an ability to keep going. Although I am constantly harassed for it, I am able to keep going because I know who I am. But before we begin, Alok first shares their thoughts of a sculpture titled The Buddha Triumphing Over Mara. In this 10-part series, we explore the dynamic path to enlightenment and what it means to wake up. He asked what he needs to "unlearn" and what he needs to do to help other men unlearn, in order to better support them, referring to trans and nonbinary people like Vaid-Menon. In 2019 ALOK was invited to close the Business of Fashion Voices Conference with a keynote speech calling for the degendering of fashion and beauty industries. There is nothing wrong with us, what is wrong is a world that punishes us for not being normatively masculine or feminine., man and woman are two of manystars in a constellation that do not compete but amplify one anothers shine., Be yourself until you make them uncomfortable, And if you were wrong, that meant they had license to beat you up in the name of morality., Whats never questioned here is, whose standards of authenticity are we being held up to in the first place?, And we tell the kids who dont fit into our categories that they are wrong. Was not just self-actualization but a self. Acclaimed gender non-conforming writer, performer, and speaker, ALOK, shares their story, and the stories of those who came before them, with an urgency that invites us to step into our power and the power of interdependence. If youre hungry to continue the conversation, join us on Instagram at @RubinMuseum. And you see someone who you never thought dance, could dancean 85-year-old, just with this kind of unbridled sense of possibility in every step and gesture. In the early 20th century, when women were advocating for the right to vote, men created postcards that showed women dressed up as men and men dressed up as women, Vaid-Menon said. Like, Ive experienced this goodness, this rightness, this alignment, this beauty, why would I not want other people to be part of it? ", They said though trans and nonbinary people face violence and death for challenging traditional gender norms, they don't want people to fight for their rights "because you want to protect me or you want to help me.". "People dont know how to receive that love," they said. And thats what were seeing, unfortunately, in 2021. Is this my own life? Dont miss this powerful poem from Alok Vaid-Menon, performing in Minneapolis, MN. #degenderfashion love & need you contact@alokvmenon.com By encouraging and broadcasting the best and brightest performance poets of today, we hope to broaden poetry's audience, to expand its reach and develop a greater level of cultural appreciation for the art form.Help us caption \u0026 translate this video!https://amara.org/v/CYwp1/ In her eyes my journey was about hurting her, not about healing myself. i want to text the boy above ground waiting for me, ask:have you ever been to a funeral with complete strangers?but instead i look at the woman next to me, the onewho told a dead man to die more considerately andi remember that to live in america is to attenda funeral with complete strangers: how many ghosts does it take for a cemetery to call itself a country? And in so many ways, the enduring forms of harassment that I experience are the universe asking me this question over and over again. 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