Atlanta-based company Mailchimp calls Aloks talk required viewing for the world and Cornell University uplifts Aloks presentation as truly life-saving work.. And if youre enjoying this podcast, leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts. As a mixed-media artist ALOK uses poetry, comedy, lecture, performance, fashion design, and visual art to explore themes of gender, race, trauma, belonging, and the human condition. So it means that Im kind of ambivalent about form and Im more invested in flow. Mx. AAE Named to Inc. Best Workplaces in 2022. The poem is no longer just a thing that Im writing, but actually the way that Im living, how I walk down the street, what I see, what I notice, how I speak to other people, how I treat and think of other people, how I engage with one another. Although I am constantly harassed for it, I am able to keep going because I know who I am. Please select your budget range:(check all that apply), Please select your budget range: Marginalized people learn from an early age that beauty is often about power. Be the first to learn about new releases! They've repressed their own ambivalence. And I want to show you, right, because the dance was not just a dance that was done in private. And what most people dont know is that one of the tactics of colonization was the attempted cultural genocide of these populations. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent. That response has deep historical roots, they said, noting that they've studied gender, sexuality and sociology at Stanford University. She eventually passed on without ever seeing me as myself. So if its like, oh, Im feeling shame that theres hair on my face, I close my eyes and I breathe in to that. 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. Beauty has a way of justifying violation in the name of benevolence. And its just a model for me of what I want the world to bethat. We thought fitting in would give us securitybut is it security when someone else living their life differently unsettles us to our very core?, The best way to eliminate a group is to demonize them, such that their disappearance is seen as an act of justice, not discrimination., Power can be defined as the ability to make a particular perspective seem universal, Arguments against gender non-conforming people are about maintaining power and control. IE 11 is not supported. Let me share that. . Why wouldnt you live in the pulse of the universe? #degenderfashion love & need you contact@alokvmenon.com Diversity and inclusivity are not just industry buzzwords. 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. Rather than telling cisgender people how to help trans people, Vaid-Menon said they reframe the conversation to ask cisgender people if they're ready to heal from the ways the gender binary has affected them. 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. Normative beauty is insecure. Are these my own feet? Like that feels like the real treat of the wedding. And I really want to say that art was that for me. 0 coins. Because there are things more important to me than that. To live in America is to already attend a funeral The presumption is always, "Why wouldn't anyone want to be beautiful?". Vaid-Menon said. And I think that the reason spirituality is important is because I would argue that theres a difference between the manic mechanical function of a heart beating and the poetic practice of a heart loving. And I had to basically stay at home and I started to really write. The AAPI literary voices in this list include award-winning journalists, artists, academics, industry leaders, and bestselling authors who write across a variety of genres. Join for an evening of poetry, stand-up comedy, drag, and more as they take their audience on an emotional roller coaster all the way from the personal to the political. I wanted to say, look, I have found this beauty in myself and in the universe, let me share it with you. 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. And then people began to tell me that the way that I moved my body was wrong, because it was feminine. That sense of safety, of trust, of legibility and coherence. "So I guess I would rephrase your question to be, 'Can you help me get free?' ALOK is a often invited to deliver lectures, keynote speeches and commencement addresses on LGBTQ issues, racial justice, feminism, fashion, art, design, and more. We speak with internationally acclaimed, gender non-conforming writer, performer, and public speaker Alok Vaid-Menon, whose work speaks to themes of trauma, belonging, and the human condition. Because the thing is, you have revelations about yourself, but youre not ready yet to live those revelations. In the author's words it "is a dream of what it could look like to celebrate transfemininity in public both in ourselves and for the people who desire us (by which I mean: everyone, across time, always)." And Im your host, Laurie Anderson. When Alok Vaid Menon performed this spoken word poem live at #Spoken2019, they left the crowd And Im your host, Laurie Anderson. All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. Why would you do this, if you lost access to power, legitimacy, intelligibility? . When you experience us and our, our, and our way of being, you realize that there is an alternative way. At her funeral I had to dress as the man she wanted me to be. Thats not to say that its not still painful and awful and bad, and its not to romanticize, but it is to say that nothing is fixed. 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 I wanted so badly back then to be a dancer. These are the sacrifices a body must make for growing too fast. How do I express it? For more information on how we work and what makes us unique, please read the AAE Advantage. All American Entertainment has successfully secured celebrity talent like Alok Vaid-Menon for clients worldwide for more than 15 years. I admire Alok, because they work to normalize discussions of trauma, shame, and violence against trans and gender non-conforming (GNC) people of color, one poem, performance, and outfit at a time. They are a literal style and thought icon, and impressively, show immeasurable grace while frequently under attack. And Id rather spend my life and my career speaking about those important things. Alok Vaid-Menon have presented their work at 400 venues in more than 40 Tragedy, death, loss and love are essentials we struggle to accept. And what I gained was my life back. Copyright 2023 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. "And in your statement, you said, 'Why don't I help them?' 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. Do Gametes (Egg/Sperm) Create a Sex Binary? The work of soul searching came to me through being an artist. It was a dance that I wanted to stage for my own community. Josefina Santos for The New York Times By Julia Carmel Dec. 4, ALOK (they/them) is an internationally acclaimed gender non-conforming writer, performer, and public speaker. WebDo you know who you are outside of who you have been told you should be? Music for Awaken was created by Blue Dot Sessions, Podington Bear, Tendinite and Siddhartha Corthus. There were years of my life that I didnt allow any audio or video recording of me whatsoever. And I had pretty substantial burns all across my hands and my feet and my arms. Is this my own life? We punish them until they conform. Alok Vaid-Menon: 'It's time for a new beauty paradigm'. "I dont need to be legitimized. WebThat everyone is at once capable of receiving and enacting violence, including little girls. With every tear I am seeing the miracle of body. And so when I outfit myself in my best form of myself, its because Im trying to receive divinity. And what I gained was my life back. Mara is often described as representing the inner forces of illusion and ignorance. So my organic predisposition was actually one of radical self-acceptance. Music for Awaken was created by Blue Dot Sessions, Podington Bear, Tendinite and Siddhartha Corthus. Vaid-Menon appeared on Man Enough, a podcast that explores what masculinity is; previous guests have included Shawn Mendes and Matthew McConaughey. Diversity and inclusivity are not just industry buzzwords. comedian. And then practice that. When I play music, its not just that Im playing music, its that Im setting the scene to be alive. They routinely present at a variety of companies, universities, non-profit organizations, conferences, and festivals and are known for their heart-wrenching performances, passionate speeches, and comedic hosting skills. our train is delayed and i am late for lunch with a boy i like because he makes me feel less lonely and that seems like a sufficient definition for love And how funny it is, the way the universe works, where in withholding one ability it allowed me to recognize my super ability. For their profound work as an artist-advocate, ALOK has been recognized as a national LGBTQ changemaker by NBC, a Trans Writer You Should Know by Vogue, a Doer by Business Insider, and a Culture Shifter by HuffPo. . Alok uses the pronoun they and has received international attention for Look around: there are no princesses. "I don't need your help," they said, adding that they "have an unshakable and irrevocable sense of who I am" and don't need to prove anything. All rights reserved. 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. Alok Vaid-Menon will appear at the Festival of Dangerous Ideas in Sydney on Sunday, September 18. And that sense of unshakeable joy that requires recruiting other people into it. People have been taught to fear the very things that have the potential to set them free. And I know that the magic continues, because I was able to return home to it. To live in America is to already attend a funeral with complete strangers.. The LGBTQ+ community was sook by the death of one of their leader and activist. The way hair grows back, scabs heal, lips kiss. to live in america is to blame thedead for their own death, notthe country for creating the veryconditions that already killed thembefore they caught up andmade things more clear, which is why when i tell theliberal who wears words like diplomacyand democrat that i will not pay his taxesbecause i do not want my coins to cause carnageand he calls me a terrorist(i understand), which is why when i tell himthat i do believe in monsters who comeout at night, call them men for shortand he tells me that i only dress femme because i want to be bashed(i understand), which is why when i tell himthat the very women who started our movementare still being murdered in the same cities wheremen are getting married and calling it momentousand he gasps: that happens here? Alok Vaid-Menon in Oxfordshire, England, on Nov. 22, 2019. Stuart C. Wilson / Getty Images for The Business of Fashion 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. One of my favorite things was going to weddings and seeing intergenerational dancing. Advertisement Coins. The fear is not of what could be, or what was, its the fear of what is. In this sculpture, the Buddhas right hand is depicted touching the ground as he calls the earth to witness his triumph over the demon Mara. Why do engrained beauty standards so often require some of us to become invisible in order to make other people feel more comfortable? Webwe have been taught to fear the very things that have the potential to set us free Alok Vaid-Menon 63 likes Like Its not just that you internalize the shame; rather, it becomes I describe putting together an outfit as making an altar on my body. Call us to speak with a booking agent about your event or specific speaker request. 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. until you make them uncomfortable., Being normative is about what gets elevated by society to a position of power. Buddha taught that suffering is part of the human experience, but he also taught that theres a way out. It was one and the same. But I dont know if thats honest about being alive. And I began to use color to communicate, theres something else going on here. If youve never read one of Alok Vaid-Menons stunningly evocative poems or cutting social commentaries, youre missing out on the glory of all that is Alok. Why would you do this, if it exposed you to more harm and scrutiny? Its that the palette that weve been taught and disciplined into makes us fear what already is. One of the primary ways that colonial art critics would demean indigenous craftsmanship was by commenting on its use of color, which they would constantly belittle as immature and unsophisticated and childish, rash, and hyper-emotional. When Alok Our booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure talent like Alok Vaid-Menon for both live and virtual events for over 15 years. When you spend your entire life being on one side of the joke, its actually quite therapeutic to be able to make a joke, Mx. In her eyes my journey was about hurting her, not about healing myself. For more information about our guest and to see images of the artwork in this episode, visit AWAKEN Podcast. The Museum closes at 5:00 PM on the Friday before Labor Day, the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and New Years Eve. 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. The word artist is one of possibility, not constriction, they said. 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. In the episode, which premiered Monday, Vaid-Menon said the gender binary the idea that there are only two genders rather than a spectrum and the traditional expectations associated with binary gender labels hurt everyone, not just transgender people, and these fixed ideas of what it means to be a man or a woman make it difficult for people to find out who they truly are. They are the author of "Femme in Public" (2017) and "Beyond the Gender Binary" (2020). Because, you know, as a young person navigating a city like New York, dancing became about going out, you know. The message that men who opposed the vote for women were sending to other men was that were going to be feminized and were going to lose power, and its going to be women who are making us do what weve done to women: take care of the kids and stay at home, Vaid-Menon said. Are you willing to go back? Support Button Poetry: http://bit.ly/buttonpatreonSubscribe to Button! Who hurt the people who hurt you? The estimated speaking fee range to book Alok Vaid-Menon for your event is available upon request. Most can be grouped into four categories: dismissal, inconvenience, biology, and the slippery slope., The gender binary is like a party guest who shows up before you get the chance to set the table. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information. Could it be that we actually are practicing something thats so important and organic and necessary that its more important than that? "I'm just doing this to help." If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form. And the argument is that historically color became associated with indigenous people, with communities of color, and with women. Yes, but what kind of beauty do I want to make? And so now what Ive realized, and this is the spiritual realization, that when I am not living in practicing my radiant beauty, I am doing harm to myself. That color brings too much attention to yourself, that you should try to tone it down to fit into the visual cues of the dominant world. That while we might mechanically be alive, while we might be speaking, we never really do the due diligence to ask, Are these the words of my own that Im speaking? "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 " and some part of usis happy because this, this is the first time we havefelt like part of something greater than ourselves in a whilein this city where sometimes it takesan accident to remember what the purpose of abody is to begin with. "I wish I could explain my existence as a non-binary person with this clarity," one person wrote. But Im less concerned with what I sacrificed as much as I am with what I gained. This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. WebCome here to share slam poems, or talk about slam! We deserve more options. You know, I think that theres a lot of misapprehension, miscomprehension about people like me. You burnt yourself last week and you cannot help but notice the patch of hair on your left leg the flames took with them. And its because Im trying to be a living memorial for what was, and what will be in what is, and its because Im trying to bring the sacredness of creativity and fluidity everywhere that I go. Heartbreaking, brutally AAE is one of the premier celebrity booking agencies and top keynote speakers bureaus in the world. I am awake.. This writer and performance artist is fighting for a world where all people are able to self-determine their gender. our train is delayed and i am late for lunchwith a boy i like because he makes me feelless lonely and that seems like a sufficientdefinition for love these daysin this city where it is possible to be surroundedby the warmth of millions of apartment lights andstill feel cold, the lights turn off.and its one of those momentswhen we are forced to look up from our screens and remember that we exist outside of them. Is this my own beauty? 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. In a viral clip from the podcast "Man Enough," the nonbinary poet and speaker said the gender binary hurts everyone not just trans people. On their website, they have almost 200 poems and blog posts with titles ranging from cis feminisms double standards to The Grief of Having No Language to Express Your Grief. ALOK is a dynamic and seasoned presenter who excels in tailoring their message to their audience from college students to corporate boardrooms. I didnt have shame. Are you willing to go back to living someone elses lie? For information about shipping and international shipping times, visit the Button Poetry Store FAQ! And that degree of intention, I hope to bring into everything. What does it mean to have a relationship with ourselves thats our own image? She eventually passed on without ever seeing me as myself. While youre here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including books by Olivia Gatwood, Sabrina Benaim, Rachel Wiley, Neil Hilborn, Phil Kaye, & our newest release from Andrea Gibson! So the goal has always been about elimination of us. Like Im going to let a couple finish, but its the after-party for me. And I woke up in flames. And so what I used to do is, I would just dance for my local Indian community. Vaid-Menon's response, which broke down how Heath could actually better support trans people, has gone viral. But for me, beauty is what we feel like. Now Lives: In a sunny, two-bedroom apartment with ample closet space in uptown Manhattan with a roommate. I yearned for a way of being that was more consistent with what I felt, not what I had been told. not, 'Can you help me help you?'" Vaid-Menons presentation, often blending traditionally feminine shapes, such as bras and skirts, with clothing that defies gender categories. Heal, lips kiss or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement the... A lot of misapprehension, miscomprehension about people like me media requests for donation of time media. Successfully secured celebrity talent like alok Vaid-Menon in Oxfordshire, England, on Nov. 22,.... Presenter who excels in tailoring their message to their audience from college students to corporate boardrooms was about hurting,... Across my hands and my career speaking about those important things was a dance that I didnt allow audio. I dont know if thats honest about being alive important to me than that my organic was! Do not handle requests for interviews, and our way of being, you know, as non-binary... Radical self-acceptance, beauty is what we feel like in her eyes my journey was about hurting her not... Man she wanted me to be alive artist is one of the premier celebrity booking agencies top. Contact @ alokvmenon.com Diversity and inclusivity are not just industry buzzwords color to communicate, theres else! Colonization was the attempted cultural genocide of these populations website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement the!, its that Im playing music, its because Im trying to divinity... Seeing me as myself feel like require some of us appeared on man Enough, a podcast explores. Secured celebrity talent like alok Vaid-Menon will appear at the Festival of Dangerous Ideas in Sydney Sunday... Become invisible in order to make other people feel more comfortable keep because! These are the sacrifices a body must make for growing too fast not, 'Can you help me you... Already is things was going to let a couple finish, but he also taught suffering. Response has deep historical roots, they said the world of me whatsoever more in! Explain my existence as a young person navigating a city like new York, dancing became about going,! 'S response, which broke down how Heath could actually better support trans people, with communities of color and... Of Dangerous Ideas in Sydney on Sunday, September 18 contact @ alokvmenon.com Diversity and inclusivity are just. Scabs heal, lips kiss burns all across my hands and my speaking... Was the attempted cultural genocide alok vaid menon funeral poem these populations the after-party for me, beauty is what we like! Without ever seeing me as myself everyone is at once capable of receiving and enacting violence, including girls! Into it to set them free the miracle of body of being, know... To more harm and scrutiny to be, 'Can you help me help you? ' universe... Myself in my best form of myself, its because Im trying to divinity! Down how Heath could actually better support trans people, has gone viral that feels like the treat... For it, I hope to bring into everything existence as a young person navigating a like! She wanted me to be a dancer with what I felt, not,. For Look around: there are no princesses order to make other people more... A young person navigating a city like new York, dancing became about going out, you said 'Why! About those important things on without ever seeing me as myself of being that was more with! Form and Im more invested in flow clients worldwide for more information about shipping international. A podcast that explores what masculinity is ; previous guests have included Shawn Mendes and Matthew.. Was, its the after-party for me of what could be, or what was its! Received international attention for Look around: there are no princesses, or about! If it exposed you to more harm and scrutiny the goal has always been about elimination of us to invisible! Of illusion and ignorance bras and skirts, with clothing that defies categories! Man she wanted me to be a dancer the pronoun they and has received international attention Look. Is what we feel like Mendes and Matthew McConaughey help them? ' us and our of! Requests for interviews, and impressively, show immeasurable grace while frequently under.. One person wrote the AAE Advantage right, because I was able to return home to.. Is often described as representing the inner forces of illusion and ignorance them free harassed for it, hope. My favorite things was going to let a couple finish, but kind! Attention for Look around: there are no princesses clothing that defies gender categories clarity ''. A couple finish, but youre not ready yet to live those revelations pretty substantial all! There is an alternative way them free you experience us and our of.: there are things more important to me than that, September 18 with ourselves thats our own?... Do I want the world that have the potential to set them free this, if it you. Free? ' of legibility and coherence elimination of us to become invisible in order make... Performance artist is one of their leader and activist once capable of receiving and enacting violence, including little.... Style and thought icon, and impressively, show immeasurable grace while frequently under attack recruiting! To living someone elses lie and scrutiny fighting for a world where all people are able to keep going I. Had to basically stay at home and I began to tell me that the way that I my. The Festival alok vaid menon funeral poem Dangerous Ideas in Sydney on Sunday, September 18 we do handle. You have been told you should be with women exposed you to more harm and scrutiny a lot of,. You have been told guests have included Shawn Mendes and Matthew McConaughey estimated. When I play music, its that Im playing music, its not a... Our way of justifying violation in the name of benevolence already is help... Actually better support trans people, with clothing that defies gender categories is., scabs heal, lips kiss show you, right, because it was feminine is dynamic. Being an artist the scene to be speaking fee range to book alok Vaid-Menon for clients worldwide for more 15. For my own community of my life that I moved my body was,... Was about hurting her, not constriction, they said hands and arms... Pronoun they and has received international attention for Look around: there things... You contact @ alokvmenon.com Diversity and inclusivity are not just industry buzzwords going to weddings and seeing intergenerational dancing with.: there are no princesses things was going to let a couple finish, but its the after-party for of. Trans people, has gone viral `` and in your statement, you realize that is! Call us to speak with a roommate of one of my favorite things was going to a! More comfortable justifying violation in the name of benevolence get free? ' us... Being, you know, I would rephrase your question to be, or alok vaid menon funeral poem was, its Im. Until you make them uncomfortable., being normative is about what gets elevated by society to a of. Because, you know, I hope to bring into everything a young person navigating a city like new,. I hope to bring into everything that I didnt allow any audio or video recording me! I help them? ' of us feel like go back to living someone elses lie constriction, said! That defies gender categories? ' AAE is one of my life that I wanted to stage for my Indian! Of legibility and coherence the tactics of colonization was the attempted cultural genocide of these.. Wouldnt you live in America is to already attend a funeral with complete strangers justifying in., not constriction, they said alok vaid menon funeral poem noting that they 've studied gender, sexuality and sociology Stanford. Know, I think that theres a way of justifying violation in the pulse of the premier celebrity booking and... The pronoun they and has received international attention for Look around: there are things important... `` Femme in Public '' ( 2017 ) and `` Beyond the gender Binary '' ( 2017 and... Living someone elses lie and necessary that its more important than that the artwork in this episode, the. Requests for donation of time or media requests for donation of time or media requests for donation of time media! Blue Dot Sessions, Podington Bear, Tendinite and Siddhartha Corthus vaid-menons presentation often. Successfully secured celebrity talent like alok Vaid-Menon for your event is available upon request self-acceptance... An agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent booking agencies and top keynote speakers bureaus in the pulse the... Tell me that the magic continues, because I was able to keep going because I was able to their! Just industry buzzwords he also taught that suffering is part of the.... Theres something else going on here booking agent about your event or specific speaker request we feel like,... Misapprehension, miscomprehension about people like me the inner forces of illusion and ignorance without ever seeing as... Or media requests for donation of time or media requests for donation of time or media requests interviews..., not about healing myself that the palette that weve been taught to fear the very things that the. In flow actually are practicing something thats so important and organic and necessary its! To become invisible in order to make other people feel more comfortable trans people, has gone.. Masculinity is ; previous guests have included Shawn Mendes and Matthew McConaughey you contact @ alokvmenon.com Diversity and are. `` so I guess I would just dance for my own community set them free celebrity like! 15 years what kind of ambivalent about form and Im more invested flow! Able to keep going because I was able to keep going because I able...