“Control is how power maintains itself; anyone who expresses another perspective is punished.” Alok Vaid-Menon
On the same day that tanks rumbled down Constitution Avenue in Washington, DC, trans comedian, author, and performance artist-prophet Alok Vaid-Menon strutted onto the stage of the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, wearing sensible pumps and a muumuu with a Japanese block print motif. By the time Trump, the emperor with no clothes, began ranting, lying, and downplaying the millions of people protesting him and his policies, Alok delivered a stand-up show like royalty, sharing truth with stunning wit and sassy intelligence. Yass Queen! No King!
Touring with Alok was a genre- and gender-defying singer-songwriter named “whatever mike.” A handsome, religious-looking figure with Jesus-length hair and a full beard, they dressed in a white dress resembling a Biblical robe. Their music blends hip-hop, soul, and R&B, a genre which they refer to as “Hope Pop.” The numbers performed as the warm-up act included prerecorded gospel choir-like backing vocals bringing the audience into a queer church atmosphere. In one number, whatever mike incorporates Saint Francis’ Prayer as lyrics: “where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light…” and then quickly follows those inspirational words with “I got no rules, bitch. I got no rules.”
Currently on a national and Canadian tour promoting gender non-conformity as an advocate, entertainer, and healer, Alok understands the fears that binary individuals have about trans people, even though trans individuals have existed since the beginning of time. “More Americans have reported seeing ghosts than seeing trans folk.” Alok maintains that trans rights are human rights and that the abolition of trans rights affects us all. In the same breath, they mention how their Indian relatives, especially their mother, constantly ask, “When are you going to get married?” or how their father’s “ear hair grows all the way down to his toe hair.” Urinal etiquette, arm wrestling—as a legitimate way for cis men to hold hands, and how the only bombs a trans person makes are when telling jokes, flowed through Alok’s hour-long riff. “Do you know what it’s like for a nonbinary person to attend a gender reveal party?!”
Alok lives in a world marked by sold-out performances and a growing domestic and international fan base, all while facing the persistent threat of violence and hatred. “This is the best of times and the worst of times to be trans.” Despite experiencing violence firsthand, Alok has managed to respond with compassion without dismissing the pain, asserting, “Fear is a false prophet.”
Alok Vaid-Menon possesses many talents as an artist and educator, but their most outstanding quality is a razor-sharp intelligence combined with a wise and loving heart. They blur the lines between entertainment and education with authenticity and a willingness to show up honestly, with integrity, coming from love rather than righteous indignation. Few leaders have this capacity, which makes Alok exceptional. When they ended their performance, telling the audience that they loved us all, I believed them. I felt the love.
David e. Moreno
