ALOK: Deconstructing Gender and Identity Through Prose, Poetry, and Comedic Performance

Alok Vaid-Menon, who goes by the stage name ALOK, is an American gender non-conforming and trans feminine performance artist, author, and activist. They stand as a beacon of light for those who have been marginalized and misunderstood due to their non-conformist gender identities.

Despite facing bigotry and abuse online, Vaid-Menon fearlessly embraces the spotlight and uses their platform to promote love and compassion. Their poetry, prose, and performance art pieces combine humour and heart-tugging narratives to challenge societal gender binaries and disrupt conventional understanding of the LGBTQ+, reflecting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of Gender Equality.

Portrait of ALOK by Celeste Slowman. Image courtesy of ALOK’s website.

Vaid-Menon's journey into poetry was exemplified in their 2017 debut poetry chapbook, Femme in Public. In this collection, the artist urgently intertwines decolonialism and transfeminist themes to offer a poignant exploration of the cost of gender non-conforming visibility. The poems serve as a truth commission, documenting the public violence faced by a brown femme person and providing readers with an evidentiary hearing of specific instances of harassment.

Their poem STREET TAX* becomes a driving force within the collection, addressing encounters with verbal violence in the streets and the constant need to prove innocence as a victim of misogyny. The artist imagines stirring collective concern by alerting others to insecure behaviour that highlights just how normalized aggressive masculinity is. This documentation of public violence builds a context for the deep healing work Vaid-Menon commits to, resonating within a constellation of queer and trans writers of colour that aim to decolonize the concept of freedom.

Cover of Femme in Public by ALOK which features a self-portrait. Image courtesy of Goodreads.

In MASSAGE, another poem in the collection, they create a tribute to an old white woman massage therapist who uses brutal touch to recognize and affirm people's pain. This act of witnessing and affirming pain offers a model for interpersonal publicness beyond resistance.

The collection of poems culminates in NEW YEARS REVOLUTION, a manifesto and New Year's resolution repackaged as a revolution. It is a future-oriented list of goals that believes in the immense capacity for transformation. Vaid-Menon invites readers to embrace forms of public vulnerability and trust in their infinite capacity for change.

Cover of Beyond the Gender Binary by ALOK. Image courtesy of Goodreads.

In 2020, Vaid-Menon released the book Beyond the Gender Binary, offering a deeper exploration of their experiences as a visibly gender non-conforming person. The book challenges societal norms and explores the beauty of being trans, acknowledging both the joyful and challenging aspects of gender diversity.

Vaid-Menon’s focus on the beauty of being trans emphasizes self-discovery and the feeling of “coming home” by embracing one's true self. The book encourages a celebration of the transformative capacity to transcend gender and challenges fears around gender non-conformity. It acknowledges the diversity of trans experiences, rejecting the notion of a universal trans narrative.

ALOK speaking at VOICES 2019. Image courtesy of Business of Fashion.

However, the book has faced criticism and attempts at censorship, as seen by its inclusion on a list of books compiled by a Texas lawmaker to review their suitability for schools. This underscores the resistance within some communities to acknowledging the existence of trans and gender non-conforming voices.

Vaid-Menon's advocacy also extends into the realm of comedic performance art, where they navigate emotions ranging from wit and superiority to vulnerability and fear.

A significant portion of Vaid-Menon’s performance involves flipping societal structures in their head, arguing that society should be protected from hetero, white, and cis 'men in pants.' This comedic approach of showcasing how ridiculous narratives against the LGBTQ+ are by applying them to the heteronormative cleverly critiques outdated ideologies while empathizing with those who resist gender exploration.

ALOK Vaid-Menon. Photo by Eva Schwank. Image courtesy of The Sydney Morning Herald.

The performance is not a one-note affair; Vaid-Menon seamlessly transitions into beautiful, tender, and elegiac segments, adding emotional depth and variety to the show. They do this by incorporating readings of their poetry that provide a change of pace from impassioned calls to a more subtle and contemplative gender rethink.

Vaid-Menon's poetry and comedic performances exemplify the transformative power of self-expression in navigating a world resistant to change. Their exploration of identity, documented through poetry and celebrated in books and performances, challenges societal norms and advocates for gender equality for all. Their work serves as a testament to the beauty of being trans, fostering compassion and understanding in the face of adversity. As the world moves to embrace the principles of gender equality, Vaid-Menon stands as an uplifting and inspirational advocate, urging their readers and viewers to reimagine a world where self-discovery and celebration transcend rigid gender binaries.