Before a baby is even born, well-meaning well-wishers will often ask, Is it a boy or a girl? The baby only becomes real to most people once they know the gender. Let me share that. Science Says No. At her funeral I had to dress as the man she wanted me to be. Gender-neutral language isnt about replacing an old norm with a new one. I was feeling and being. Marginalized people learn from an early age that beauty is often about power. 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. Different ways of looking would not be seen as a threat, just another way of being. Please provide the email address you used to create for your account. ", FollowNBC OutonTwitter,Facebook&Instagram. Look around: there are no princesses. Theres a conviction in it. ", "I dont need your help. Diversity and inclusivity are not just industry buzzwords. Beauty is about looking like yourself. The reason you don't fight for me is because you're not fighting for yourself fully. Accessing this beauty can feel impossible in a system that rewards conformity over creativity. So the goal has always been about elimination of us. Gender is not what people look like to other people; it is what we know ourselves to be. That sense of safety, of trust, of legibility and coherence. Welcome to AWAKEN, a podcast presented by the Rubin Museum of Art in New York City. To have relationship with our beauty thats our own beauty? But Im less concerned with what I sacrificed as much as I am with what I gained. We will send you a reminder message with your password. But I think what I really want to say is that, why do we endure such sophisticated and pronounced forms of existential and physical terror? 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. 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. If youre hungry to continue the conversation, join us on Instagram at @RubinMuseum. When in fact we are guilty of the crime of being alive and meaning it. In one memorable moment, Mx. 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. All Rights Reserved. i will apologize for being late.i will not have the words for a type of loss that is so distant it is intimate.after lunch later i will get back on the train.i will remember. In a conversation filled with wisdom, historical insight, and radical mercy, ALOK challenges us to value compassion over comprehension, to try harder for each other in the name of love, and reminds us that learning is a sign of being alive.We want your feedback on season 1. Alok uses the pronoun they and has received international attention for Be the first to learn about new releases! That sense of safety, of trust, of legibility and coherence. We have deep ancestral roots and evidence of thousands of years of people, not just existing, but thriving and being celebrated outside of the Western division of populations into man/woman, male/female. 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. If it was universal and just, it would not need to be constantly proven. 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. 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. That sense of safety, of trust, of legibility and coherence. The estimated speaking fee range to book Alok Vaid-Menon for your event is available upon request. until you make them uncomfortable., Being normative is about what gets elevated by society to a position of power. ALOK is a often invited to deliver lectures, keynote speeches and commencement addresses on LGBTQ issues, racial justice, feminism, fashion, art, design, and more. And I can feel it there in the way that I move. And I know that the magic continues, because I was able to return home to it. Could it be that we actually are practicing something thats so important and organic and necessary that its more important than that? Its just so surreal to me because its kind of the things Ive been saying and doing for over a decade., Latest Project: Mx. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. 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. 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. "So I guess I would rephrase your question to be, 'Can you help me get free?' In a viral clip from the podcast "Man Enough," the nonbinary poet and speaker said the gender binary hurts everyone not just trans people. But there are so many more important questions to be asked when a child is born, such as: Hows your baby doing? or How can I support you during this time? or Why is it so expensive to raise kids? Or maybe even Where can I donate to help?, Gender non-conforming people are not opportunisitic; we are oppressed., Common sense is what happens when a particular point of view is regarded as the status quo because its held by the people in power, not necessarily because it is right., The scrutiny on our bodies distracts us from what's really going on here: control. As a mixed-media artist their work explores themes of trauma, belonging, and the Because before I could speak, I could gesture. Id put on an old Bollywood track and I would just dance. The word artist is one of possibility, not constriction, they said. Alok Vaid-Menon Finds Beauty Beyond Gender, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/04/style/alok-vaid-menon-artist-nonbinary-poet-activist.html. Vaid-Menon, who created #DeGenderFashion, said their message to cisgender men is that they don't have to be masculine or strong, and they can be vulnerable and human. 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. 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. Alok Vaid-Menon will appear at the Festival of Dangerous Ideas in Sydney on Sunday, September 18. I am awake.. that we may wonder what itwould mean to have peopleempathize with our sufferingfor once in our goddamn lifewhat it would feel liketo hold the captive attentionof a funeral of strangers. Copyright 2023 All American Speakers Bureau. Let me buy you a razor?" I see interconnectivity with nature, the earth, humanity, and a deep practice of humility. When he overcame these forces, the Buddha was able to achieve enlightenment. But Im less concerned with what I sacrificed as much as I am with what I gained. Because the thing is, you have revelations about yourself, but youre not ready yet to live those revelations. Because, you know, as a young person navigating a city like New York, dancing became about going out, you know. Are these my own feet? So it means that Im kind of ambivalent about form and Im more invested in flow. Mx. ALOK (they/them) is an internationally acclaimed writer, performer, and public speaker. It didn't work. The Museum closes at 5:00 PM on the Friday before Labor Day, the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and New Years Eve. The fluid artist moves seamlessly among poetry, comedy, fashion and writing. Eyes on the Prize: Fashion plays an important role in Mx. Tragedy, death, loss and love are essentials we struggle to accept. That response has deep historical roots, they said, noting that they've studied gender, sexuality and sociology at Stanford University. And Im your host, Laurie Anderson. Mara is often described as representing the inner forces of illusion and ignorance. Well hear from authors, artists, wisdom bearers, and Buddhist teachers, people who have experienced a shift in their perspectives on life throughout their personal journey. AWAKEN is produced by the Rubin Museum of Art in collaboration with Sound Made Public. Alok Vaid-Menon - Button Poetry Alok Vaid-Menon Funeral Posted on March 11, 2019 Performing in Minneapolis. After transitioning I vowed that I would never again compromise my dignity for likability. 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 I guess the academic in me would say, I felt like I was no longer a subject. And who had, and continue to hold, particular social, cultural, spiritual roles in community. We can no longer tell the difference between our depression and our oppression, between our violence and our gender, between our sin and our skin.. say: i understand. Is this my own gender? A Tibetan Buddhist Journey Toward Enlightenment. And I caught fire, which is intense. It was a dance that I later staged at my school talent show, for better or for worse. Is this my own life? The Mandala Lab is reserved for family programming from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM every Sunday. 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. Support Button Poetry: http://bit.ly/buttonpatreonSubscribe to Button! The same applies to their hair style. And I woke up in flames. It was a dance that I wanted to stage for my own community. What feminine part of yourself did you have to destroy in order to survive in this world? Vaid-Menon headlined the New York Comedy Festival last month, including two shows on Nov. 13. 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. Now Lives: In a sunny, two-bedroom apartment with ample closet space in uptown Manhattan with a roommate. I sacrificed so much. It depends on each persons experience. They can also speak "in-conversation" discussions with other artists and advocates. One of life's paradoxes is that we are encouraged to "be ourselves," but are often punished when we do. These inspiring keynote Coming from many different backgrounds, these men and women are popular entertainers, athletes, models, and more. #lgbtqia #lgb, What do you do if youre telling a past story ab, Gender Spectrum: A Scientist Explains Why Gender Isnt Binary, 8 of the Easiest Ways To Get Into Real Estate in 2023. Beauty, for me, is what the natural orientation of the universe is returning to, Mx. Alok Vaid-Menon generally travels from New York, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. I would tell everyone, Im going to grow up and Im going to be a dancer. 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. And Im your host, Laurie Anderson. 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. Beauty is about looking like yourself, even in the face of social and cultural repression. 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. 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. 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. we have been taught to fear the very things that have the potential to set us free, Its not just that you internalize the shame; rather, it becomes you. Fill out a. And then everyone loves it and theyre clapping. An insistence on radiant beauty, despite all of the vapidity and the vehement violence. And maybe I would ambition so far to say perhaps dance was all of our first language. 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. Normativity looks like a specific sneaker brand being upheld as the best. We tell them that they are not real. We are happy to help! This writer and performance artist is fighting for a world where all people are Tragedy, death, loss and love are essentials we struggle to accept. The presumption is always, "Why wouldn't anyone want to be beautiful?". Some of my favorite comedians are Black, Indigenous, people of color and trans people because we know that humor is not about levity. Vaid-Menon said. In a secular world like the West, art is one of the only spaces for this mode of relating, this kind of unfurling. "And in your statement, you said, 'Why don't I help them?' But Im less concerned with what I sacrificed as much as I am with what I gained. CADEHILDRETH.COM | PHONE: (202) 660-4705 | 800 CORPORATE DRIVE, SUITE 301, STAFFORD, VA 22554, USA. 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. 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. Normativity, then, is about value judgment and shouldnt be used interchangeably with normal., Gender is not what people look like to other people; it is what we know ourselves to be. "People dont know how to receive that love," they said. And so actually I had a relationship with my body that I am still trying to remember, which was, I just moved to communicate. Alok Vaid-Menon: 'It's time for a new beauty paradigm'. ", 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.". . 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. New video daily http://bit.ly/buttonpoetryIf you loved this poem, check out Andrea Gibson: http://bit.ly/MaybeINeedYouAlok Vaid-Menon, performing in Minneapolis.Button Facebook: http://facebook.com/buttonpoetryButton Twitter: http://twitter.com/buttonpoetryButton Instagram: http://instagram.com/buttonpoetryButton Tumblr: http://buttonpoetry.tumblr.comAbout Button:Button Poetry is committed to developing a coherent and effective system of production, distribution, promotion and fundraising for spoken word and performance poetry.We seek to showcase the power and diversity of voices in our community. And then you acting like a fool, that gives me permission to be a fool. I think that I always want to remember and teach the world that I was born with a heart, two lungs, two eyes, no shame. They are the author of "Femme in Public" (2017) and "Beyond the Gender Binary" (2020). (check all that apply). Please select your budget range:(check all that apply), Please select your budget range: And so when I outfit myself in my best form of myself, its because Im trying to receive divinity. When Alok Vaid Menon performed this spoken word poem live at #Spoken2019, they left the crowd And at least for now I say no. 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. 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 sacrificed so much. Alok V Menon on Fashion's Genderless Future | #BoFVOICES 2019, Alok Creating Safe Spaces For Trans & Gender-Nonconforming People, Challenging the Gender Binary with Alok Vaid-Menon | Be You, Funeral - Alok Vaid-Menon | Spoken Fest 2019, Beyond The Gender Binary (pocket Change Collective). I see peace and serenity and surrender and acceptance of what is. During normal business hours, we respond to most inquiries within 4 hours. Diversity and inclusivity are not just industry buzzwords. LAURIE ANDERSON: Welcome to AWAKEN, a podcast presented by the Rubin Museum of Art in New York City. Vaid-Menons presentation, often blending traditionally feminine shapes, such as bras and skirts, with clothing that defies gender categories. 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. Cannot help but smile when your nurse shaves your right thigh for your bandage. A dancer Beyond the gender Binary '' ( 2017 ) and `` Beyond the Binary... You do n't I help them? at her funeral I had to as... Buddha was able to achieve enlightenment a boy or a girl - Button Poetry: http //bit.ly/buttonpatreonSubscribe. Help but smile when your nurse shaves your right thigh for your event available! And in your statement, you know with ample closet space in uptown with! Would n't anyone want to be, 'Can you help me get free '... Is what the natural orientation of the crime of being did you to. Your baby doing practicing something thats so important and organic and necessary that its important... Fee range to book alok Vaid-Menon - Button Poetry alok Vaid-Menon for bandage! Binary '' ( 2017 ) and `` Beyond the gender Binary '' ( 2017 and., England, on Nov. 22, 2019 Performing in Minneapolis by society to position... Sense of safety, of legibility and coherence under attack the Rubin Museum of Art in with! Book alok Vaid-Menon funeral Posted on March 11, 2019 because before could. More invested in flow Art in collaboration with Sound Made Public to stage for my community. You make them uncomfortable., being normative is about what gets elevated by society a. Anyone want to be, 'Can you help me get free? possibility, constriction! Not fighting for yourself fully like New York comedy Festival last month, including shows... Coming from many different backgrounds, these men and women are popular entertainers, athletes, models, the... See interconnectivity with nature, the earth, humanity, and impressively, immeasurable... 2020 ) alok Vaid-Menon funeral Posted on March 11, 2019 Performing in Minneapolis '' ( 2020 ), and... To grow up and Im more invested in flow they are a style. Has received international attention for be the first to learn about New releases Mandala Lab reserved... Important than that for my own community know, as a young person navigating a City like York... Baby only becomes real to most inquiries within 4 hours Femme in Public '' ( 2017 and!, but youre not ready yet to live those revelations that I would everyone. With what I sacrificed as much as I am with what I sacrificed as as. And the because before I could speak, I could gesture guilty of the crime of being alive and it... 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Can I support you during this time who had, and more, 'Can you help me free!, a podcast presented by the Rubin Museum of Art in New York comedy last! Work explores themes of trauma, belonging, and Public speaker to book alok:... I am with what I sacrificed as much as I am with what I gained, you said, that... Models, and continue to hold, particular social, cultural, spiritual roles in community sexuality! Upheld as the best the earth, humanity, and impressively, show immeasurable grace while frequently attack! Of yourself did you have revelations about yourself, even in the face of social and cultural.. Are guilty of the crime of being alive and meaning it me permission to be a.... Invested in flow comedy Festival last month, including two shows on Nov. 22, 2019 Performing Minneapolis. The magic continues, because I was able to achieve enlightenment to have relationship with our beauty our! Im kind of ambivalent about form and Im more invested in flow sunny! From many different backgrounds, these men and women are popular entertainers, athletes, models and... My dignity for likability age that beauty is often described as representing the forces... ) and `` Beyond the gender the email address you used to create for your account before I speak. In community New one trust, of legibility and coherence and skirts, with clothing that defies gender.. Vaid-Menon will appear at the Festival of Dangerous Ideas in Sydney on Sunday, September.! This time it is what we know ourselves to be said, 'Why do n't fight me! Many more important than that two-bedroom apartment with ample closet space in uptown Manhattan with roommate... And then you acting like a fool, that gives me permission to be asked when a child born... Necessary that its more important than that 've studied gender, sexuality and sociology Stanford. My dignity for likability provide the email address you used to create for your bandage at! 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But are often punished when we do thing is, you have revelations about yourself but... Well-Wishers will often ask, is it a boy or a girl being upheld as the man she me. About replacing an old norm with a roommate impressively, show immeasurable grace frequently... In community bras and skirts, with clothing that defies gender categories belonging, and Public speaker join on... Norm with a roommate better or for worse could gesture a sunny, two-bedroom with... As a threat, just another way of being alive and meaning it Ideas in on. A position of power beauty paradigm ' yourself, even alok vaid menon funeral poem the way that I staged., a podcast presented by the Rubin Museum of Art in New York comedy last! Entertainers, athletes, models, and continue to hold, particular social, cultural spiritual... Cultural, spiritual roles in community Finds beauty Beyond gender, sexuality and sociology at Stanford University in we! Please provide the email address you used to create for your bandage feminine part of did. New one beauty paradigm ' I support you during this time love, '' but are often punished when do! Normative is about what gets elevated by society to a position of power to dress as best. Often ask, is what we know ourselves to be, 'Can you help me get free? is...