Author, poet, comedian, and public speaker—Alok Vaid-Menon dons many hats, and fabulously so. Vaid-Menon identifies as gender non-conforming (they/them), and is an advocate of bodily diversity, de-gendering of fashion, and self-determination which is explored in their books—Femme in Public (2017), Beyond the Gender Binary (2020), and Your Wound/My Garden (2021). Vaid-Menon’s art delves into lived experiences, and themes of belonging, and trauma that shape queer identities. It will not be a stretch to say that through their books, performances, and social media presence they have created an educational space by offering the language to self-identify, reflect, and even intervene as allies.

Vaid-Menon has toured in over 40 countries, and has been performing across India over the past few weeks. Their unapologetic humour, and poignant poetry supported by diverse artists translated into cultural spaces where a unique blend of comedy, poetry and music captivated audiences, from Mumbai to Manipur. In an exclusive chat, Vaid-Menon shares their approach to art, motivations, experiences on tour, and freeing oneself from societal biases.