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An unapologetic drag queen of India | Alex Mathew | TEDxSGGSCC


[Applause]

[Applause] and equities and curtains

and equities and curtains

and equities and curtains now you must be wondering what is this

now you must be wondering what is this

now you must be wondering what is this good decent curtains no it’s not

good decent curtains no it’s not

good decent curtains no it’s not swearing words it means sons and

swearing words it means sons and

swearing words it means sons and daughters in Malayalam

daughters in Malayalam

daughters in Malayalam I am Miami my the drag queen how many of

I am Miami my the drag queen how many of

I am Miami my the drag queen how many of you know who is a drag queen does

you know who is a drag queen does

you know who is a drag queen does anybody know I can see one hand they’re

anybody know I can see one hand they’re

anybody know I can see one hand they’re a couple of hands they’re they’re okay

a couple of hands they’re they’re okay

a couple of hands they’re they’re okay I’m not alone so a drag queen is is

I’m not alone so a drag queen is is

I’m not alone so a drag queen is is usually a male who dresses up as the

usually a male who dresses up as the

usually a male who dresses up as the opposite sex and does feminine roles

opposite sex and does feminine roles

opposite sex and does feminine roles feminine gender roles and use it with a

feminine gender roles and use it with a

feminine gender roles and use it with a lot of feminity and these are my

lot of feminity and these are my

lot of feminity and these are my inspiration and these are the ones who

inspiration and these are the ones who

inspiration and these are the ones who are actually going around the world and

are actually going around the world and

are actually going around the world and performing now in India we have like

performing now in India we have like

performing now in India we have like Atta girl I am and of course Indian

Atta girl I am and of course Indian

Atta girl I am and of course Indian theatre where we do drag for so long now

theatre where we do drag for so long now

theatre where we do drag for so long now before I did drag I loved to perform in

before I did drag I loved to perform in

before I did drag I loved to perform in theatre and I loved the singing karaoke

theatre and I loved the singing karaoke

theatre and I loved the singing karaoke bars but you know I was not getting that

bars but you know I was not getting that

bars but you know I was not getting that adrenaline rush that I was longing for

adrenaline rush that I was longing for

adrenaline rush that I was longing for that’s when I shut myself up I started

that’s when I shut myself up I started

that’s when I shut myself up I started watching all movies different kinds of

watching all movies different kinds of

watching all movies different kinds of movies which I can gain inspiration out

movies which I can gain inspiration out

movies which I can gain inspiration out of and that’s when I saw a beautiful

of and that’s when I saw a beautiful

of and that’s when I saw a beautiful movie known as mrs. Doubtfire where

movie known as mrs. Doubtfire where

movie known as mrs. Doubtfire where Robin Williams acted in drag I was like

Robin Williams acted in drag I was like

Robin Williams acted in drag I was like if Robin Williams can do drag then I can

if Robin Williams can do drag then I can

if Robin Williams can do drag then I can do drag too so that’s when I came across

do drag too so that’s when I came across

do drag too so that’s when I came across different other drag queens Dame Edna

different other drag queens Dame Edna

different other drag queens Dame Edna RuPaul RuPaul’s Drag Race and I came

RuPaul RuPaul’s Drag Race and I came

RuPaul RuPaul’s Drag Race and I came across my drag mother LaHood baddest on

across my drag mother LaHood baddest on

across my drag mother LaHood baddest on now

now

now drag is a pure performance art and I

drag is a pure performance art and I

drag is a pure performance art and I have been facing all these years of my

have been facing all these years of my

have been facing all these years of my life that drag is either crossdresser or

life that drag is either crossdresser or

life that drag is either crossdresser or is either transgender drag is not

is either transgender drag is not

is either transgender drag is not be mixed with sexuality I love being Who

be mixed with sexuality I love being Who

be mixed with sexuality I love being Who I am I’m not caught in the wrong body

I am I’m not caught in the wrong body

I am I’m not caught in the wrong body and I love to perform as a woman onstage

and I love to perform as a woman onstage

and I love to perform as a woman onstage simple now coming back to my family we

simple now coming back to my family we

simple now coming back to my family we all know that we live in a country where

all know that we live in a country where

all know that we live in a country where doing something like this is not

doing something like this is not

doing something like this is not accepted so it was difficult for my

accepted so it was difficult for my

accepted so it was difficult for my family as well

family as well

family as well my mother said sexuality go to hell with

my mother said sexuality go to hell with

my mother said sexuality go to hell with sexuality I don’t care about sexuality

sexuality I don’t care about sexuality

sexuality I don’t care about sexuality but you should not do drag my dad was

but you should not do drag my dad was

but you should not do drag my dad was like a child is a sin but drag is okay

like a child is a sin but drag is okay

like a child is a sin but drag is okay if you get money out of it so what I did

if you get money out of it so what I did

if you get money out of it so what I did was I give them time and space I told

was I give them time and space I told

was I give them time and space I told them let them you know figure out what

them let them you know figure out what

them let them you know figure out what they’re what they want and what they

they’re what they want and what they

they’re what they want and what they think about me but we realized that we

think about me but we realized that we

think about me but we realized that we were hurting each other we were actually

were hurting each other we were actually

were hurting each other we were actually like you know space and time was hurting

like you know space and time was hurting

like you know space and time was hurting each other so they moved to Bangalore

each other so they moved to Bangalore

each other so they moved to Bangalore now in Bangalore they haven’t seen me

now in Bangalore they haven’t seen me

now in Bangalore they haven’t seen me perform live as Miami I don’t know the

perform live as Miami I don’t know the

perform live as Miami I don’t know the reason and maybe I might know the reason

reason and maybe I might know the reason

reason and maybe I might know the reason after they see see me in the stock and

after they see see me in the stock and

after they see see me in the stock and they’ll come and see me perform life

they’ll come and see me perform life

they’ll come and see me perform life soon now coming back to my my first

soon now coming back to my my first

soon now coming back to my my first performance in drag as you see I wore my

performance in drag as you see I wore my

performance in drag as you see I wore my mother sari and blouse and I got on the

mother sari and blouse and I got on the

mother sari and blouse and I got on the stage because I was longing to perform

stage because I was longing to perform

stage because I was longing to perform in drag and I like put mullah poo that

in drag and I like put mullah poo that

in drag and I like put mullah poo that is Justin sours and I put I put one

is Justin sours and I put I put one

is Justin sours and I put I put one cheap wig actually and I went onstage

cheap wig actually and I went onstage

cheap wig actually and I went onstage and I sang a my alum song no less up a

and I sang a my alum song no less up a

and I sang a my alum song no less up a girl and danced to karate now after this

girl and danced to karate now after this

girl and danced to karate now after this performance I felt really good I felt

performance I felt really good I felt

performance I felt really good I felt like the adrenaline rush that I was

like the adrenaline rush that I was

like the adrenaline rush that I was longing for however there was criticism

longing for however there was criticism

longing for however there was criticism that I was placing people started

that I was placing people started

that I was placing people started calling me you look like a hitter your

calling me you look like a hitter your

calling me you look like a hitter your makeup is not that great you have a

makeup is not that great you have a

makeup is not that great you have a cheap wig and what is that sorry so I

cheap wig and what is that sorry so I

cheap wig and what is that sorry so I took it as a challenge

took it as a challenge

took it as a challenge a bold challenge to show them that you

a bold challenge to show them that you

a bold challenge to show them that you know what I can

know what I can

know what I can redo myself that’s when I tied up my bad

redo myself that’s when I tied up my bad

redo myself that’s when I tied up my bad wig into a buck click tide a jasmine

wig into a buck click tide a jasmine

wig into a buck click tide a jasmine flowers and put a customer sorry

flowers and put a customer sorry

flowers and put a customer sorry a graceful cassava sari with tricolor

a graceful cassava sari with tricolor

a graceful cassava sari with tricolor border and I went to perform on stage

border and I went to perform on stage

border and I went to perform on stage now you see a redefined Miami now

now you see a redefined Miami now

now you see a redefined Miami now they’re big different funny incidences

they’re big different funny incidences

they’re big different funny incidences in my life and I want to share something

in my life and I want to share something

in my life and I want to share something with you so there was a straight man who

with you so there was a straight man who

with you so there was a straight man who came across my pictures and Instagram

came across my pictures and Instagram

came across my pictures and Instagram and he was like in all with my pictures

and he was like in all with my pictures

and he was like in all with my pictures and he was like you looking so beautiful

and he was like you looking so beautiful

and he was like you looking so beautiful as a girl and I would like to sleep with

as a girl and I would like to sleep with

as a girl and I would like to sleep with you I’m like it has if it’s going to

you I’m like it has if it’s going to

you I’m like it has if it’s going to happen so what I did was I was like if

happen so what I did was I was like if

happen so what I did was I was like if you want to sleep with me

you want to sleep with me

you want to sleep with me sleep with me as a guy then he is a no

sleep with me as a guy then he is a no

sleep with me as a guy then he is a no no I can’t sleep with you as a guy so I

no I can’t sleep with you as a guy so I

no I can’t sleep with you as a guy so I said sweetie the door is that way you

said sweetie the door is that way you

said sweetie the door is that way you can go there now the next incident that

can go there now the next incident that

can go there now the next incident that I want to talk about was when I was

I want to talk about was when I was

I want to talk about was when I was chatting on an online app and that is

chatting on an online app and that is

chatting on an online app and that is when a guy today I’ve seen you somewhere

when a guy today I’ve seen you somewhere

when a guy today I’ve seen you somewhere and I was like maybe after the

and I was like maybe after the

and I was like maybe after the performance that you’ve seen me and he

performance that you’ve seen me and he

performance that you’ve seen me and he was a guy I saw you you were that guy

was a guy I saw you you were that guy

was a guy I saw you you were that guy wearing sari and dancing on stage I said

wearing sari and dancing on stage I said

wearing sari and dancing on stage I said yes that was me he was like I don’t

yes that was me he was like I don’t

yes that was me he was like I don’t approve of this I said bye because I am

approve of this I said bye because I am

approve of this I said bye because I am a straight acting gay man hurry yeah

a straight acting gay man hurry yeah

a straight acting gay man hurry yeah yeah a straight acting gay man I said

yeah a straight acting gay man I said

yeah a straight acting gay man I said sweetheart you are so confused about

sweetheart you are so confused about

sweetheart you are so confused about your sexuality please all the best with

your sexuality please all the best with

your sexuality please all the best with your life now this incident actually hit

your life now this incident actually hit

your life now this incident actually hit me the most and this happened last year

me the most and this happened last year

me the most and this happened last year was when I saw a picture of a drag queen

was when I saw a picture of a drag queen

was when I saw a picture of a drag queen floating in lot of these square groups

floating in lot of these square groups

floating in lot of these square groups closed queer groups in Facebook where it

closed queer groups in Facebook where it

closed queer groups in Facebook where it was written would you date a guy who

was written would you date a guy who

was written would you date a guy who does drag and I was like okay would you

does drag and I was like okay would you

does drag and I was like okay would you date a guy who does Drive and on the

date a guy who does Drive and on the

date a guy who does Drive and on the caption it was written I would if he

caption it was written I would if he

caption it was written I would if he doesn’t hurt me I like what will I do

doesn’t hurt me I like what will I do

doesn’t hurt me I like what will I do will I take my six

will I take my six

will I take my six Sheils and he too will I take my fake

Sheils and he too will I take my fake

Sheils and he too will I take my fake nails and claw you out so I was like

nails and claw you out so I was like

nails and claw you out so I was like enough is enough I’m going to sing a

enough is enough I’m going to sing a

enough is enough I’m going to sing a song about it and I’m going to sing the

song about it and I’m going to sing the

song about it and I’m going to sing the song to you come on come on to the radio

song to you come on come on to the radio

song to you come on come on to the radio on it’s Friday night and I won’t be long

on it’s Friday night and I won’t be long

on it’s Friday night and I won’t be long gonna do my hair put my makeup on it’s

gonna do my hair put my makeup on it’s

gonna do my hair put my makeup on it’s Friday night and I won’t be long till I

Friday night and I won’t be long till I

Friday night and I won’t be long till I hit the dance floor hit the dance floor

hit the dance floor hit the dance floor

hit the dance floor hit the dance floor I got all I need

I got all I need

I got all I need well I ain’t no macho I ain’t no macho

well I ain’t no macho I ain’t no macho

well I ain’t no macho I ain’t no macho but I’m a fierce drag queen baby I don’t

but I’m a fierce drag queen baby I don’t

but I’m a fierce drag queen baby I don’t need your hate to have fun tonight I

need your hate to have fun tonight I

need your hate to have fun tonight I love drag queens baby I don’t need your

love drag queens baby I don’t need your

love drag queens baby I don’t need your head to have fun tonight I love drag

head to have fun tonight I love drag

head to have fun tonight I love drag queens I don’t need no hatred as long as

queens I don’t need no hatred as long as

queens I don’t need no hatred as long as I can feel the love

I can feel the love

I can feel the love I don’t need no hatred as long as I keep

I don’t need no hatred as long as I keep

I don’t need no hatred as long as I keep dancing so thank you thank you so much

dancing so thank you thank you so much

dancing so thank you thank you so much uh you know I wouldn’t be here if it

uh you know I wouldn’t be here if it

uh you know I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for my community and that is the

weren’t for my community and that is the

weren’t for my community and that is the LGBT community and women all around the

LGBT community and women all around the

LGBT community and women all around the country because you know there are a lot

country because you know there are a lot

country because you know there are a lot of people out there who’s ready to

of people out there who’s ready to

of people out there who’s ready to preach hate throw hate at you but I take

preach hate throw hate at you but I take

preach hate throw hate at you but I take it as like you know it’s all patriotic

it as like you know it’s all patriotic

it as like you know it’s all patriotic thrown at me so I take it with

thrown at me so I take it with

thrown at me so I take it with a pinch of salt because I believe in

a pinch of salt because I believe in

a pinch of salt because I believe in love I am the queen of love so I only

love I am the queen of love so I only

love I am the queen of love so I only spread and take love and that’s what I

spread and take love and that’s what I

spread and take love and that’s what I believe in now I’m pretty sure you all

believe in now I’m pretty sure you all

believe in now I’m pretty sure you all know love is not easy give and take love

know love is not easy give and take love

know love is not easy give and take love isn’t that easy

isn’t that easy

isn’t that easy so I would like to sing another song

so I would like to sing another song

so I would like to sing another song about it

about it

about it love’s never easy take it from a girl

love’s never easy take it from a girl

love’s never easy take it from a girl who knows love comes as quickly as it

who knows love comes as quickly as it

who knows love comes as quickly as it goes love’s never easy always in moments

goes love’s never easy always in moments

goes love’s never easy always in moments of despair and we goes get more than our

of despair and we goes get more than our

of despair and we goes get more than our share all the women want to like is to

share all the women want to like is to

share all the women want to like is to find a man who’s kind and true we seen

find a man who’s kind and true we seen

find a man who’s kind and true we seen like through man’s eyes so we know what

like through man’s eyes so we know what

like through man’s eyes so we know what pleases you

Oh loves never easy ah this this song is

Oh loves never easy ah this this song is really really close to my heart because

really really close to my heart because

really really close to my heart because obviously it’s from Thailand it’s from

obviously it’s from Thailand it’s from

obviously it’s from Thailand it’s from Bombay Dreams another but it touched my

Bombay Dreams another but it touched my

Bombay Dreams another but it touched my soul always so now has a performance

soul always so now has a performance

soul always so now has a performance artist or has a drag performance artist

artist or has a drag performance artist

artist or has a drag performance artist I always kept gold gold for myself on my

I always kept gold gold for myself on my

I always kept gold gold for myself on my first year of as a drag queen I said you

first year of as a drag queen I said you

first year of as a drag queen I said you know what I need to do a photo shoot and

know what I need to do a photo shoot and

know what I need to do a photo shoot and I want to even take part in Oh in the

I want to even take part in Oh in the

I want to even take part in Oh in the theatre play or you know so that’s when

theatre play or you know so that’s when

theatre play or you know so that’s when I got the opportunity to be featured in

I got the opportunity to be featured in

I got the opportunity to be featured in a photoshoot known as you–as Karnataka

a photoshoot known as you–as Karnataka

a photoshoot known as you–as Karnataka at maximal above in’ in bangalore and i

at maximal above in’ in bangalore and i

at maximal above in’ in bangalore and i was part of a famous theater ensemble

was part of a famous theater ensemble

was part of a famous theater ensemble known as the wedding party done by

known as the wedding party done by

known as the wedding party done by catholic’ ahmad at famous ranga Shankara

catholic’ ahmad at famous ranga Shankara

catholic’ ahmad at famous ranga Shankara now in the second year of me performing

now in the second year of me performing

now in the second year of me performing as drag queen I said I want to perform

as drag queen I said I want to perform

as drag queen I said I want to perform so much that Bangalore needs to know

so much that Bangalore needs to know

so much that Bangalore needs to know about me and also I want to reach out to

about me and also I want to reach out to

about me and also I want to reach out to schools and colleges because I believe

schools and colleges because I believe

schools and colleges because I believe that is where the change has to start

that is where the change has to start

that is where the change has to start that is where people will get to know

that is where people will get to know

that is where people will get to know about my art form and that’s why I

about my art form and that’s why I

about my art form and that’s why I perform five times in two months for

perform five times in two months for

perform five times in two months for Bangalore pride and I actually reached

Bangalore pride and I actually reached

Bangalore pride and I actually reached out to students I perform for school

out to students I perform for school

out to students I perform for school students at a school known as Pune then

students at a school known as Pune then

students at a school known as Pune then I gave a talk on sensitization of media

I gave a talk on sensitization of media

I gave a talk on sensitization of media for the LGBT community at muliple

for the LGBT community at muliple

for the LGBT community at muliple University and I conducted a gender

University and I conducted a gender

University and I conducted a gender sensitisation workshop for under 25

sensitisation workshop for under 25

sensitisation workshop for under 25 students because the change has to start

students because the change has to start

students because the change has to start somewhere and with all of this you know

somewhere and with all of this you know

somewhere and with all of this you know I’m lucky and I’m so grateful that I got

I’m lucky and I’m so grateful that I got

I’m lucky and I’m so grateful that I got featured in places like a Geo life

featured in places like a Geo life

featured in places like a Geo life BuzzFeed news minute hidden pockets

BuzzFeed news minute hidden pockets

BuzzFeed news minute hidden pockets Hindu of eBay and bagged Lumira

Hindu of eBay and bagged Lumira

Hindu of eBay and bagged Lumira better India now after seeing all of

better India now after seeing all of

better India now after seeing all of this

this

this I knew that my journey is never going to

I knew that my journey is never going to

I knew that my journey is never going to end and it’s only started so my future

end and it’s only started so my future

end and it’s only started so my future ambition is that with this that the

ambition is that with this that the

ambition is that with this that the whole nation knows about Miami and I

whole nation knows about Miami and I

whole nation knows about Miami and I start a talk show known as Chaya with

start a talk show known as Chaya with

start a talk show known as Chaya with Maya with the focus on being on with the

Maya with the focus on being on with the

Maya with the focus on being on with the LGBT community and also hopefully next

LGBT community and also hopefully next

LGBT community and also hopefully next year that I go international and I

year that I go international and I

year that I go international and I perform internationally drag is an art

perform internationally drag is an art

perform internationally drag is an art form like any other performance art form

form like any other performance art form

form like any other performance art form all you need to do is accept it the way

all you need to do is accept it the way

all you need to do is accept it the way it is there are many people out there

it is there are many people out there

it is there are many people out there just like me who is ready to perform for

just like me who is ready to perform for

just like me who is ready to perform for you my other dream that I want to see is

you my other dream that I want to see is

you my other dream that I want to see is that I get to see my parents someday

that I get to see my parents someday

that I get to see my parents someday sitting there and watching me perform

sitting there and watching me perform

sitting there and watching me perform because that’s something really close to

because that’s something really close to

because that’s something really close to my heart and I hope it happens soon

my heart and I hope it happens soon

my heart and I hope it happens soon these are my drag daughters cash tally

these are my drag daughters cash tally

these are my drag daughters cash tally cash tally on your right side and that’s

cash tally on your right side and that’s

cash tally on your right side and that’s Rumi heart and there are my inspiration

Rumi heart and there are my inspiration

Rumi heart and there are my inspiration RuPaul and Dame Edna now I like I said

RuPaul and Dame Edna now I like I said

RuPaul and Dame Edna now I like I said before I believe in love and love only

before I believe in love and love only

before I believe in love and love only exists I’ve got questions such as when

exists I’ve got questions such as when

exists I’ve got questions such as when are you planning to do sex reassignment

are you planning to do sex reassignment

are you planning to do sex reassignment surgery or do you feel like you are in a

surgery or do you feel like you are in a

surgery or do you feel like you are in a woman but all these questions for me

woman but all these questions for me

woman but all these questions for me doesn’t hurt me or doesn’t affect me

doesn’t hurt me or doesn’t affect me

doesn’t hurt me or doesn’t affect me because whatever hate is just thrown at

because whatever hate is just thrown at

because whatever hate is just thrown at me is just like water off a duck’s back

me is just like water off a duck’s back

me is just like water off a duck’s back because I truly love myself now has the

because I truly love myself now has the

because I truly love myself now has the famous US drag queen said RuPaul said if

famous US drag queen said RuPaul said if

famous US drag queen said RuPaul said if you can’t love yourself how are you

you can’t love yourself how are you

you can’t love yourself how are you going to love somebody else

going to love somebody else

going to love somebody else now before I end this talk I would like

now before I end this talk I would like

now before I end this talk I would like to do this last song for you it’s called

to do this last song for you it’s called

to do this last song for you it’s called less bobby girl how many of you know

less bobby girl how many of you know

less bobby girl how many of you know who’s Bobby girl who’s it done by see

who’s Bobby girl who’s it done by see

who’s Bobby girl who’s it done by see those girls know what happened like you

those girls know what happened like you

those girls know what happened like you guys don’t know byaku I don’t you know

guys don’t know byaku I don’t you know

guys don’t know byaku I don’t you know yeah yeah so I’m going to sing the song

yeah yeah so I’m going to sing the song

yeah yeah so I’m going to sing the song girl

girl

girl are we go I’m a Barbie girl in the

are we go I’m a Barbie girl in the

are we go I’m a Barbie girl in the Barbie van life in plastic it’s

Barbie van life in plastic it’s

Barbie van life in plastic it’s fantastic you can brush my hair undress

fantastic you can brush my hair undress

fantastic you can brush my hair undress me everywhere imagination life is your

me everywhere imagination life is your

me everywhere imagination life is your creation come on Barbie let’s go party

creation come on Barbie let’s go party

creation come on Barbie let’s go party ah-ah-ah-yeah come on barbie let’s go

ah-ah-ah-yeah come on barbie let’s go

ah-ah-ah-yeah come on barbie let’s go party I you I hear you come come Barbie

party I you I hear you come come Barbie

party I you I hear you come come Barbie let’s go party ah-ah-ah-yeah come on

let’s go party ah-ah-ah-yeah come on

let’s go party ah-ah-ah-yeah come on barbie let’s go party

barbie let’s go party

barbie let’s go party aiyoo aiyoo thank you so much thank you

”

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