In recognition of their work, Alok has been honored as the inaugural LGBTQ Scholar in Residence at the University of Pennsylvania and awarded a GLAAD Media Award and Stonewall Foundation Visionary Award. They are the author of Femme in Public (2017), Beyond the Gender Binary (2020), and Your Wound/My Garden (2021) they are also the creator of #DeGenderFashion, a social media-led initiative to degender fashion and beauty industries. They have performed on stages, in galleries, and on social media using fashion, poetry, and other art forms to express their gender identity and promote self-acceptance and self-expression for others. They have advocated for intersectional approaches to social justice and activism.Īs a performance artist, Alok uses their art and creativity to challenge societal norms and expectations around gender and identity. Alok is vocal about the unique challenges and discrimination that LGBTQ+ people who are also part of marginalized racial and ethnic communities face. Their groundbreaking efforts in raising awareness, promoting inclusivity, and advocating for LGBTQ+ rights have left a lasting legacy, inspiring and empowering queer Asians in their fight for visibility, acceptance, and equality.Īlok Vaid-Menon is a performance artist, writer, and advocate who has spoken out about the intersection of their identities as a gender non-conforming person and a person of South Asian descent. Unbound Feet’s work culminated in participating in the first National Third World Lesbian and Gay Conference held in Washington, D.C. This marked a pivotal shift towards self-discovery, empowerment, and liberation. The group gave Asian American and LGBTQ-identifying people a safe space to share, support one another, and connect.īecause of their work, during this time in San Francisco’s Chinatown, queer women of Chinese ancestry began to metaphorically “unbind” their feet. These three formed the feminist performance group Unbound Feet in 1979.

Kitty Tsui was born in Hong Kong, Nellie Wong was born in Oakland to Chinese immigrant parents, and Merle Woo was born in SanFrancisco to Chinese and Korean parents. In Making Waves: An Anthology of Writings by and about Asian American Women.Īrt has always been crucial in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, as Nellie Wong, Kitty Tsui, and Merle Woo demonstrated.

Nellie Wong, Kitty Tsui, Merle Woo, and the Unbound Feet Join us as we explore the diverse identities and narratives of LGBTQ+ people of Asian and Pacific Island descent and celebrate their remarkable journeys during this month of recognition and appreciation. Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month is a time to highlight the significant role of LGBTQ+ people in the AAPI community and to reflect on the progress made as well as the work that remains to be done in advocating for equality and inclusivity.

Femme in public alok vaid menon