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ALOK
Writer, Performer & Consultant
ALOK
Writer, Performer & Consultant
Biography
ALOK (they/ them) is an internationally acclaimed poet, comedian, public speaker, and actor. ALOK’s literary works Femme in Public, Beyond the Gender Binary, and Your Wound/ My Garden have garnered global recognition.
Their dynamic presence has captivated audiences in over 40 countries, with sold-out shows at venues including Edinburgh Fringe Festival and London Soho Theatre, and headlining numerous Just For Laughs Festivals. ALOK can currently be seen in Hannah Gadsby’s Gender Agenda comedy special on Netflix and is slated to take center stage at the Netflix is a Joke Festival in Los Angeles in May 2024.
Their show has been described as "provocative and powerful" (Chortle) and a "Jaw- dropping celestial event" (TO DO LIST LONDON). The docu-short ALOK, which made its debut at Sundance, follows ALOK’s compelling performances in the films Absolute Dominion and Complicated Order, coupled with their roles in television series like Sort Of, Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness & Planet Sex with Cara Delevingne.
ALOK can next be seen in Mindy Kaling and Justin Noble’s hit series Sex Lives of College Girls on MAX. ALOK’s relentless advocacy for LGBTQ rights and the dismantling of traditional fashion norms have garnered them accolades including the ACLU Centennial Bill of Rights Award. As the visionary behind #DeGenderFashion and the Creative Partner for UGG’s eagerly anticipated 2024 Pride collection, they are pioneering a transformative era in fashion. Their leadership is paving the way for a fashion industry that celebrates unbridled personal expression, championing a culture of inclusivity and the celebration of unique identities.
Speaker Videos
The Complicated Reality of Being Trans and Indian-American | Perspectives
All the Bright Places: A Conversation About Mental Health | Netflix
Fashion’s Genderless Future | BOFVoices 2019
The Pain & Empowerment of Choosing Your Own Gender | StyleLikeU
On Creating Safe Spaces for Trans & Non-Conforming People | NBC News
Learning to Love Who They Are | NowThis
Speech Topics
Femme in Public
What feminine part of yourself did you have to destroy in order to survive in this world? At what point does femininity become synonymous with apology? Who hurt the people who hurt you? ALOK is trying to figure it out. 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.
Beyond the Gender Binary
In this talk ALOK presents a 21st century approach to gender rights. The gender binary – the idea that there are only two, opposite genders – is a system of power that exists to create conflict and division, not foster creativity and diversity. This false choice of boy or girl, man or woman, male or female is not natural, it is cultural. We deserve more options. Gender diversity is an integral part of our existence. It always has been, and it always will be.
Feelings Workshop
How many of us have used theory to make our feelings more legitimate? How many big words have we developed to keep us from saying "I'm scared?" What happens when we recognize that feelings are already valid unto themselves? In this creative arts workshop we work through jealousy, loneliness, hurt, love, longing, and all the parts of ourselves that are often dismissed and devalued. Together we develop strategies for emotional justice.
Writing & Performance Intensive
In this guided creative workshop participants will go from the page to the stage and back again. ALOK will share best tips and strategies for both amateur and advanced performers to maximize their performance potential. This workshop can be tailored for specific-interest or identity groups: LGBTQ people, LGBTQ people of color, etc.
Student Organizing Workshop
How can students be in solidarity with social movements happening off campus? How can students more strategically apply political pressure on campus? How can students doing anti-oppression work ensure sustainability and avoid burnout? Integrating both theory and practice this is a tactical workshop for student organizers.
Classroom Facilitation
As a trained academic ALOK regularly facilitates undergraduate and graduate seminars and lectures in Women's and Gender Studies, Ethnic Studies, Fashion Studies, Sociology, Anthropology, Media Studies, Performance Studies, Political Science, and more. Recent courses they have guest-lectured in include: "Gender and Labor in Contemporary Visual Culture," "Community-based Approaches to Performance," "Queer Fashion," and "Gender and Social Media Curation."
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