“Performing Artist and Musician, Madame Gandhi, for Teen Vogue: “To me, Pride is about feeling free to be authentically yourself, without fear of judgement, pain or rejection. It is about having the space to exist joyfully and honestly, without worrying that you may not be able to advance your goals or find love in your day to day life. To me, this year’s Pride in particular, the first one since 45 was elected to the White House, is about the queer community being its fiercest and most unified, so as to send a clear message to the current administration and to the world, that if you threaten basic rights, we will all organize, and we will stop you.
I want to live in a world where each person can pursue their dreams fully, with freedom from oppression, and I think the Pride movement reminds all of us, no matter who we are, that this is possible. It is incredibly healing to go out and celebrate in majority queer spaces during the weekends of Pride all around the world, to feel in the majority rather than the minority, and to feel celebrated. It can often be deeply emotional at times.
Finally, I’ll add that Pride to me is about combating misogyny, so that both the feminine and the masculine are equally valued. In my song, “The Future is Female,” I explain that I want to live in a world in which female qualities are no longer subordinated to male qualities. I want to live in a world that is linked and not ranked. I do believe that an entry point into combatting homophobia and transphobia is combatting the idea that female is not as desirable as male. When we understand that gender lies on a true spectrum, I believe that trans misogyny and misogyny of all types starts to dissolve, allowing us to be liberated in our varying gender identities.”
Madame Gandhi is a Los Angeles-based musician, activist and music industry thinker. She has toured professionally drumming for M.I.A and Thievery Corporation and currently DJs, drums and produces music under her own name. Most recently she performed at San Francisco Pride Festival.
Madame Gandhi | BLOG 