We are in the 21st century, post 377 era but still half of the ‘janta’ struggle to understand the very obvious fact that the gender assigned at birth has nothing to do with one’s sexuality!

While the homo sapiens managed to explain the theory of polygamy and convinced themselves that menstruation is not some ‘jaanleva bimari’, I couldn’t understand why is it so hard for them to understand a ‘male’ need not like ‘females’ and that he may or may not like any gender of his choice and vice versa.

I’m introducing you today to five of the well-known influencers from the LGBT community who were assigned ‘male’ as the gender on their birth, but they proved it had nothing to do with their sexual orientation!

Alex Matthew

View this post on Instagram

#TBT to when I performed for first time in #Mumbai. It was memorable. I met many people who are near and dear to me ❤ Picture Courtesy: @agentsofishq #Mayamma #mayathedragqueen #indiandragqueen #brownqueens #dragqueensofindia #rainbow #smile #pride #southindian #dragrace #dragperformance #dragqueenart #rupaulsdragracelive #happiness #bangalore #LGBT #queer #fabulous #queenoflove #lockdown2020 #entertainer #performance #showqueen #instadragqueen

A post shared by മായമ്മ || Alex Mathew (@mayathedragqueen) on Sep 18, 2020 at 1:45am PDT

Alex, also known as the ‘Maya the Drag queen’ is one of the rare talents you will ever meet. The artist identifies self as Queer and is popularly known by the character ‘mayamma’ whose motto is to bring out and express all atrocities faced by the LGBT+ community.

Alex, through his art, tries to show people that drag performance is an art which has nothing to do with the gender or community the performer belongs to. The character ‘mayamma’ wishes to inspire women to be strong and fight back abuse.

Rohit Singh

View this post on Instagram

Being non-binary means for me is finally being in a space where I feel conscious and confident about the decisions I make in life and not having my body be regulated by one tight narrative. It has created pathways for me to be more creative, more vulnerable, and more resilient in the face of adversity. Being non-binary means everything to me, it has helped shape me into the person and advocate I am today. #makeup #makeuphasnogender #reels #gendernonconforming #genderfluid

A post shared by Rohit Singh (@roro_love_makeup) on Sep 4, 2020 at 7:24am PDT

Rohit, a professional make-up artist, is breaking all gender-based stereotypes by showing that make-up is not gender-specific. 

For him, make-up is a form of art which is nothing less than magic and on which he doesn’t want any type of societal rules. 

Sushant Divgikar

View this post on Instagram

Namaskarrrrrr !!! My hustle has been real , it’s been hard and I’m just putting it out there now and forever , I’m never backing down. You can stare at me but never look through me because I’m THAT diamond. I’ve only been taught by my lovely parents to believe in myself and love everything I do. So here I am rocking these custom made shoes which I am absolutely lovinggggg. RANI ke taraf se HAAAN HAIII !! I’m delighted and extremely honoured to be among the #50SuperstarsOfChange By @adidasoriginals #SuperstarsOfChange #adidasSuperstars Design credits for the custom made shoes – Chaitanya Dixit ( the artist who worked on making this design come alive ) @chaitanya_dixit And to everyone out there that has been told you’re not good enough , I just want to tell you all , pay no attention to Naysayers because they ain’t paying your bills ✌🏼 #queendom #queen #slay #rani #ranikohenur #sushantdivgikar #lgbt #queer #pride #adidasoriginals #custommade

A post shared by Sushant Divgikr/ Rani KoHEnur (@sushantdivgikr) on Sep 7, 2020 at 6:28am PDT

Sushant, the winner of Mr Gay India 2014, is one you can call an all-rounder. From being a well-known singer to a performer to a drag artist, his talents are beyond exemplary. 

His drag queen character ‘Rani KoHEnur’, is the first-ever drag queen who got telecasted on national television. He is also known for his great acting skills and confident presentations.

Vqueeram Aditya Sahai

View this post on Instagram

the airport. again. same unimaginative rules. so much grey and white light it could be suitcase of a manager. then comes the tranny. no longer begging in the streets. none of the paraphernalia she must draw around herself to get some money because respect is impossible. a life even more so, if there is a threshold to the impossible that can be crossed without a boat. here is a english wali tranny. not exactly the shemale of their fantasies because she doesn’t have the boobs but also because she thinks she shouldn’t be fucked with. what does she know? when my bags are checked twice & then by hand, when the security person needs the neck of a tennis umpire going from my body to my id, back & forth till convinced that they are the right person to check my wrongful personhood. when before i have arrived at the desk, there is a huddle of every security staff behind the counter to smirk, amuse, wonder. an insatiable curiosity. but i’m the cat to be sacrificed. the guard will run the machine twice, ask questions about every beep since there is a zipper on the pants where he doesn’t expect it, there is a belly ring i must lift my tee to show, will ask questions about other curiosities i may be hiding, laugh at his own sexualisation of the moment, & then he will grope. twice. no tranny has made it to the stereotype of a terrorist so why is security so invested in my gender? it is simple. the security regimes wants to ensure the order of things, ensure passengers at the airport are given a normal experience. i don’t belong there. so i must be violated because i cannot be thrown out. so i don’t have the gall to show up again, given i have the gall to wear what i’m wearing. in the ways they join ranks, hold fort, become one leviathan against my audacity & transgression; my violation allows for the distraught to regroup. i upset the normalcy of their lives & so in the knowledge of what one of their own did to me, in the silence of my protest, in the high fives after i pick my bag there is the reformed community, the renewed normal. this is the vulnerable with guns. the trouble of anaesthetised surfaces. the community i help build. a virus a whole body fights.

A post shared by Vqueeram Aditya Sahai (@vqueer) on Jul 31, 2019 at 8:55pm PDT

Vikramaditya, a former professor at Ambedkar University, is known for keeping an unconventional view of the gender binary. Her work on gender inequality, ideology and opinions, and violence on LGBT+ shows his firm stand on LGBT+ issues.

She encourages people to love their sexuality and gender while accepting the realities and taking necessary steps to prevent injustice.

Vivek Shraya

View this post on Instagram

The 10 year anniversary edition of GOD LOVES HAIR is officially out today 🥳 In 2010, when I self-published this book, I had no manager, no agent, no publicist, no MFA, no writing community, and obviously, no publisher. I also had no giant motivations outside from a desire to share my story. It’s been a surprising journey, moving into the publishing industry—from hand selling copies at craft fairs and bookstores refusing to stock my book to being a staff pick on front tables, from creating a fake PR email address to send out press kits to having the support of publishing teams, from being ineligible for writing grants and prizes to being invited to be on literary juries, from sleeping in airports on my first book tour to sometimes having travel expenses covered, and of course, from being self-published to now being a publisher. I take none of this for granted especially because the job of an artist, as we’ve seen this year, is a precarious one. And despite the privileges and access I have gained, what I am proudest of is that I had the courage to write and release this book. I am so grateful to each and everyone of you who purchased an early copy, and especially grateful to my close friends who convinced me that my story was worth sharing. I wouldn’t have a career and the sense of purpose I’ve had this past decade without all of you ❤️ Big shout out to @juliananeufeld_draws for being such a wonderful collaborator and my publisher @arsenalpulp for celebrating this milestone. Signed copies and limited edition posters illustrated by Juliana are available @glassbookshop. Catch you on my ig live tomorrow at 8 PM EST for the book launch event! #godloveshair 📸: @vanessaheins 💄: @alanna_of_love

A post shared by VIVEK SHRAYA 🆚 (@vivekshraya) on Sep 15, 2020 at 4:00am PDT

Vivek, the author of the best-selling book ‘I’m Afraid of Men’, is also the creator of the album ‘Part‑Time Woman’. She is an artist whose work can be found in different genres –– music, visual art, literature, film, theatre –– you call it, she probably has done it.

Her work aims to educate and inspire their audience about topics, including mental health, queerness, and inclusion.

Share your story with us & we will share it with the world! #MyStory #LGBT