On Monday, Oct. 7, Kareem Khubchandani (LaWhore Vagistan) spoke and performed in the Events Barn. The visit was arranged by Professor Usman Hamid and Professor Mariam Durrani of the Asian Studies and Anthropology Departments, respectively. The event was co-sponsored by the Asian Studies and Anthropology Departments.
By day, Vagistan lives the alter ego of Kareem Khubchandani, an assistant professor in the Theatre, Dance, & Performance Studies Department and the Program in Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies at Tufts University. By night, she’s a diva in drag.
The night of the event, the Barn filled with an audience of around 75 students & faculty, all of whom were quickly drawn in by Vagistan’s dramatic entrance down the balcony staircase. After her opening number, it was clear that Vagistan intended to teach and perform simultaneously.
The term “globalization” was the first slide to be flashed across the screen. Anthropology students in the audience were tasked with explaining the ways in which globalization has affected the Queer, Black, and Asian communities and how the term has evolved. To further the discussion, Vagistan offered a lip-sync performance of “Telephone” by Lady Gaga that was interrupted by a real recording of an Indian call center manager training workers how to speak “American” so they can have higher success rates in their calls.
Vagistan connected this form of globalization to the globalization of gay nightlife, especially with the presence of voguing. Although the lesson’s focus was structured around globalization and its impacts, Vagistan also touched on the effect of recent politics. She used Islamaphobia in America, President Trump’s “Muslim Ban,” shootings that targeted Muslims, and the harassment of US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar as examples of how recent issues regarding islamophobia should no longer be treated with ambivalence by the country at large.
LaWhore incorporated Nicki Minaj and Lizzo (who she called two of the best contemporary feminine theorists) into her performance, in addition to working in a series of academic studies, including some by the late famous theorist José Esteban Muñoz. These academic studies broke down Black, Feminist, and Queer theory, which Vagistan said have more relevance to the words of Lizzo and Minaj than people may think.
With an emphasis on empowerment, equality, and the war on expression, LaWhore’s presentation showcased an ability to relate pop culture icons and their work as artists to academic study with the goal of broadening the audience’s perspective.
Abigail Moone ’23, who said she attended the event because of her interest in Queer and Feminist theory, was as impressed by this as she was taken aback by “the way Queer theory and even Islamaphobia were worked in on top of all the humor.”
Moone said what stuck with her the most was “the comedic sexual innuendos, especially with the finger movements” that left the audience crying in laughter and leaving the Events Barn knowing they would never think of the song the same way again. Light-hearted moments were prevalent throughout. When discussing race in media — in Disney films specifically — Vagistan lip-synced “A Whole New World” from Disney’s Aladdin.
When asked during the post-performance Q&A with the audience about why, in addition to her comedy and lip-sync numbers, LaWhore chose to educate in her shows, she replied that they “go hand in hand,” explaining that that the moment a drag artist steps on stage, they are making a historic statement. She added that she believes everyone has a platform and it is up to them to take advantage of it.
In addition to the lesson and Lawhore’s lip-synch numbers, there were 3 costume changes, a karaoke Lizzo-themed intermission, and even a lip-sync battle (as seen on the Emmy Award winning show Rupaul’s Drag Race,) which featured 6 members of the audience.
Runner-up in the Battle was Dylan Badillo ’23 said he would “like to see more drag outlets and events on campus” due to the inspiration he felt by the conclusion of the event.
Bradley Dixon ’20 said a major takeaway from the event was that “everyone has their own way of expressing their identity, and now I’m leaving inspired.”
Dixon’s favorite part of the show was when Vagistan flashed photos and video of Hamilton’s campus behind her as she lip-synced to “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now” by Celine Dion.
Badillo said he found it profound how Dr. Vagistan was able to balance the “dichotomy between her professional life at Tufts and her nightlife on the drag stage. I have been reassured by her and how I can, in fact, have a successful law career and still pursue queer culture without it holding me back.”
