Siddhi Kulkarni

“At a fundamental level, we are still having to argue for the very ability to exist. The truth is, I still cannot go outside without being afraid for my safety. There are few spaces where I do not experience harassment for the way I look.”
― Alok Vaid-Menon, Beyond the Gender Binary

“The truth is, that we are in a state of emergency. In the past few years, we have seen an onslaught of legislation... targeting gender non-conforming people...

Our communities are under attack. Regardless of whether these pieces of legislation pass, the fact that they're even being considered suggests just how disposable we are considered to be.”
― Alok Vaid-Menon, Beyond the Gender Binary

“The gender binary is like a party guest who shows up before you get the chance to set the table. Before a baby is even born, well-meaning well-wishers will often ask, “Is it a boy or a girl?” The baby only becomes real to most people once they know the gender. But there are so many more important questions to be asked when a child is born, such as: “How’s your baby doing?” or “How can I support you during this time?” or “Why is it so expensive to raise kids?” Or maybe even “Where can I donate to help?”
― Alok Vaid-Menon, Beyond the Gender Binary

“It's a surreal experience to have your personhood be reduced to a prop.”
― Alok Vaid-Menon, Beyond the Gender Binary