“Fashion is a way of occupying space, of being loud, of being celebrated.”
These words, delivered by comedian and social justice activist Alok Vaid-Menon (known by his stage name ALOK), underlined the theme of this year’s GenderChill: Gender Justice Fashion Show.
Held on the Biscayne Bay campus on November 18, GenderChill is a community-building event that raises awareness of gender and body diversity through the lens of social justice. This year, GenderChill honored the International Transgender Day of Remembrance, which is celebrated annually on November 20.
“Sometimes when it comes to gender, you just need to relax,” said Jess Osborn, who created the inclusive fashion show with the intention of celebrating the full spectrum of gender identity and expression. Osborn launched the event at the University of Miami as a graduate student in 2019, and the Pride Center worked with them to bring it to FIU for the first time this year.
The event kicked off with a Q&A session with ALOK, led by Erica Friedman, Associate Director of FIU’s Pride Center in the Office of Inclusion and Social Justice. ALOK discussed everything from transgender and non-binary history in relation to fashion, to legislation affecting the LGBTQIA+ community. They also shared their own journey as a non-binary person and provided words of encouragement to students and the LGBTQIA+ community in the audience.
ALOK participated in a Q&A session at GenderChill
“My life is worthy of spontaneity, decoration and adornment,” ALOK said of her love for fashion. “There is something eternal in authenticity.”
ALOK reminded the audience that there is power in the ability to show compassion. “Powerful people are people who love, who forgive, who are tender and refuse to let go.”
Afterwards, the models walked in sportswear created by local students, alumni and designers, as well as cosplayers. Adding to the excitement, audience members dressed for the occasion and were invited to walk the runway to show off their own personal style.
A model wears one of alumnus Jamal Morrison’s designs at GenderChill
Alumnus Jamal Morrison, owner of the Lamaj Company and designer of custom prom dresses, said it felt good to be back at FIU. Morrison said the pandemic left him in a creative slump, but one day, he sat down at his sewing machine determined to start creating again, and that led to the collection of rose-print black dresses he unveiled at GenderChill.
“Thank you [FIU Pride Center] for making me be their main LGBT designer,” Morrison said in an Instagram post after the event.
Students in the audience walk the runway at GenderChill
ALOK highlighted the importance of events like GenderChill in giving the LGBTQIA+ community a voice and encouraging those members who are not yet ready or unable to speak for themselves.
“We can all be a community center for each other. We can all be someone else’s first open mic. We can all be someone else’s first catwalk. We can give people permission to express themselves, and we can love them precisely because they are different. That is the beauty of the community,” ALOK said.
Keeping with this theme, GenderChill served as a fundraiser for the McKenzie Project, a Miami-based non-profit that aims to uplift transgender and non-binary black adults in South Florida. She also raised awareness for FIU’s Javon A. Stovall Memorial Scholarship, which supports graduate students who carry on the legacy and values of FIU alumnus and Pride Center graduate assistant Javon Stovall. This year’s event was held on the first anniversary of Stovall’s death.
Friedman said, “It is truly a privilege for the Pride Center to be able to bring together the LGBTQIA+ community and its allies to affirm and celebrate who they are through fashion and support causes that uplift the community and FIU students.”
Source: news.google.com