New Westminster local, trans activist, Youtuber, and radio host Jazmine Khan will take to the stage at New West Pride Columbia Street Party as host. We caught up with the charismatic 20 year old who had recently arrived home from a 22-hour trip to Edmonton to see Beyoncé’s Formation World Tour.
Your Youtube channel (youtube.com/JazmineKhan) is popular. How did you decide to start it?
I always wanted to vlog. When I came out as trans in 2010, I had not yet seen a trans person in the media, including Youtube. So I thought hey, what if I vlog my transition? I spent the following four years vlogging my transition from male to female, then at some point in 2014 I had what I call “The Trans Stealth Dilemma.” At some point when I started to pass as female, I realized oh crap, I don’t want to be openly trans anymore, I just want to be known as a [presumably cisgender] woman. And so I actually privated all my videos from my transition (losing 450,000 views from my channel). I now realize how stupid that was. I shouldn’t have let myself get scared of being me. My channel is currently on hiatus as I’m renovating it.
You’re a radio host with QueerFM, tell me about that gig.
I host QueerFM, Tuesdays 8 to 10:30 am on CiTR 101.9fm. We talk about queer events, queer news, and the music we play is (mostly female) queer artists. We also share stories. I’m the one that’s made it way more personal, to like a podcast model, I’ll talk about my life and experiences while my co-host DJ Denise stays professional and sticks to the news.
What does it mean to you to be hosting New West Pride?
It is such an honour that New West Pride picked me out of all the people out there to host. It not only shows how committed New West Pride is to representing all parts of the queer community, but it also shows their dedication to bringing light to voices that aren’t always heard in mainstream media. As a trans woman of colour; my voice is rarely heard in society, and is practically inaudible in the media, regardless of how loud I scream and shout. New West Pride is a real community festival, it is the last of many, and I’m glad it’s going strong! They’re estimating that 40,000 people are coming this year. That’s like 80% of of New Westminster’s population on Columbia Street, it’s just mindbogglingly and the fact that I’ll be getting in Formation on stage the entire day is going to be crazy! I can’t wait!
What sets New West Pride apart?
New West Pride truly sticks to the definition of pride and that is embracing everyone regardless of their race, colour, or creed, and making everyone feel loved and accepted. It’s not gay pride, it’s New West Pride, and that’s what makes it so different. ‘New Westies’ have this wicked sense of pride that encompasses everyone in the rainbow, I think that’s what makes us really unique, not just for Prides in Greater Vancouver, but for Prides in the world.
How would you describe your hosting style?
I’m going to try to say this as beautifully as I possibly can; I’m a low budget, talentless, chubby Indian Beyonce with way better dick jokes and higher heels (laughs). Honestly though, I try to be joyful, consistent and educational in anything that I host. One of the first things that I’m hoping to talk about when I go up on stage is about trans rights and how we are so privileged to be here in New West, because just a quick flight away, people are literally being jailed for going to the bathroom… It’s ridiculous
What does Pride mean to you?
It means loving yourself and all of your intersections, that’s what Pride is to me. There’s no reason to change for anyone. For me, Pride is just loving yourself regardless of all the things that society tells you that you’re not suppose to be loved for.
You can catch Jazmine on the Canawrap Main Stage on Saturday, Aug 13th from 3 - 8 pm at the New West Pride Columbia Street Party!
