Feeling his political voice was not being heard through wordy text glued on colorful cardboard; a political activist sent out to display his message through campy fashion.
Khuong Lam participated in his first political march for the rights of the LGBTQ community in front of the L.A. City Hall with three posters he crafted in his hand. He no longer makes these long winded posters but condenses his ideas in fashionable art.
“That day I felt like we were not there to change people’s minds. I guess we were there to show we’re in solidarity for each other,” Lam said as he recalled the first moments he felt like a political activist after marching alongside his fellow LGBTQ community.
Lam’s persona, Glamda Da Fabulous, was born around the concept of campy fashion – exaggerated, unconventional and sometimes gaudy dresses worn with a political purpose.
Glamda is a part of Lam, not necessarily his alter ego; however, a confident persona Lam uses to vocalize his once unheard voice. Glamda came to life when Lam felt the government was not listening or supporting minority groups in America, “Who am I? I’m nobody and I’m frustrated, we all are,” Lam said as he explained the purpose of Glamda.
What initiated as a Halloween costume, designed by Lam in 2016, has evolved over the years into loud political dresses with ideas stated in bold hot-glued letters or particular patterns plastered with political references.
“I wanted to make a sign and wanted it to be meaningful, so I made a dress,” Lam said. According to Lam, using a dress to promote a message helps humanize the topic that is sometimes too complex and displays it through creativity rather than a poster which people will just glance over and soon forget. The dress itself embodies not only what he is trying to say, but also who his character is.
“I just see it from a different perspective; it’s just me with a bow on my head. I do come off as trans but my makeup isn’t as drag-ish so I don’t know what people see and I don’t really care,” Lam said.
Lam’s persona name was influenced by Glinda the Good Witch from the Wizard of Oz, with a modern personalized twist added by Lam. She has been spotted in a multitude of events including pride events in San Francisco and San Diego and has marched alongside other like-minded individuals in the Resist March and the Bernie Sanders rally in Los Angeles earlier this year.
For each event that Lam attends as Glamda, he’ll change a particular aspect of the dress which usually is the message. For his upcoming events, he took “Individual 1” and reshifted its original message to change the perspective of the dress, a technique he describes as the dress evolving.
The flowing ruffles and pink tulle spark your attention; however, the real message is the one created by Lam, who works through all his emotions to assemble a creative figure as an outlet for his political voice.
Lam confessions continued as he explained feeling misunderstood by people understanding where Glamda ends and Lam continues. According to Lam, he feels people may be confused by his gender orientation as a gay man or believe he is Glamda full time.
“She’s just a drag character, just me without tits, hair, and pussy. She’s not a woman; she’s Glamda. She’s just more feminine,” Lam said.
Lam’s inner feminine side, is explored through the evolution of Glamda’s dresses, giving him the confidence to wear these campy dresses in public in the hopes to be politically heard a couple of days out of the year.
Even though Lam’s confidence can be shown through Glamda, he still faces negativity for what he does.
“There’s a huge negative connotation to people that do drag, and there’s a stamp on me already, and that’s the risk I had to take with Glamda,” Lam said as he explained his social responsibilities as Glamda and not wanting to be labeled but in most instances is.
Displaying himself in many different places, while being himself and speaking his voice, is not always easy, “Some people think I’m a clown, fag; it is scary, but I’m glad the places I go to, there are like-minded folks. Everyone welcoming,” Lam said.
Yet even if scared, when Glamda finally steps out of the vehicle people, notice her. Even though shy, Lam is forced to interact and be social with people whenever he is Glamda.
Tran Lam, Khuong Lam’s sister, explained her brother’s political persona.
Glamda is, “A bold voice that he (Lam) uses in order to express his views and beliefs; a way to scream louder, (with) the colors the boldness of Glamda; you can’t walk past Glamda and not turn twice,” Tran Lam said.
Regardless of what comes after, Lam is enjoying what Glamda is doing now and the impact he is having on his audience.
Optimistic about Glamda’s character development but also about life itself, Lam is letting Glamda evolve from solely being political.
The dress now features an icon Rupaul reference, “Shantay you stay !!!, Shatay away…” positioned on the front and the back of the light pink dress.
In a time where people want to help but don’t know how, Lam found a personalized unconventional way to speak up for himself and hopes others do the same.
“Find your voice, in politics, life, in your creativity. Don’t give up,” Lam said.
