Bring out the fear. Just be yourself and dance.
I just want to be out.
In Gaysian club nights across the UK gay Muslim men are going under the spotlight and embracing
their faith in drag.
For Asian audiences they get the veil or the burka but it's really for the mainstream audiences,
when I do the cabaret shows, that's when the burka comes out.
At the front of the procession is Asifa Lahore, Britain's first out, gay Mulism drag queen
and figurehead of the Gaysian community.
She's pushing the boundaries of what it means to be Muslim and gay.
Sexual orientation is not a choice, what is a choice is ignorance and human prejudice
on the matter.
And now, with a new generation of drag queens coming out in their communities, the clubs
are busier than ever before.
But off stage their freedom has come at a price. As drag queens bring together their faith
and sexuality each of them has their own story to tell.
Me coming out and speaking out has really put people on edge in many ways.
Oooh, they're half men, half ladies. Ewww.
So what's your get up going to be tonight?
Er... an English girl.
Ali is a gay Pakistani asylum-seeker and practising Muslim. He left Pakistan owing to hostility
he faced because of his sexuality.
Ummm... fancy wear, traditional dresses. I can try to look good - to make myself good
but I only can try.
Ali began his career as drag queen Shilpa Jain two months ago but is yet to perform on stage.
Every queen has their own style, own personality and whatever they're comfortable with, we
bring out that and we make them express their inner queen.
Tonight Asifa Lahore is hosting Disco Rani, her very own Gaysian club night in west London.
Asifa is supportive of newcomers to the drag scene and has welcomed Ali and his flatmate
to the night.
My first Gaysian night was Asifa's. She's the one who gave me this thing that you can do drag.
I like this night because you feel like you're home.
Queen!
Oh, I look, like perfect. That's what I call perfect.
Are you slightly nervous when you do drag?
Yes, it is a constant fear because of other people's reaction. When we are coming back
from the party we are always feeling uncomfortable in ourselves. We are maybe using nightbuses
and have all these people around us, looking at us.
Are you ladies?
Oh my God, look!
Oooh, they're half men, half ladies. Ewww!
We're filiming a documentary.
That's gay though boss, how are you letting them do that?
Driver, just drive on.
Go on, just drive the car. Show us your man voice, drive the car. Ok!
Thanks dude. Thank you. Driver cheers, off you go.
Lock the doors first. Please lock the door first.
He's scratched my car.
Everything in front of you, you see, that's why I'm scared.
They can hurt us, they can insult us as well. One guy was murdered downstairs, in the same place.
My body is shivering.
That's what you call fear.
No one can change this thinking. Not even in the UK.
They don't respect us, they think that we are insects.
Right now I have nothing. I am nothing.
Right, we're starting with DJ Kora and she's going to play some Beyonce. Go on baby.
One day I'll be like Asifa.
Asifa Lahore is helping Ali rehearse for his first ever performance as Shilpa Jain.
Shake those hips, bring out that chest. Extenuate, I want to see that face.
Joining him is Rezia Rani, another experienced and out Muslim drag queen in the Gaysian community.
Keep going, keep going. Keep going.
In just a week's time both Ali and Rezia will be playing at Disco Saathi in Birmingham,
the UK's biggest gay Asian club night.
Right, what I want you to remember, we're not in Lahore, we're in Birmingham. OK?
So you've got to make it a little bit different. I've seen it all before. Put Shilpa into it!
Who is Shilpa?
A naughty and a very, like, laugh-full and very funny bitch, to be honest.
Right?
Yeah.
If you want to be a bitchy drag queen we need to see that in the performance. I'm not actually
seeing that in the performance right now. Where is this bitchy drag queen that you're
talking about?
Do you see? It's all about just putting your personality into it.
Birmingham's very traditional in its drag circuit. Why can't you be the change that
allows it to evolve?
Drag queens have always been figureheads. They've always, sort of, led the LGBT rights
movement. They've always, you know, pushed forward and it's very easy for Asian gay boys
to turn around and say: "Oh, don't do drag! You know, don't do drag." We're being visible.
We're actually pushing the debate forward. They're just being invisible.
You are going to be performing at one of the UK's biggest gay Asian venues. OK? As a girl.
As Shilpa. This is your dream and you've got this opportunity now, here in Britain to do
that. What you represent is LGBT people coming from Pakistan and being able to be themselves,
possibly for the first time ever, in the UK. Do you get that? Do you really get that?
It's show night and Ali has travelled to Birmingham with Rezia, where he begins his six hour transformation
into Shilpa.
Are you nervous Shilpa?
I am nervous.
You look it!
Helping him get ready is fellow drag queen and make up artist Zerina.
I prefer waxing. Yeah, it's pain, but still...No pain, no gain.
It is a big night for me. A massive night for me.
Hello Asif!
Hello! How are you?
Hello Asif, alaikum!
Alaikum-as-Salam, how are you darling?
Good, how are you?
I'm not too bad. Are you excited about tonight?
I am always, you know that.
Well just take care of Shilpa for me.
Yes.
Yeah, I know you're like a pro, I know you've been doing it for a while. Just make sure
that she's looking great, that she's feeling great!
I think she's getting into that confidence. But she's a bit nervous now, there...
Do you know what? Think about all those people in Pakistan, all those gay men, all those
lesbians, all the transgender people, remember how lucky you are tonight and just embrace
the opportunity that's in front of you.
Bye! See you guys later.
See you Asif, bye!
No! My base is getting better now! I look fab today!
I'm doing my level best to look good.
OK, ladies, we need to make a move. Put your headpiece on, madam.
I feel jealous right now. You've got your complete headpiece?
Yeah.
Lehenga? And the jewels?
Like this?
Come on, this way, let's go, the club is just down the street.
When I came on the stage and they started shouting, I was like: "Oh my god, they like
me!" And then I start dancing and it is a, like, shocking thing for me and it was amazing!
A lot of people in Britain today are living really inauthentic lives, especially in our
community. You can either allow different identities or different communities to get
in the way of you being you, or you can just be you and face up to it.
My thinking was wrong. Rather than saying: "Oh, I'm scared of this and that!" No!
I can do this now.
We are here to support you, just you need do this one thing, to collect some courage
in you and you are the best and no one can stop you.
Everything is going to be fine.
Just have faith.