Esta Ricardo; Part 2 - The DragMother of GenderFunk, VietNams alternative Queer scene | S2 Ep 8

Esta Ricardo is a Drag Queen and GenderFunk performer and Founder/Mother of GenderFunk. He loves exploring Gender through workshops, performance and lots of talking!

Born in Birmingham he then lived in Manchester and London before studying Journalism in London. He then worked for the British Red Cross for 2 years and started performing in the radical arts festival scene in Europe. 

He has now lived in Saigon for 3 years.

In part 2 we talk about inclusiveness, not knowing if you're being discriminated in Vietnamese, orgies and changing perceptions of what's right or wrong.

Esta Ricardo is a funny, entertaining and fabulous guest!

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Transcript

spk_0:   0:13
from minorities in 20 years ago. We would ever get there whether they call agenda, whatever that trip man's politicians and things like that on,

spk_1:   0:23
It's amazing. They are definitely step in the right direction. Why things important from me And this is me as an individual speaking, and I and also in turn, a lot of general funks. Philosophy is this is that Jennifer we are not hating will make jokes about it. But we're not hanging straight white people at all. Like a lot of I cried a straight white people because this is a really important point for me is that at the end of the day, you can't help how you're born if you're born a straight old white person not going on. But if you're old now, you were born 60 years ago as a straight white person. You were born into that experience and you live that experience and you were educated in that way. That's not your choice. You didn't choose that. So I don't hate you for being born. I'm being educated that way. What is more important to me is to try and build a bridge and a connexion for us to understand each other so we can make the world better for both of us. So I feel like there is a radical liberal movement that is like screw the straight people, white people, they're evil and you know they're not the best, but they're not bad. They're not bad people. That's just how they were taught. The world is, and we're not going to get anywhere by shying each other and creating distance. We need to have parties together, and that's what Jennifer is. It's an invitation to like Hey, come and have a drink with us part of this and see that this is a great fabulous thing and maybe it will change your perspective. So that's why we did like the straight guys edition. And that's why I, like we are an inclusive space, is because I I have nothing against anyone. I don't care what colour you are as long as you you can choose how you were born your experience. But you can choose to change it when somebody provide you a different information and you can choose to grow. If someone has patience and gives you an opportunity to If you decide to not grow and not be grateful of that patient. Then you're a dick and I will call you straight. But most people aren't most people that I meet that are white and straight like I taught somebody's stuff. Of course. So what about this? They asking those questions? And if we're showing a straight people all the time like you've got my programme around, you're doing this. They're not gonna ask questions, and then they're not gonna learn

spk_0:   2:32
about us and we

spk_1:   2:33
can't be friends. And at the end of the day, we all got to live in this world, and there's more straight people than queer people. So

spk_0:   2:39
we have something that is part of the problem of the challenge he talked a lot about were seen being inclusive of everyone. My

spk_1:   2:48
quest scene.

spk_0:   2:50
But your creation in general, Do you think that street where people did just along the moment one in every group, many people eating beef you, you know, like they don't feel welcome and they don't feel inclusive. And the misconception is that they are welcome to these events and then they are may be thinking that I'm going to be yelled out. I see the wrong. Bruno, Do you think that a swell?

spk_1:   3:12
I think it is. I think it is two things. One, I think one is We're a time where minority voices have really, really lied and very, very like strong and, I think a little bit aggressive sometimes. But, you know, I'm not judging that we need that. Also, you need Jennifer Jennifer think our way out. My way of creating a connexion between the genders and the sexual itself, and peace and happiness is to create a party for, still hang out together, get to know each other That's valuable. That's needed patience, understanding what we also need. People who are charging the march of mean that, Yo, listen to us. We need that. You do need both of those things. So I'm not discrediting the amazing work of the people do across the world. Those fierce people, they actually are some of the most inspiring people. To me, it's just not my way. So I think, because when you have such strong voices in minority groups who are who have been through, you know, the worst hardships, I think people straight people who are looking at them and going like they've already been through so much. If I question or ask a question, I might offend them. I don't want to offend. This person has been through a lot. I don't want to look like I'm being ignorant or stupid, and I think that's where one of the issues lies is like being scared of being vulnerable and being scared of being angry and everybody's ignorant. Ignorance isn't negative. The negative things if you choose to not try and heal your ignorance or learn more. So I think that's one of the issues is people are too scared to ask questions out of offence on DH. That means there's no dialogue. So then there's no education and we're not gonna learn about each other.

spk_0:   4:54
No, I completely agree. And I don't think I've ever said this on the podcast, despite the fact that we've had a baby born Pantech people on. I'm definitely 12 to this with friends as well. So this isn't a secret. I used to be homophobic growing up. So was I. Really? Yeah, a brought up off my family and no more for me. But maybe some things you'd hear the odd comment I remember from like my grandpa is the best people in the world. Be like there's that queer on the TV or something like that and I have talked about this on the podcast. I grew up with the old coach on me. Or, you know, I have talked about this with friends and still makes me laugh. You know, the culture I grew up on grew up in was if you'd have paint a beer because you don't want to get too drunk, you can have 1/2 pint of you. What do you get? Your house painter? Dude, I'm just having less field and normal. But that's so that when it came from that. And then it is reassuring to hear what you say that the thing is that you can be like that, but you have to change. Right? And I went to America. I worked in a summer camp. There's a guy who's a camp counsellor there, Code red. He's a bisexual man. He was a good guy. He's a dude, was fine. As soon as I met him, I was like, and also, I guess, is that in my life I was moved overseas. Was in America, expanding my horizons and instantly. Then I was like, Oh, it's just a normal dude. I'm not homophobic anymore Being ridiculous. And bean brought up in this culture where it's just being, you know, normal. So anyone. I was never, never be anyone up. Maybe said some rude things. I shouldn't have said that anyone I offended. I would apologise if I could meet you today, because I am a bit embarrassed about it. But it wasn't my fault. It was part of my not my upbringing, the culture that I was abroad and not from my parents, definitely not from my family. They're all very open Ivan and whose lesbian and things like that. So it's not that. But I do think you as long as one chef. Once you're provided with the information or a different way of thinking, you don't exactly, and

spk_1:   6:51
that's the teats like it's not. What you have is what you do with it, and that's with anything like it's like privileges. Well, what about privilege? Yeah, I'm privileged. It's not that I'm prudish. That's not bad. I mean, obviously it's bad in the sense of the world that it shouldn't be like that. But It's not bad that I have privilege. What bad is that? If I just sit there with privilege, like it's what I do in my privilege that counts and it's the same with that is like I don't care who you were. I care about who you're trying to be and if you try, could actively see you trying hard and asking questions to be a better person and to be more loving and kind than I am here for you. You can ask me any question. I will never be offended because it's coming from a place of kindness, and that is all I care about is people being kind to each other like you can scrap off older pronouns and the issues the Straits twice colours. It doesn't matter where human beings are being kind to each other, and that's what it does. Build Answer. Of course, That's a very easy, simple thing to say because it is all confusing and all those things are in the world nor a plane. We do need to tackle them something. On the one hand, I feel like people who are interested in crude people and are interested in being kind and healing are too scared to ask questions out of a fence. I think they're the nice people on the other side, the people who kind of get angry, thiss kind of liberal, queer, rising on DH, kind of like a word when there's like a scale of high privilege, there's a fancy word for it. But my cable is going out the window. Intersectionality, intersectionality This concept of like it's a scale of privilege, basically. So, like at the top, you got, like, this straight white man in the bottom. You've got, like a trans Muslim person or whatever on DH, how like privileged or pressure in society. So I feel that for in particularly straight men, I feel like the problem with is is the straight men are straight. People feel so why people in particular feel that they are being attacked and asked to do more than that. And that's the issue is like, Why you asking me to call you this? Why you asking me to do this? Why? You asked me if I don't have a problem with this. You're just asking all these things that mean you're asking me to change and I'm like Yes, I am asking you to change, and I think that's where the problem comes. Is that straight? People are not used to being asked to do things like, I mean, they are like John Moore. They work very hard to human beings, but they're not used Teo for exactly. And that's because they don't have that perspective that haven't lived that experience. And it's like when I literally get riel, people turn around. I'm like, I change myself 80% of the time for year when I'm out in the streets because you can't handle me in my 100% authentic self because it's way too fabulous for the structures of the straight world. And I am. I change. I change myself. I restrained myself for the 1st 23 years of my life because of this space that you own when all I asked for you is to call me a shape not made particularly amusing. This is an example. What I'm asking is for you to call me. She I don't feel like it's a big ask. And if you're not gonna do that, your dickhead you're a really mean person that you really can't just call me a share. You can't change one word when I've changed so much of myself to not make you feel uncomfortable. And I shouldn't have had to change myself. And I think that's the big problem is that they're just not used to being asked to change on, but were demanding yet and like I think there's also a pat problem with passivity. Like in people Be impassive. Like I had a friend visiting recently a love him to bits and everything. He was asking all these questions from love and his heart and kindness. And he said, You know, yeah, I'm asking the question, but, you know, I'm totally cool with, like, the gay thing. I'm called gay, but, you know, you could do what you want, Like it's fine, like I haven't got a pun with it. I was like, That's lovely. That's not enough. That is not enough for May. It's okay for you to be passive and just be like, Okay, I'm cool. You can do whatever you want, but that isn't enough. You have the power. You are the person who needs to be beyond that. I need you to take action. I need you to be questioning at work. I need to be questioning in school. I need to be saying a teacher, Why is this sex education only talking about straight people? Why is it not talking about gay people? Because the gay people are probably re scared in the corner to ask the questions. But you have the power. It's not enough to just be passing. Say we're cool with people doing what they want to do. You need to be working to be like, Yeah, I'm allowed to do whatever I want to do because I'm straight. Why can't creep up? How can we make this more accessible for great people of people, of colour people, trans people, that is what people need to be doing is being more active in making the world a better place for everyone. Because you've had the space for so long. We're asking. We're trying really hard here. You can see us flying. Don't you want to help us out, dude? Like and then you'll get all of our fabulous colour and creativity as well. Like Come on, girl, let's work together, hold hands, sing Kumbaya.

spk_0:   11:46
So I agree. 100% and speaking for myself. I think I fall into that facility like I'm just like I don't give a If you're happy, do everyone I'm not their fading for right you tie Or is that Angie called them the alphabet people. Yeah, but I think I would maybe say something if I saw something. But I probably fall into that category

spk_1:   12:11
and I'm not asking you to, like, go out and be like protests and stuff like that. It's just about being open, Teo. It's about getting on it, you know, like I was, I lived in England and I've had one perspective my whole life living in that country. Being the white privilege guy was like, I need to grow like I can't understand And I'll never understand what it's like to be Asian and, you know, and to not have my white private I'll never get it. But by moving to Asia have grown phenomenally, and I'm not saying you gotta move to the side of the world either. Like I'm not asking you. I'm asking you to broaden her

spk_0:   12:45
horizons. I don't and I think it's definitely a different person

spk_1:   12:52
for me. It's like what I'm asking is like just ask questions. Get knowledge by like if you don't understand. But I don't get this whole he they she transgender thing. But you could do what you want. It's like, Why don't you just ask about it like, Okay, what is transgender thing? Can you explain it to me? Because then, if it's explained to you, you then understand it better. Then you can meet these people better. And when you interact with him in the workplace ring society, you will can have a better Connexion. And then when you if you're friends of being ignorant of it, you can educate your friends like it's simple, it's not. I'm not asking you to jump up and cheque moved on the other side of what? I'm not asking that. I'm just asking to ask a couple of questions. That's literally just get get woke, like learn like that's The thing is like society is about us all working together and being the same space. And if you're not putting in the effort to learn about these people who are different from you, then you're not really playing society. You're not stepping up, and therefore, in my concept, you don't have a right to be part of society, like mainstream, fun, happy society. If you're not putting in the work to learn about the people within your society,

spk_0:   13:58
would you say that that acidity is kind of like a fruit? And I would see all the attitude in Saigon, at least to the help. A bit immunity that that it's passive is I know from my conversations, or you will be subsumed with Daniel. Um, it's the people don't really care, which is fine. It's a star right wing of caves. Actually, that, too, but I don't I don't see that action to them being inclusive. So I think it's that may be in Saigon at the moment in general,

spk_1:   14:28
True. I mean, it's difficult for me to comment on mention Vietnamese society, because I'm not really in it that much. I'm a vory alternative underground on I'm very happy with it. Um, I I feel at the moment maybe, like not within the family within the family unit. It's extremely different with within the Vietnamese family unit. Being queer in a Vietnamese family is a whole different storey, and it's something that obviously I've not experienced, and I can't really comment on because I don't know what it's like asking enemies of Rivers and you have. So, um, listen,

spk_0:   15:02
Teo, back this season one. Listen to the episode with Daniel when we actually going to detail he's a game and I'm proud. But he comes from a very, very traditional Vietnamese family from the North originally, which is from what we've learned on the podcast, even more conservative and traditional than the South. So you won't hear from his perspective about Listen to that. Sorry. Continue.

spk_1:   15:25
No, no. I was about to do that whole spiel that

spk_0:   15:27
I listen to. It really was. It was really interesting. Interesting. I've never asked anyone. That's what you think. Previous episode. Where did you get that? I

spk_1:   15:38
found it there. I think I found it interesting because he's queer in a very different way. To Mei, I'm like full blown woo party rainbow painting. He's more yet like, but that's a really important lesson. Is like religious people.

spk_0:   15:58
Yeah, somebody asked me like that's why stopping him before, because it was just d'oh people. I've

spk_1:   16:06
had that so many parties like like the straight line really changed him like they did, and then he's like, you know, you're the first guy I've taught you. You're right now, I'm just a dude like, Did I play computer games? I hang out with my mates there straight like, Well, it's like I'm just to do so.

spk_0:   16:20
I'm just I'm from that You've never bean even growing up, none of my friends come out 20 years after school. It was one guy in our class and oh, baby, you know, I was friends with him. I didn't grow up with that, so I probably would be that guy's wellbeing. Leo, you're the first guy you really crew. That would be me on. You

spk_1:   16:39
know, that's exactly what I'm about to talk about is that's the t. You got it right there is. When I talked to that guy, the part of straight guy, I'm a positive example of a queer person on when they have that reference point of her. This is a good person, that really, really nice that changes her opinion. And I feel like that's where Vietnam is is that when I am seen by local Vietnamese people, I feel like mainstream local Vietnamese people. There's no aggression, which is a very beautiful thing I have to say I prefer Asian culture. It's less aggressive,

spk_0:   17:10
based, much discrimination here. Never

spk_1:   17:12
like perhaps, but it's in another language. No, what I love is like Asian culture is non aggressive and it is beautiful, like I know what I had a two year break from the West. I went back to the West and I was like, Well, West, such an aggressive society. I mean, it is It's super capsule. It is like a dog eat dog. That person is different to its super aggressive. Like you go out to the nightclub scene. There's always fights happening. People are drunk and all these problems come from gender, however, are another point. It is s O. That's what I do Love about Vietnam is like the nonaggression again different within the family scene. I'm gonna always refer to that because I want people to know, You know, I'm not. I'm not saying that everything's call because it definitely isn't. It's just not my Storey to tell, and I'm a very aware of it. I'm just telling you about my experience. So I think at the moment event when I'm viewed or Quest office viewed, it's kind of viewed in a comedic kind of entertaining way. All this mysterious, the the elusive the exotic is a

spk_0:   18:14
ho this. What is This is bad with a big wig, though,

spk_1:   18:18
so it seems like a very light hearted way, which is fine. It's nothing, sir. And then, I think, on the other side is most of the reference points that people get in the world of queer people aren't always positive. I feel like when you are given a lot of the queer stuff in the world is whenever this dialogue about Chris, if it's like, Oh, how poor, poor queers or I'll talk about HIV and unsafe sex or talking about mental health problems except those that are fighting for rights, which are all valid things. Those are things that are happening, and we do need to talk about them, and they just need to be a dialogue. However, my life is amazing, like like it's colour and creativity and address it What? We need more of those reference points for people to say, because we need people to say quick, we need people to say we need in mainstream society. Lesbian married couples who have a dog and have been together for years and they weren't 95 jobs. And on the weekend they go for a nice walk and go for lunch. And that's their life. And to show little baby lesbians that if you want that life, you can have that life. You don't need to be a scissoring crazy lesbian like I mean, I'm sure they do that as well. You know, you can have whatever life you want. It doesn't matter how you born. You can have whatever life you want. I mean, within reason again privilege thing. There are some people in the world who are born. They can't have any life they want. But I mean, like, you can lead your life to a certain extent and degree in any way that you want to like if you want. If you are gay, it does not mean you need to have a fan and be covered in sequins and glitter. You can literally love football. And where I flip flops like all of that is made up. That's a construct. It's an idea surrounding sexuality or gender. Um, but what we just need and I think that isn't in societies and enough is positive examples of Korea people living leading positive, normal, happy lives, Which means straight. People don't see that we're just normal people living on straight happy lives. Therefore, they can't connect to us or they see is like, Oh, problems issues. We need to deal with these things. And then for all the little gays, they're just not given references of happy life cells that can have and they're trapped. They're like, Oh, I'm game. My life is now over. I can't be married. Andi. Yeah, so we just need more queer idols. More queer references, people visibility. You need visibility,

spk_0:   20:51
toe just tickle. Backup point Leaving a point on answered Daniel's episode. What did you take from that?

spk_1:   20:58
I took from it. I think for me it was just really important here. Like his Vietnamese, his experiences of enemies, person within the family. Seen Because, of course, I have heard the similar storeys similar, but totally different from my local Vietnamese friends and my drive Children. Um, but just to hear, like, you know him being so like our proud as you say, but still made decisions based on his family's situations, which, of course I'm not judging up at all. That's his experience. So I thought it was a fascinating, like dichotomy is the right word like I am, I am proud and I am leading my life at the same time. I'm gonna take some sacrifices because I care about these people and they're not that space right now. Anything that's very beautiful thing, like for people, because it's something that I don't d'oh! I am not going to sacrifice any part of myself anymore for fruit. Let's say, for example, my dad, like my father, like when I went back. My dad really wants to have a relationship with me and I I have no negative feelings towards my father at all. Like, totally cool with him. When I was younger, we definitely had. He was definitely a big part in how my negative feelings about myself and not being accepting of myself for being for being feminine and stuff. But I know that wasn't his fault. He was born into that situation in that mind set, and I have full compassion and standing and forgiveness for him, and I have no negativity towards him. At the same time, I spent 20 years of my life being wrapped up in negative thoughts that came from you, which came from another source. I'm not a point in my life where I formed my own families. I have limited time and energy. Andi, I know you want me to go to the pub with you and your mates, but I ain't got time for babes. I'm sorry. And that isn't me being mean. That's me building on constructing my own life. Storey. It's outside of what society tells me I should because I feel that what is lucky about being queer is when you're young and you're told queer is wrong, gaze wrong. And then you finally flipped the switch like this. Nothing wrong with being queer if you then you're like hang on. Society was wrong about this thing. What else has been wrong on? That's the tease like queer people when people look a cripple but they think all that crazy with their costumes and that in all this crazy sex stuff is like no, all of us, for starters. But yes, we are because we are not one of the lies is that no being gay is not wrong to then, because we've discovered One thing that society told us was wrong wasn't wrong. We then start to experiment with the things you have told me. Orgies are wrong. Why don't I try it? Try it as long as you're being safe. Sensible orgies were not wrong. There's nothing wrong with having no J. People have told me wearing a dress for your man is wrong, but address on. There's nothing wrong with this either. So it's like the reason queer people I feel are doing all these crazy things is because we are experimenting. We're outside of what society has told us is right, because we unlocked that truth that lie a very young age. So, yes, I am doing things that are all outside of your references in your frame works because I've realised your frameworks, our rules that do not exist, their ideas created by straight people, straight white people. I'm not playing your games there more. I tried your ways. They bore me to death because that's the people like you just would you want to be normal and straight on like what I want? Oh

spk_0:   24:21
yeah, all the time. People like, if you know,

spk_1:   24:23
if you would get the choice, you know, like, Oh, yeah, it's normal. Like nine and nine and negative, then. I mean, in the meanwhile, you know, when people say, like, Oh, yeah, with you know where he'd help you make it normal. Look, I don't want to be normal if if you're if normal is 9 to 5 Monday to Friday and then watching television every evening, like on the weekend. Like going for, like, a couple of drinks getting drunk on a Friday. I do know what you can keep your normal. No, thank you. No, ma'am. I have never see I want my life back. My life is fabulous. Like I get to create things, meet the most interesting people who are so supportive. I learnt constantly. I'm doing cool stuff like my life is fabulous because I'm choosing my life. I'm not accepting the life that's been dictated to me like this is how you need to lead your life. You have to boil the ship to be happy. You need to get married at 20. You need to do this. You need to do that. I don't need to do anything. I want to be happy and I will build my ministry structures that I create as long because I'm not harming anyone, You know what I mean? So and that's a bigger part of Jenna phone with Jennifer. I'm exploring just the gender part of that, but really like me as a person. I want that to be the first stepping stone for people to then start shifting everything else from being like Start just accepting what's been told of you and how you should lead your life and build your own life. And you will be so happy and you'll meet their medical people. And

spk_0:   25:44
if the life you want is 9 to 5 and watching TV in the evening, that's fine. As long as you're happy, I don't care. My final question. We're gonna wrap up, and then we move with questions that we finish the episode with. We're living in a very interesting time, right, even for me. I mentioned to you before we started. I feel like this generational shift happened within my generation. We grew up even yourself is, well, you're not that much younger than me, dominated by old white man, right? And that's we're still living in that, but it's slowly changing there's more minority voices, minorities of speaking Oppa's You said they have low voices. That's grief. Every minority is changing. Well, you see, then future of society 2030 years, because it's not going to be the same. We know that you're gonna be all red white men ruling the world.

spk_1:   26:31
I think I feel I feel like the world now is becoming right. I think before it was like loads of little campsite, little Minori camps, those little level counsellors little in between. Counsellor. I feel like now the world is just shifting into people who want to be nice to each other and people who do not want to be nice to each other like, and that is the shift. It's like a lot of our minority groups, you know, we're all called We just want equality for all. And there's so many straight people, the majority of straight people, I feel the majority straight people one that as well they are happy with people being themselves and they want to play. On the other hand, the other side of the spectrum, just people who don't want to change. And so I feel in 30 years ago, like there's gonna be more. The particulars are going to be less relevant. What's going to be more relevant is a My being a kind person is that our people be equal. Like,

spk_0:   27:27
Well, I listened to a podcast will never believe it's called football feminism and everything in between held over its Alastair Campbell. You know, he used to be 20 years communications. They're right back label. Heady days of New Labour in the late nineties. His daughter, Gracie Campbell, is a stand up comedian, and she's a feminist activist, so they have a podcast together. He's an old way rich entitled Privileged Man. She's admittedly a young, white and privileged female, but she's a massive feminist talk about football, which is his passion. And he talked about feminism, which is her passion. Everything in between and I five phone. It's so interesting. I feel like I've learned a lot from it. And the interview people in the Aspen, How much of a football fan are you on a scale of 1 to 10 and then they ask how much of our minister thing and the interview is really different. People that interview a Premier League manager, Sean Day, any interview other feminist activists. And so the answers are interesting. She boils it down to everyone. Feminism means equality. Do you believe in equality for men and women? If you do, then you're a feminist and similar to what we talked about this other people who are activists, campaign and those other people who may be passive cooling. Yeah. I mean, I believe in equality for women, maybe not doing much about it, but I believe in that. So, um, I don't know where I'm going with That way I can take you

spk_1:   28:48
from the is like Chastity is like from my experience. I grew up in a very working class family. Uh, my parents weren't educated. My school never taught me about LGBT stuff. Not once in my entire education was LGBT discussed. Not once. I mean, in from intelligence College, you can imagine

spk_0:   29:12
six For 16

spk_1:   29:13
years of my life, no one in my family would talk about my correct gay stuff. No one in my education system. My government never talked about gay stuff. So for 16 years I was completely last. I had no one to talk to about these things. I was terrified and to be that young and going through such massive mental trauma is totally unacceptable. Your brain is so fragile at that point in your life and it's caused damage forever. I'm a crazy bitch. Luckily used in the right way. Um I was then, of course, lucky enough to have a good education. I was even luckier to rebel and go crazy and look search for something. And I ended up finding this festival scene where people gave me this space that I've talked about for to find myself and experience myself on DH. When we talk about passivity and impassive don't even passivity is a world I've made. But I'm English. I could make words up. It's fine.

spk_0:   30:10
Waited the lithe way privilege. It's a giant

spk_1:   30:16
of reports progress on DH. Yes. So it's like, Look, I was given I understand that I'm provisioned. I'm very lucky on my journey to have found myself and to be in my power. So it's okay, I've got it. Now I'm calling myself. What am I gonna do about it? I'm just gonna be like, yeah, why didn't I worked really hard to get to it? And then I carried on working. I came here, and I worked really, really hard to give it to more people. That's just it's just that's kind. That's just giving to other people is like whatever you've learned, agro passing on through various different ways. And as long as people do that, then we will reach Molly and we will reach nice places. If everyone's just open to helping and giving and supporting, then you gonna get there. But it requires work. Lots of white, straight people are very lately, they're not. They work very hard in England, you know. I mean, like, people are working super hard in their job, their day jobs. They are like, I just think it's very important myself personally as a Christmas, and I find it very important, too. Recognise the struggle of white straight people because there is a massive struggle. Just to talk about Jenna very quickly is gender is outside of sexually men. I told they have to be strong. They're told they have Teo. They're told they shouldn't show emotion because then they'll be weak. They should be vulnerable. Exactly. So then what happened? Your human being you're supposed to show emotion. You're supposed to let things that you're supposed to cry. He feels that if is a man, we bring up our males to be like, not allow emotions, all these emotions, air trapped inside them. And then obviously they release it when they have a point of the pub. And it's for anger and look around or the matter being each other, having pups when they're drunk. So look at the struggle that strike straight white men are going through. They are going to struggles and we need

spk_0:   32:06
open space to think a higher with will definitely thing result the result of a lot about this before, you know. Yeah, I guess there's We've talked about ST Wait me on the arm, Malene But they definitely have their own issues. Enough on me with suicide is one of them. And where does that come from?

spk_1:   32:30
Because I will go on for

spk_0:   32:30
way finished. Sorry, I'm really interesting. I hope people listen, I know this is for all the listeners listening. I know my episodes along and it's something I've thought about. Most of my tools run over an hour. I blame on me being Scottish, but I do find my guests really interesting and I find it really hard I can think of. We would have made this charter. You know what I mean? Like the time just flies by two. If you always think I'm sorry if it's long been enjoying it, we may make this into two parts. I think it might get people to listen more. I love the threesome, E. I said I love with reason. Two people, two parts and make way. We're gonna finish up because they do. If you like, We're gonna do the final questions. I ask everyone at the end of every episode. What kind of baby drive is this? Is seven million bait? How do you do with tag on traffic?

spk_1:   33:24
I have a Yamaha Nova.

spk_0:   33:27
No, it's acute. Stayed out of

spk_1:   33:30
it. It's called the White Rose, which is after my friend Lucy said she was the first best friend I made when I came to Vietnam. And she's from Sheffield. So I called my bike the White Rose in her honour. She doesn't live here anymore. Actually, one of my really close friend Vinny from Europe and my festival scene. He drove it from her. No, he bought in Hanoi, drove it touch me today. She's fears the white raises fears. So he was in my house and he actually D J the first Jennifer for May, and he was part of my festival seeing back home. So you just gave me so much confidence. So there's a whole so much meaning in it. And then he was on my bed on his phone. I was on the floor and I'm on my floor like posting in bike groups like I'm looking to buy like and he's

spk_0:   34:11
like, You look like you're trying to sell. The bike is

spk_1:   34:15
in your house. I'm like, dude. So he's on to me so either, but I love it to bits. I've gotta clean, just actually on DH. I deal with Southern traffic in a because I have an alternative lifestyle. I don't have to be out at rush hour, so I just don't drive a rush hour. I plan to buy some things have been

spk_0:   34:36
believed often only one in the morning or something, and I think, Oh my God, it's a different world is just nobody.

spk_1:   34:45
I just drive between like 10 and three, and then after 1/2 67 on, I don't really get into it. And when I do, I just breathe medicine. I need to get a new one. I've just landed. I've been here two weeks, so I need to get one. I know, but my health is my last Ferrari. I'm a slave to fashion. I'm a slave to glamorise Dr Hill's fashion

spk_0:   35:10
way. Tio thing you've seen on a baby,

spk_1:   35:20
a giant mirror become massive mirror

spk_0:   35:23
I 24 hours off. No gender fun being fabulous where you could be fabulous. 24 hours off. Relax inside. Go on, tell me what you do.

spk_1:   35:38
Everyone's gonna love this. I would get to the Koreans, bar the golden lower Really early. I probably have a look. A like I go to the gun. Lowest Korean spa, sauna, spa. Meditate for a few hours. Then I'd get a nice lunch somewhere. Vegetarian, Lynch. I would go to the little 25 k come Thai place because that could Lucky is it's by a London market. Then I would probably go to someone for coffee shops like things or a mockingbird, which are tam. And like a little cool warehouse thing on, I would say I would read, Maybe watch drag stuff, some art stuff. Then I go for a nice dinner with some friends. Maybe I'd go to my fancy like cannons or something. Because I really treat myself to something that I like District Federals as well, actually a lot, because they have really good Marguerite, that's smaller Now, though. I came back after three months. They're tying, you know. Really complain? Uh, yeah. You're a drag on DH. Then I would probably go for drinks. That, like, my new favourite place is to a nine e only God. But fear drives. Wait. A cute little queer bar that I just find or I might go. Yeah, So I do that. And then maybe in the evening I would try and catch a drag show with my friends on DH. Then probably go home, smoke a joint and listen to Erika Badu.

spk_0:   37:10
Good day. Right now you've got a week off. Where do you go? In Vietnam?

spk_1:   37:16
I would go to the No. Have I still haven't been toe on or stop our Helen bear anywhere? I've been so dedicated on General Fong identification for two years. That's why I went home was so ill. I work so much So I'm very tied to the city or drag where drugs and take me Into Taipei recently were there are in Cambodia and stuff. So I would go to the North,

spk_0:   37:37
the North Sea and last question. Do you have a hidden gem inside? Gone. You can shield I d'oh! I literally finally variously Why can't even it's so hidden that you don't know what I see? Oh, no, this

spk_1:   37:53
is onto a nine e on a Carmen the street name, But we'll post in the link. There's like Cuba. You have to go up stairs, my friends and it's fabulously decorated. And it also has they have different artists exhibited exhibiting their work there. My other hidden gem would be things cafe are marking brothers. They're in the same complex on DH. There's loads. A little fashion independent fashion store, sir, I'm super into independent stuff. Uh, screw all that mass consumerism, so go and chill and have a little coffee or fabulous drinking their beautifully decorated

spk_0:   38:27
autumn. And then if anyone is still listening because we've been talking for so long, I challenge anyone to go back to the beginning. Listen again and you have to take a short booze every time Repelled says the drug could be dead weight. The inter jinking you. I think you may die. Yeah, this's been a fabulous episode. Thank you so much. Tell us what's coming up with you for projects. Have you got going on?

spk_1:   38:55
So, Jenna, phone? Of course, we do regular events. We have four different events that we do. We have remain Show which is a space for you to come and explore your gender. Have fun on the Hopefully take that back to your normal life and lead a happy life. We have just dragged the small, smaller earlier drag show to just enjoy the classic art of drag we have. Saigon is burning and Hanoi is burning which our platform for new artists who profound events come Teo on DH soon. Well, that should be doing some relaunching Indians and nuclear stuff on DH. Then we also don't funk it up, which is like part LGBT bangers club night with drag battles, the drag queens and lip sync battles. On top of that, we do like a lot of community stuff on. Actually, we've just restructured Jennifer to do. We're splitting it into the event side and then into the community sides because we want gender funk to beam or led by the local Vietnamese young artists that we weren't with. So now, three times a year, we will be doing a community project which will be chosen by the community. So experts and local enemies working together they were structure the whole thing themselves. So I have no idea what's gonna happen. The exhibition's it would be pantomimes. So we're putting drag into different formats for a community. I'm

spk_0:   40:11
sorry. Maybe it would be snoring in the back of a common thing on this. She's my course and just quietly tell everyone Where can they find more information?

spk_1:   40:21
You can go into gender Funk on Facebook were also on instagram hashtag Jenna fund. I'm so terrible hashtag getting Oh my God, John Mark's gonna kill May uh, yeah. Hashtag Jenna phone. You can also cheque me out Study Kanda at Esther Ricardo on Instagram and Facebook. I always share the events there. Come along. It's a fabulous experience on DH were also a good space to find out about loads different art that's happening in Saigon because we collaborate with a lot of the scene because we do have a lot of power, actually, were not only the biggest party in the Christine where the biggest party full stops isn't that cool that we've taken over the Straits are gagging for us, darling. So, yeah,

spk_0:   41:00
Come have fun with all of this in the show, Notes he go and pick the link with you And just remember,

spk_1:   41:07
like Jenna Funk. Like I'm Esther Ricardo. I'm an individual. But Jenna Funk, issued in front is all the people that come on DH. The main message in front is as you can pop it's hell through. I've spoke, but it is you. Do you? As long as it's safe harming of this, she's doing her right now. Well, I

spk_0:   41:28
think that's a perfect place to leave it there. Thank you so much as well. Fabulous questions contributing. Thank you very much. Been amazing and fabulous. Thanks for listening to the second part of Episode A with Ricardo. I hope you enjoyed that. Definitely very interesting. Andi, I really felt like we could have kept talking and talking, so I'm glad I split into two Hope it made it easier to listen to. And you never know maybe we'll have him back on again for another chat because there was a lot more than we wanted to explore and wait. When we chatted after the episode, you wanted to talk a lot more about it. Things like gender fluidity and things like that. Well, maybe come back to that. We'll see how it goes out. We don't get too many e mails from angry white men. I'm away, man. I feel very privileged in life. Recalled was a white man, so nobody was happening ago. That's just the reality of the world that we live in, isn't it? So thank you again. Hope you're enjoying the shore sand. Any feedback to Facebook? Or go on apple podcasts and lever of you. Give us a lake on Facebook. Follow on Instagram. You can send me an email. Seven million bakes at gmail dot com Thank you to lose right for the amazing theme music that you can hear and to Lynn win for helping me design the cover up. I mean, sure, you subscribed where you get your podcast until you can tune in for future episodes. Now we're getting in deep into season two. We're gonna wealthy content behind. Did you go all the way back to season one? You can start at the beginning with J. K. Hobson. You go all the way through and listen to some super interesting people that live here inside going. I'm having 1/3 of a good time making this podcast talking to people. I hope you're enjoying listening to it. How?