New York City's prominent nightlife fixtures, an actress, singer, television personality, drag queen, and activist Miss Peppermint is in India to perform in Delhi and Mumbai. DNA got in touch with RuPaul's Drag Race star as she spoke about her life as a transgender woman and caste and class hierarchies within the LGBTQIA+ community in the US and India. "I had been looking forward to this tour for quite a while. This is my first trip to India. I had been jealous of some of my girlfriends like Violet Chachcki and Alaska who'd been here. I've heard so many good things about India. Its been only a few hours since I landed in the country and I can already see how true they are." On being seen as the voice for the trans community she said she always tries to mainstream some aspects of trans rights. "I know some feel that it's a privilege that allows me to do what I'm doing. Nevertheless, I go continue with my work." She wants her work to set an example for other members of the community. "One can have a career as a performer and travel the world and one is worthy of these kinds of engagements and opportunities," she underlines. Peppermint also delineates how her drag persona is work and her identity as Agnes Moore as a transwoman is her personal life. "There was a time when it seemed like I couldn't have both or be both, but that was more about what other people said. I've learnt to deal with it. My trans-ness draws a lot from my exploring my 'woman-ness and femininity' within. So I'd say they're definitely connected." Drawing parallels between the caste and class hierarchies within the LGBTQIA+ community in the US and India she said, "Until even a decade ago, the voices who spoke were gay white men. While that's an important voice to be heard, I think it didn't occur to them there were others waiting to be heard and being stifled both within the community and without," and added, "With same-sex marriage a major milestone was crossed but it took a while for people to realise the struggle is far from over. How we treat folks of colour within the trans community is a question we're still grappling with. I feel it must be the same with caste."

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