Growing up in Bali, Indonesia, I loved watching the folk dancers with their gilded costumes and bright colors. My older sister, who was quite a tomboy, was taking traditional dance lessons, and I remember being more interested in the instruction than she was. I would stand behind her and the teacher, emulating all the stomps, finger wiggling, and eye moves. My parents tell stories about how I would turn a box into a stage and perform for them at three years old! My favorite thing to do was find my own little corner, with tons of blankets, sheets, and odd and ends. I’d spend hours making costumes and putting on shows, which was far more interesting than kicking a ball around the playground. I remember being called names in school at a young age, and people had to explain to me what those words meant. I don’t think I realized I was gay until someone else pointed it out to me. In my early teens, we moved to California, and I discovered all the old classic movies. I’d watch The King and I and Singing in the Rain. All these things that influenced me are still my favorites today, except now my friends call my private play space my own “Genie Bottle.”
