Who Is LaWhore Vagistan? Harvard’s New Visiting Professor Blending Drag Performance and Queer Studies

Harvard University is making headlines after announcing the appointment of drag performer Kareem Khubchandani, better known by their stage name LaWhore Vagistan, as a visiting professor. Khubchandani, who is an associate professor at Tufts University, will bring their drag persona directly into the classroom, combining performance with academic learning.

Drag Persona Meets Academia

LaWhore Vagistan has been performing in queer nightlife for more than a decade. The persona blends theatre, dance, comedy, and activism, while also making drag a tool for education. At Harvard, Khubchandani will teach under this persona, showing how performance can reshape how students understand gender, sexuality, and race.

The courses being offered include “Queer Ethnography” and “RuPaulitics: Drag, Race, and Desire.” Students will be asked not only to attend lectures but also to participate in interactive activities such as drag shows and performance exercises.

What Students Will Learn

The spring course “RuPaulitics: Drag, Race, and Desire” will examine the global cultural influence of RuPaul’s Drag Race. Discussions will include race, representation, and queer desire in popular culture. The fall course “Queer Ethnography” will explore LGBTQ+ nightlife, sex work, activism, and community spaces, blending both fieldwork and classroom learning.

Khubchandani says that drag helps push academic boundaries by mixing feminist, queer, and trans perspectives with entertainment. The goal is to help students think critically while also experiencing the energy of live performance.

Who Is LaWhore Vagistan?

LaWhore Vagistan is the drag persona of Kareem Khubchandani, who teaches Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies at Tufts University. Known in both academic and queer spaces, LaWhore Vagistan uses glamour, humor, and dance to teach serious lessons about identity, culture, and representation.

Academic Work and Publications

Outside of performance, Khubchandani has authored major works including “Ishtyle: Accenting Gay Indian Nightlife” and “Decolonize Drag.” Their upcoming book, “Lessons in Drag,” will be released this fall. Much of their work explores queer life in South Asia and the diaspora, while addressing issues of race, colonialism, and activism.

Why Harvard Hired LaWhore Vagistan

Harvard’s decision reflects a growing academic interest in performance-based teaching. By welcoming a drag persona into its classrooms, the university aims to show students how culture and identity can be studied in new, dynamic ways.