b'NAVIN NORONHA HIRZI ZULKIFLIEJOANNE KAM Navin NoronhaMy comedy is storytelling, Noronha says. It is life-driven and spiced If Kam is the elder stateswoman of Spice Night, then Navin Noronha with my humour. And because its about my life, its very real for me. A is its rising star. lot of my audiences are not queer but they get where I am coming from because in India, if you are born to a conservative family, youre almost The show marks his Australian debut.coming out to your family on every level. I have a very normal suburban background in Mumbai and Ive neverIf you want a tattoo, you have to come out to your family with a tattoo. If had the opportunity like my peers to go to Melbourne Comedy Festival oryou have a new boyfriend or girlfriend, you have to tell your family Montreal or Edinburgh, Noronha says. But now, finally, after five yearsthat constant coming out is what my comedy is about.of doing comedy, I finally get to go outside of my country and show whatLiving in suburban Mumbai, it doesnt hurt to pass as straight, Noronha I can do. Its a good feeling. says. I have had an advantage in that I am not visibly queer. I am a Comedy, he says, was his way of coming out as gay in a country whereblending-in queer boy. People accept me. But if you are effeminate, homosexuality was only decriminalised in 2018, when a lawthefor example, people can pull back, Ive seen that happen. We are still infamous Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code put into place in 1861 -opening those boundaries in this country. was finally overturned. Noronhas first trip to Sydney will also be his first experience of the In a moment of sheer adrenaline rush, I came out in public at my firstSydney Gay And Lesbian Mardi Gras. open mike, Noronha says. I said, hello, if you are wondering about me,I hear its a blast, he says. I have some queer friends from India who I am gay! I was really scared because I was expecting bottles and shoesare studying or working in Sydney and theyre all going to Mardi Gras. to be thrown at me. But people were so glad that I had something new to say. They were like, great, at last we have some variety. Thats how ICan you believe, Ive never been to a gay bar in my life? Ive been came out.to queer parties in India but theyre fairly tame. Going to a bar where There are few role models for young gay people in India, Noronha adds.someone checks you out? Ive never had that experience. So I wantThere are no gay icons and there is no one you can follow in theirto try that.footsteps. I wanted to start that conversation. If I had someone like meSpice Night includes comedians Hirzi Zulkiflie, Joanne Kam, Navin telling me how it was for them, it would have helped me so much. Noronha and Margo Tanjutco. It plays at Riverside Theatres on I want to help others out. Thats how my journey of talking about my Saturday 22 February at 7pm and 9pm.gay life began.43'