Sex and Sexability 2.0: Talking about disability and mental illness, with a dose of humour

The second edition of Sex and Sexability — India’s first stand-up comedy show that revolves around sexuality, disability and mental health — took place on Saturday, 3 December. The purpose of the event was to combat myths and taboos attached to disability, sexuality and mental health. Daughters of St. Paul (in Bandra West) hosted Sex and Sexability 2.0, which had five stand-up comedians including Aditi Mittal — in her  Dr Mrs Lutchuke avatar, a fictional character who always has a helpful bit of advice to dish out about sex to the youth — take to the stage.

Mittal, talking to Firstpost about the event, said, “Comedy is about breaking taboos and myths and that’s why Sex and Sexability makes sense.” The line-up of performers for Sex And Sexability 2.0 included stand-up comedian and disability rights advocate Nidhi Goyal, writer and stand-up comedian Neenu Kewlani, Aakash Mehta, Rohan Sabharwal ( co-Founder of CraYon Impact), along with Aditi Mittal who hosted the show. While Aakash’s script covered issues like suicidal tendencies and had a thread of dark humour running through it, Rohan, who suffers from Borderline MPD and Bipolar disorder, took on Bollywood and its portrayal of mental health in a hilarious style, and boy did it work! Neenu Kewlani, who’s worked closely with the Spastic Society Of India, pointed out that the differently abled lead a completely normal life, including in the desire to have sex, dine out, unwind with their friends etc. Nidhi Goyal, who is partially blind, added “We are found on dating apps too!”

Of incorporating humour while tackling serious issues like mental illness and disability, Aditi Mittal said, “Comedy is the perfect springboard to be able to talk about issues. Comedy is the story of the oppressed. Comedy is a tool that the oppressed use to make their voice heard.” “Comedy should be about things that terrify us. Comedy should be about things that embarrass us. Comedy should be about things that make us furious, because the more you get people laughing, people are listening, and people are identifying,” she added. Sex and Sexability 2.0 had as many regular as differently abled individuals in the audience. The question that still persists after the show is: will humour be able to accelerate awareness around a cause such as this? Watch our post-event interview with the comedians here: