Breaking Events & News
- Out On The Mountain
- API Equality-LA Disappointed With Ninth Circuit Court Ruling
- API Equality-LA Cautiously Optimistic About Welcoming Back Marriage Equality in California
- Asians and Pacific Islanders Applaud Federal Court's Ruling Against Proposition 8
- Asians and Pacific Islanders Applaud Federal Court's Ruling Against Proposition 8 [Chinese Language]
- API Equality-LA's Response to the "Korean Americans Hate Gay Marriage Most, New Poll Reveals", SF Weekly Article
- API Equality-LA Hires Its First Director
- Hear Us Roar: Essays by API Equality-LA Members
- More news...
Margaret Cho & Selene Luna
Welcome!
API Equality-LA is a coalition of organizations and individuals working in the local Asian and Pacific Islander (API) community to build support for the right of same-sex couples to marry. From its founding in 2005, API Equality-LA has uniquely bridged the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community with the civil rights and other social justice communities, united by a common understanding of the parallels between past anti-miscegenation and current marriage equality struggles.
API Equality-LA is a partner with many other statewide and local coalitions, including API Equality and API Equality-San Francisco.
To learn more about API Equality-LA, click here.
Out On The Mountain
Click here for a link to this article.
API Equality-LA Disappointed With Ninth Circuit Court Ruling
San Francisco - Yesterday, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal issued a stay of Judge Vaughn Walker's order overturning Proposition 8. Judge Walker's decision had declared that Prop 8 violated the equal protection and due process rights of gays and lesbians guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution. The Court of Appeal's order provides for an expedited appeal process, and it has scheduled a hearing on the merits of the case as well as whether the proponents of Proposition 8 have standing to appeal Judge Walker's decision for the week of December 6, 2010.
API Equality-LA Director Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kwong states, "API Equality-LA is very disappointed that the Ninth Circuit has chosen to delay same-sex couples from exercising their equal right to marry the person they love, but we are not surprised that the court is being careful to ensure that the judicial process takes into account all arguments from both sides. While we must wait a little longer, we firmly believe that we will win back and preserve the freedom to marry for same-sex couples. As this case continues forward, we believe it underscores the importance of organizations like API Equality-LA, which has worked for more than five years to successfully increase support for marriage equality
Click here for a link to this article.
API Equality-LA Cautiously Optimistic About Welcoming Back Marriage Equality in California
San Francisco - Today, federal district court judge Vaughn Walker lifted the stay on his recent historic decision overturning Proposition 8, allowing gays and lesbians to once again legally marry in California beginning August 18, 2010 at 5:01 p.m., pending an appeal to the federal appellate court. Both California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Attorney General Jerry Brown issued statements on Friday, August 6, 2010, supporting the immediate issuance of marriage licenses for same-sex couples.
The Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kwong, Director of API Equality-LA stated, "API Equality-LA is looking forward to the day when Asian and Pacific Islander same-sex couples will once again be able to have their loving relationships legally and equally recognized by the state. Several members of our coalition are already anxiously awaiting the opportunity to get married. Depriving and delaying gay and lesbian couples the fundamental protections inherent in marriage only harms their children and families, without benefiting anyone else. Ultimately, API Equality-LA's work is not done until we have fully restored marriage equality in California and the majority of our community stands with us, in support of fairness and equal treatment of gays and lesbians."
Click here for a link to this article.
Asians and Pacific Islanders Applaud Federal Court's Ruling Against Proposition 8
San Francisco - Today, federal district court judge Vaughn Walker ruled that California's Proposition 8 violates the U.S. Constitution in denying gay and lesbian couples the right to marry. Civil rights and advocacy groups, including Asian and Pacific Islander (API) organizations and leaders, praised the judge's decision. Today's win is particularly gratifying for the API community who has been at the forefront of efforts to gain marriage equality both in California and nationally.
"API Equality-LA and our partner, API Equality-Northern California, applaud the judge's meticulous and carefully reasoned decision that Proposition 8 violates the basic constitutional rights of lesbian and gay couples," said Doreena Wong, Co-Chair of API Equality-LA. "The judge's conclusions add to the growing consensus in courts and legislatures across the country that no good reasons exist for continuing to exclude same-sex couples from marriage. Instead, the evidence and legal arguments showed that Proposition 8 harms loving gay and lesbian couple and their families, while helping no one," added Heidi Li, API Equality-Northern California Steering Committee Member.
Judge Walker's decision is important to Asian and Pacific Islanders (APIs) in California, where the more than 66,000 APIs who identify as gay or lesbian comprise the largest community of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, and Intersex (LGBTQI) APIs in the United States, according to the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law.
"Victories like today's decision inspire important conversations about the harms of discrimination and the need for equality under law for all people," said Tawal Panyacosit, Director of API Equality-Northern California. "But, we cannot rest on our laurels. These critical dialogues must continue, as we must also speak to the many other ways LGBTQI APIs are harmed by injustice, like Shirley Tan and Jay Mercado, a same-sex Filipina couple who face continued threat of separation due to an unfair immigration system. We know from our years of work educating the API community about these issues that it is these discussions within our own communities that changes hearts and minds."
Added Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kwong, Director of API Equality-LA, "All across the nation, APIs have played an integral role in advancing the right of same-sex couples to marry-as plaintiffs, judges and witnesses in legal cases and as elected and community leaders in the court of public opinion. APIs personally know the history and impact of marriage discrimination and today, we cheer Judge Walker's decision as being on the right side of history, where discrimination is overcome by justice and fairness."
Click here for a link to this article.
Asians and Pacific Islanders Applaud Federal Court's Ruling Against Proposition 8 [Chinese Language]
Click here for a link to this article.
API Equality-LA's Response to the "Korean Americans Hate Gay Marriage Most, New Poll Reveals", SF Weekly Article
A recent Field Poll indicated that certain Asian American ethnic groups are more opposed to marriage equality than African Americans or Latino/a Americans. A closer examination of the methodology reveals that while this research oversampled the Korean, Chinese, and Vietnamese communities, Filipino/a, Japanese, and other ethnicities were mostly left out, leaving a partial image of the Asian Pacific Islander (API) community. This skewed analysis could send a potentially divisive and polarizing message to the general public similar to the aftermath of Proposition 8, when African Americans were used as scapegoats for its passage. Furthermore, the title of the San Francisco Weekly article, "Koreans Americans Hate Gay Marriage" demonizes an entire ethnic group and is counterproductive to the diligent work that pro-equality activists in the Korean American community have been engaging in post Prop. 8.
The data provided by The Asian Pacific American Legal Center and Binder/Simon in 2009 indicate age, language proficiency, and religiosity as key factors when it comes to API perspectives on marriage equality. The Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kwong, Director of API Equality-LA says, "While it is true that most frequent church attendees tend to disapprove of marriage equality, more and more denominations and communities of faith are coming to the realization that the gospel is about inclusion and love, not divisiveness and waging culture wars. Proponents of justice and equality, both religious and secular, need to be vigilant in reaching out across all artificial boundaries and to continue building bridges instead of walls. We desperately need to allocate more resources to educating people of faith and in-language to reach the older immigrant population."
Like other Californians, there has been a tremendous shift from Prop 22 to Prop 8 over the years. Tawal Panyacosit, Director of API Equality Northern California says, "Though it is a far cry from where we'd like it to be, APIs are inching closer to marriage equality as an ideal and a reality in a just world. Our research indicates that the API community represents the highest percentage of moveable voters. We have a tremendous opportunity to change hearts and minds."
Click here for a link to this article.
API Equality-LA Hires Its First Director
(Dr. Rev. Jonipher Kwong with volunteer Stephanie Van at a Prop 8 rally)
After an extensive search, API Equality-LA, praised for its work in Marriage Equality, hired its first Director, Dr. Rev. Jonipher Kwong.
Dr. Rev. Kwong most recently served as the Interfaith Organizer for California Faith for Equality, interacting with various religious leaders and activists in the Southern California region. He was prominent in educating the faith community and the Asian and Pacific Islander community about marriage equality leading up to the Prop 8 ballot initiative during the 2008 elections.
Dr. Rev. Kwong is not new to API Equality-LA. He served as a Co-Chair of its Faith Committee. He introduced one of its signature programs "Queerying the Bible," exploring queer themes in the Good Book. Jonipher also currently serves on the Board of Directors for the California Council of Churches and is a member of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors.
In Honolulu, he served as the Executive Director of the Counseling & Spiritual Care Center of Hawaii and was the Founding Minister of the Ohana Metropolitan Community Church (MCC). Dr. Rev. Kwong received his Doctoral degree of Ministry from the Claremont School of Theology. He is fluent in the Filipino languages of Tagalog and Cebuano; the Chinese dialect of Fukienese; and is conversant in Mandarin and French.
"We are thrilled that Jonipher has agreed to serve in this capacity," said Doreena Wong, Co-Chair of API Equality-LA. "We are confident that he has the leadership to carry this organization forward."
Dr. Rev. Kwong's first day as Director begins July 16, 2010.
Click here for a link to this article.
Hear Us Roar: Essays by API Equality-LA Members
As we enjoy Pride month, let's enjoy these articles written by members of our organization. They were posted on the Asian Pacific Americans for Progress Blog.
The Importance of API LGBT Visibility by Deanna Kitamura. Click Here.
A Time for Celebration, A Time for Unity by Steven Truong. Click here.
A Parent's Perspective by Harold and Ellen Kameya. Click Here.
Click here for a link to this article.
Don't Forsake Blake
Gay Asian politician Blake Oshiro advocates for civil unions in Hawaii. Watch here:
http://www.kitv.com/video/23327914/index.html
Click here for a link to this article.
Two API Equality-LA Heroes are Recognized
Congrats to Steering Committee members Jury Candelario and Karin Wang! Read more about Jury, click here. To read about Karin, click here.
Click here for a link to this article.
Honoring The Dead
Earlier this month, Rev. Jonipher Kwong (in purple) from the Faith Committee participated in the Ch'ing Ming festival, a Chinese tradition of honoring the dead. It was held at Evergreen Cemetery in Boyle Heights. To his left is Dianna Ybarra, President of the Boyle Heights Historical Society and, to his right, is Assemblymember Mike Eng. In a speech to visitors, Jonipher said, "May all of us, people of faith and goodwill, continue to rise up and leave OUR legacy of setting free those who are oppressed and marginalized in our world."
Click here for a link to this article.
Our Stories
 | Curtis & Jeff I don’t feel protected in the sense that if something were to happen to Jeff, I would not be surprised if his parents cut me out in the sense of being able to see him at the hospital,” says Chin, whose own Chinese American family has been warm and accepting of the couple... First-generation Korean immigrants, Kim’s parents still struggle with their only son’s sexual orientation and acknowledging his relationship with another man. |
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