About API Equality-LA
Welcome to the web-site of API Equality-L.A., a coalition of organizations and individuals working to build support for equal marriage rights and fair treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in the greater Los Angeles Asian and Pacific Islander community. Founded during the summer of 2005, API Equality-LA is part of a state-wide campaign, "Let California Ring," that seeks to open hearts and minds about the freedom to marry and the respect, support, protections, and responsibilities that come with marriage. API Equality-LA is also part of the Equality for All campaign, which was also formed in 2005 to respond to the attempt to place measures on the California ballot that would deny marriage equality.
Today, opponents of marriage equality are gathering signatures to place an initiative on the November, 2008 California ballot that would amend the state constitution to permanently ban same-sex couples from marrying. In recent years, these extremists have been courting Asian American, African American, and Latino clergy by appealing to homophobia and trying to promote a larger right-wing agenda. This was clearly evidenced by anti-marriage equality rallies organized by Asian pastors in San Francisco and Alhambra in 2005. This is a critical year in which the rights and futures of LGBT couples and families hang in the balance.
API Equality-LA has successfully brought together LGBT activists and straight allies who represent the cultural, linguistic, generational and gender diversity within our community in our common quest for justice. After exploring this website and learning more about APIELA, we hope you will join us in this exciting and critical work.
Sincerely,
Deanna Kitamura
Doreena Wong
Marshall Wong
Co-chairs