API Equality-LA Hires Its First Director
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.
