April 30, 2011
Meeting your parents’ expectations can be hard enough.
But what if you’re gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender?
Or think you might be?
Come explore questions and possible approaches to coming out
within the Asian Pacific Islander community. This event, hosted by API Equality-LA, focuses on coming out to your family, even if you’re already out to your friends.
Other topics of discussion:
1) When is the right time?
2) How to start the conversation.
3) Planning for what happens afterward.
4) Draw personal boundaries.
We’ll provide food, other LGBT folks, and a safe place to chat.
Please RSVP to Brian Nguyen at contact@apiequalityla.org for head count purposes only. All participants will be anonymous.
When: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Saturday, April 30, 2011
Where: Marie Callender’s Restaurant | 2300 E. Foothill Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91107 [Map]
Parking: Available at the restaurant
Questions/RSVP: Brian Nguyen | contact@apiequalityla.org | (213) 290 5535
April 30, 2011
We’re proud to present Carmen Yu as our May 2011 Activist of the Month!
What committee are you involved with in API Equality-LA?
Outreach committee
How and when did you get involved?
2010, my roommate “aka Brian” asked me to volunteer for API Equality-LA.
Why is it important to continue this fight for marriage equality?
Because everyone should have equal rights, and have their love and commitment towards their partner protected by law.
Where are you right now?
On my computer at home.
Occupation?
Physical therapist assistant.
What is one sound that characterizes you?
“Yo!”
What is one thing about you that surprises people?
I know how to knit.
Hometown?
Hong Kong.
Heritage?
Chinese
Facebook or Twitter?
Facebook.
Coffee or tea?
Both
April 28, 2011
Because you are a valued supporter of API Equality-LA, we would like to share some news about an upcoming transition within our organization. Our Director, The Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kwong, has been invited to become the next minister of the First Unitarian Church of Honolulu – a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for him, in line with his professional training and long-term aspirations. We are so proud that Jonipher’s gifts as a caring, inspired leader have been recognized this way. And we appreciate that it was difficult for him to decide to leave API Equality-LA, as he has been immersed and wonderfully productive in his role as our Director. We will miss him enormously. At the same time, we recognize that this path will bring him great fulfillment in the future, and also will allow him to return to his home in Hawaii. We wish him every happiness and success as he begins this new adventure.
As we anticipate Jonipher’s departure later this summer, we are eager to build upon the strength and accomplishments achieved during this past year with his leadership, in close partnership with our dedicated Steering Committee. We have grown in so many ways, including by expanding our volunteer base, growing the interest in our internship program, and increasing the attendance at both our meetings and our special events. We also have grown in intangible ways, by developing our mission, clarifying our vision, and enhancing the commitment of our membership beyond campaign work related to a specific ballot initiative. We also have forged closer, collaborative relationships with our Northern California counterpart and other people of color LGBT organizations in the Greater Los Angeles area. Our finances are solid, with important new revenue streams and solid commitments from individual donors now sustaining our work. Our Steering Committee is also stronger than ever, with a balanced mix of seasoned and new activists working side by side.
We want to facilitate a smooth transition. Therefore, the leadership of API Equality-LA will begin the search process immediately for Jonipher’s successor and we look forward to assembling a pool of talented candidates (please see position description below). Because Jonipher’s new position will not begin until the middle of August, we anticipate that it will include a period of overlap before his departure.
We will appreciate your interest and involvement as we undertake this search process, and also as we continue the work together of moving our thriving organization forward. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions, suggestions or desire additional information.
In Solidarity,
Doreena Wong & Marshall Wong
Steering Committee Co-Chairs, API Equality-LA
April 27, 2011
Join us! We will discuss our work to engage API Christian and Buddhist congregations and to collaborate with the statewide coalition, California Faith for Equality. A light dinner will be provided, so PLEASE RSVP!
When: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM | Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Where: Asian Pacific American Legal Center (APALC) | 1145 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90017 | [View on Google Maps]
Questions/Comments: Alex H. Fukui & Ezra Evangelista | contact@apiequalityla.org
April 26, 2011
Join us to help plan the Pioneers Project! The Pioneers Project aims to document the oral history of API LGBT pioneering activists. As a light dinner will be provided,d, so PLEASE RSVP!
When: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM | Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Where: Asian Pacific American Legal Center (APALC) | 1145 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90017 | [View on Google Maps]
Questions/Comments: Brian Nguyen | contact@apiequalityla.org
April 25, 2011
Many of you know that we’ve been talking about having a family for quite some time now. Though we know that same-sex marriage isn’t legal in California yet, we do want to take the necessary steps to protect our future family. Domestic partnership will somewhat help us from a legal standpoint, but for us the first step is to let our families know what our relationship and our commitment to each other means.
We plan to marry in Los Angeles in September of 2012 and would be honored if you could be there to celebrate with us. API Equality-LA has always provided us with a safe space that we couldn’t have imagined finding anywhere else. We truly believe that you’ve played a huge role in our relationship and each of you holds a special place in our hearts. Over the years you’ve pushed us to come out more and more – whether through rallies, parades, or one-on-one conversations – and now, finally, we have the courage to declare our love to our friends and family in this special way. We owe much of that to you.
Love,
Michelle & Genevieve
April 25, 2011
Join us! We write grants to obtain funding for API Equality-LA’s work. We also organize fundraising events (e.g. house parties, Bingo nights, restaurant mixers, etc). A light dinner will be provided, so PLEASE RSVP!
When: 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM | Monday, April 25, 2011
Where: Asian Pacific American Legal Center (APALC) | 1145 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90017 | [View on Google Maps]
Questions/Comments: Yvonne Teruya & Steven Truong | contact@apiequalityla.org
April 17, 2011
Over the last few decades, equality has expanded, but not equally across all communities. Despite the progress, we have not reached full equality. Many LGBTQ people, especially people of color, continue to face barriers. Liberty Hill’s goal is to Advance Equality — to make full equality a reality for every Angeleno. Through our grant funds and training programs, Liberty Hill is strengthening leaders and organizations in communities of color.
When: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM, April 17, 2011
Where: At the home of Chris Bair (Nichols Canyon). Upon RSVP, you will receive address and directions
Questions/RSVP: Danny Fisk | dfisk@libertyhill.org
April 17, 2011
Come to the 5th biennial Vietnamese International Film
Festival (ViFF), an extensive and prestigious showcase of original and
innovative Vietnamese films. ViFF 2011 is proudly presented by the
Vietnamese American Arts & Letters Association (VAALA), UCLA’s
VietNamese Language & Culture (VNLC), and the University of
California, Irvine (UCI). Sixteen feature films will be screened. With this year’s theme of “Reel Momentum,” we hope you will take part
in the excitement and growth of Vietnamese cinema by attending the film festival!
For more information, please visit: www.vietfilmfest.com
When: April 7-11, 2011 & April 14-17, 2011
Where: 14772 Moran Street, Westminster, CA 92683
Questions: (714) 891-8172 | www.vietfilmfest.com
April 17, 2011
As a recent transplant to Los Angeles, I wanted to increase my engagement with the API community with a particular focus on LGBT issues. API Equality–LA presented a unique opportunity for me to engage both the API and LGBT community by getting involved with the marriage equality movement. I knew that California had become a key battleground state for marriage equality following the passage of Proposition 8 and I was excited to be a part of this historic struggle and particularly with a group that focused on APIs like me. During my internship, I experienced firsthand what it was like to run and be part of a grassroots civil rights community-based organization. At various times fun, frustrating, chaotic –but always challenging, sharing in the process of reclaiming an API voice in the marriage equality movement proved to be one of my most rewarding experiences.
