History in the Making: Vietnamese-American Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Organizations to March for the First Time in Westminster Tet Festival to Increase Community Awareness about the Needed Love & Support for All and about Marriage Equality
Westminster, CA - On Saturday, February 13, 2010, from 9:30 am to 10:30 a.m., the Partnership of Vietnamese Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Organizations will join forces to march in the Annual Westminster Tet Parade. For the first time ever in the history of the Westminster Tet Parade, Vietnamese LGBT people are joining in the parade.
Under the theme of "Coming out from Northern to Southern California for Marriage Equality and Family Support," The Partnership of Vietnamese Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Organizations is marching in unity to demonstrate that there is a thriving Vietnamese Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community in California. This Partnership wants to promote acceptance and inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in the mainstream Vietnamese community. This Partnership is composed of Song That Radio, Gay Vietnamese Alliance, O-Moi, and Vietnamese Lesbian and Bisexual Network and Friends.
Following the banner which reads "Support same-sex marriage: Equality for ALL" will be a same-sex wedding to increase community awareness and to urge the community to support same-sex marriage and marriage equality because lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, like everyone else, deserve the right to have access to marriage, to form a family, and preserve a long lasting relationship.
Song That Radio is a grass roots organization which has the task of operating a radio program to enhance community awareness of LGBT issues, with the aim to create social change in attitude towards LGBT people and to organize social and political events that advocate, support and empower the Vietnamese-American LGBT community by increasing LGBT visibility and inclusiveness. Our goal is to improve the quality of life of Vietnamese LGBT people by reducing and eliminating the disparities within the Vietnamese-American community in dealing with LGBT issues.
O-Moi is a support group for lesbians, bisexual women, and transgender of Vietnamese descent. Our goal is to provide a support and resource space for queer, female Vietnamese to come out and network.
Gay Vietnamese Alliance provides a safe and supportive environment for gay, bisexual, and transgendered men of Vietnamese descent from all over the world to network, voice issues, promote wellness and foster leadership.
The Vietnamese Lesbian and Bisexual Network and Friends is a support network of women, young and old alike, who provide support to Vietnamese women who are questioning their identities or simply proud to be Lesbians or Bisexual women.
In our ongoing efforts to strengthen partnerships with the mainstream Vietnamese and American society, we welcome open dialogue with the media and other community partners.
To join us in the march, we will be meeting at:
Time: 9:00 am
Place: Intersection of Bolsa and Magnolia Streets in Westminster, California (Look for our banners: Song That Radio, O-Moi and Gay Vietnamese Alliance)
Due to the possibility of protests and opposition to the unit, if you do decide to participate, please observe the organizers' request to do so peacefully.
Contacts:
Thanh Do (Gay Vietnamese Alliance): (408) 718-7647
Vuong (Song That Radio): (408) 476-3977
Gina Masequesmay (O-Moi): (818) 677-7219
Quynh Anh (VLBN&F): (408) 623-6513
For more information about our organizations, please visit the following websites:
Song That Radio http://www.songthat.com
Gay Vietnamese Alliance http://www.gvalliance.org