Connie’s Comments: Celebrating Pride Month
As Pride Month comes to a close our celebration of our community continues throughout the year. We want to acknowledge the important intersection of race, gender, and sexuality and our community members and partners who identify with the LGBTQ+ community. Here are a few organizations who support Asian American LGBTQ+ folks in SoCal:
PFLAG / PFLAG SGV (API specific chapter)
PFLAG works to support LGBTQ people through education, loving families, and advocacy. It is the nation’s “the first and largest organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people, their parents and families, and allies.”
PFLAG — San Gabriel Valley Asian Pacific Islander (PFLAG SGV) is a support group for LGBTQ+ AAPI and their families that promotes inter-generational and inter-ethnic dialogue. Started as a pilot group in Pasadena in 2012, in 2013, it became the first API PFLAG chapter.
API Equality — LA (Asians and Pacific Islanders for LGBTQ+ Equality — Los Angeles) works to achieve LGBTQ, racial, and social justice. Their efforts include grassroots organizing, youth leadership development, and family acceptance programs. Currently, APIE LA’s campaign is focused on transforming community care: increasing access to healthcare, creating supportive affirming spaces, and promoting community wellness.
Through education, culturally-rooted support, community building, and advocacy, Okaeri works with LGBTQ+ Nikkei and their families. They “envision a safe, loving, and accepting world for LGBTQ+ Nikkei and their families where all identities are celebrated, respected, and embraced.”
REACH LA was founded in 1992 by three women artists in response to the lack of HIV/AIDS education for people of color. They have continued the effort in employing multifaceted approaches to HIV prevention education, testing, and connecting HIV positive & high-risk negative youth with resources.
As a national federation, NQAPIA (National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance) seeks to connect local LGBTQ+ AAPI groups through community building, leadership development, and political education.
The Los Angeles LGBT Center was founded in 1969, and has since been organizing and advocating for the LGBTQ+ community in LA and beyond. They offer a variety of programs, services, and advocacy that concern health, social services and housing, culture and education, leadership, and advocacy.
