Sunday, August 21, 2011, 6–8 pm
BMW Guggenheim Lab @ First Park Houston St & 2nd Ave NY
In 1959, a decade prior to Manhattan’s Stonewall riots, across the bridge in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, the Starlite Lounge was founded as a non-discriminating bar for gay people of color. In 2009, the community was shocked when the Starlite Lounge, now the oldest, Black-owned bar was given notice to vacate. Starlite was filmed during this critical moment at the intersection of race, sexuality and gentrification.
The Starlite Project is a feature length documentary and on/offline network strategy, currently in production. Please join the filmmakers to view scenes from the rough cut and to engage in a discussion with them and their special guests.
Guests include George Chauncey, author of Gay New York.
Followed by a Q&A with filmmakers Kate Kunath and Sasha Wortzel.
6 pm open seating
6:15 pm screening
Text and image: courtesy Kate Kunath and Sasha Wortzel
On Sunday, August 7th GAPIMNY alongside Q-WAVE and the International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission staged a “shower-in” in front of the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in NYC to protest against the Hong Kong Social Welfare Department’s legitimization of so-called “ex-gay” conversion programs. We first heard about the issue when Dan Choi started a Change.org petition protesting the decision by the Hong Kong Social Welfare Department to host an “ex-gay” conversion workshop for its social workers. The doctor who was hired to do the workshop, Hong Kwai-wah, has connections with Exodus Global Alliance, a discredited group whose work is rejected by every major medical and mental health organization. As the “ex-gay” message fails in America, Exodus is looking to exploit new markets and export hate overseas
Many of our community members have connections to Hong Kong and so we decided to take the ball that Dan Choi started rolling and take it further and highlight the absurdity of “ex-gay” conversion programs, particularly the part of the program that the workshop stressed could “cure” homosexuality - cold showers.
So, we hosted a public shower-in in front of the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in NYC and showed that you really can’t scrub away the gay no matter how hard you try.
Then, we demanded that the Hong Kong government honor the demands of LGBT activists in Hong Kong who have been speaking out against these programs and we demanded an end to the export of these programs by the Religious Right to our countries of origin.
See official photos of the protest. Some of our favorites below.
Available statements:
Activist Dan Choi - “The showers will demonstrate scientifically that we cannot wash away the gay, but through simple and enduring proclamations of integrity, the only thing washed away is the filthy and arrogant bigotry of church-invented and state-sponsored discrimination.”
GAPIMNY - “Today, we stand in solidarity with our queer brethren in Hong Kong. It is unfortunate that in a time in which LGBT rights and issues are starting to gain momentum, there are those who feel the need to deny our intrinsic identity and lock it away. These so-called “ex-gay” conversion programs have been disproven by medical and psychological organizations, yet religious fundamentalist groups still hold on to the belief that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals can be “cured.” Perhaps we should hold a mirror for them for it is they who need to be cured of their ignorance, bigotry, and strife-mongering.
As we hold and participate in this shower-in, let us keep in mind that policies regarding LGBT rights and issues affect not only our immediate community but far-reaching populations in many different areas. Let’s stop the export of hate and prejudice. Instead, let us build communities and strengthen solidarity.
GAPIMNY is a proud cosponsor of the Asian American International Film Festival 2011 for its LGBTQ Cinema Night, August 11, 2011
We are inviting all of you to join us and our community partners (Q-WAVE, APICHA & SALGA) at this very special film screening and a Mixer afterwards!! The VIP Lounge at Clearview Chelsea Cinema will be open to all ticket holders FREE to this event from 6 pm to 10:30 pm, please stop by for some cheese and crackers!
PLUS, since GAPIMNY is co-sponsoring this event, GAPIMNY members get exclusive access to a discount code: GAPIMNYlovesAAIFF
What: LGBTQ Cinema Night of the Asian American International Film Festival 2011
When: August 11th, 2011; 6:30 pm (Tales of Waria) and 8:30 pm (When Hainan Meets Teochow); After Party starts at 11:00 pm
***Please purchase your tickets through the links below.***
53 Christopher Street, New York, NY
Where: Clearview Chelsea Cinema, 260 West 23rd Street, New York, NY. Tel: (212) 691-5519; After Party @ The Stonewall Inn, 53 Christopher Street, New York NY
TALES OF THE WARIA
Kathy Huang | 56min | USA | Indonesian w/ES
Clearview Chelsea | 6:30PM | August 11, 2011
In Indonesia, there lives a unique community of men who live openly as women. Known as Warias, these individuals must balance their identity with intimacy, and their Islamic faith. In this eye-opening documentary, four Warias tell the tales of their search for companionship and someone to love.
Yew Kwang Han | 81min | Singapore | Mandarin, Hainanese, Teochew dialect w/ES
Clearview Chelsea | 8:30PM | August 11, 2011
An argument over a missing bra results in Ms. Teochew, a “womanly” man, having to move in with Hainan-boy, a “manly” woman. Not your typical romance, the unusual pair grows closer as they face an angry landlord, an estranged father, a sickly mother, and a crazy ex-girlfriend. Could this be the start of a beautiful relationship?
Just a quick reminder that GAPIMNY, QWAVE, and IGLHRC are holding a “Shower-in” to protest the Hong Kong Social Welfare Department’s hiring of an “ex-gay specialist” with deep ties to American conservative Christian organizations like Exodus International.
Make sure to come on time and if you would like to get wet for equality, dress appropriately (bring swimsuits and towels if u can). This event is happening rain or shine. We already have a number of important media outlets coming, so we need everyone to turn out!
Calling on all queer folks and allies! Did you know that the Hong Kong Social Welfare Department recently hired a psychiatrist to teach ex-gay conversion therapy, a practice that includes a regimen of prayer and cold showers… yeah. Guess where he learned it from? Right-wing Christian groups right here in the United States.
We’re protesting in support of LGBT activists in Hong Kong, and they are excited that we are taking a stand with them against exported hate.
Prepare to get wet in protest of ex-gay conversion therapy in Hong Kong and the U.S. We’ll have super soakers and water balloons to demonstrate the shortcomings of cold water for curing the gay. We’ll also have signs and banners as well. You are welcome to bring your own. We will be joined by various members of the media.
Afterwards, we’re having a pro-queer picnic.
Sunday, August 7 · 11:00am - 1:00pm
Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office
115 East 54th Street
New York, NY
LET US KNOW YOU’RE ATTENDING: http://tinyurl.com/HongKongAction
Due to our HK protest, we will hold our monthly Sunday brunch on the second Sunday of the month. You are invited to join GAPIMNY for as we cool off from this sizzling summer in Chelsea.
All friends of GAPIMNY are welcome. Hope to see you there!
Alpha Fusion
Where: 169 8th Avenue (between 17th & 19th Streets), New York, NY When: Sunday, August 14, 2011, 1:00pm RSVP: Please email rsvp@gapimny.org by Friday, August 12, midnight.
Where: Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office
115 East 54th Street; New York, NY
Calling on all queer folks and allies! Did you know that the Hong Kong Social Welfare Department recently hired a psychiatrist to teach ex-gay conversion therapy, a practice that includes a regimen of prayer and cold showers… yeah. Guess where he learned it from? Right-wing Christian groups right here in the United States.
We’re protesting in support LGBT activists in Hong Kong and they are excited that we are taking a stand with them against exported hate. http://tinyurl.com/HongKongAction
Prepare to get wet in protest of ex-gay conversion therapy in Hong Kong and the U.S. We’ll have super soakers and water balloons to demonstrate the shortcomings of cold water for curing the gay. We’ll also have signs and banners as well. You are welcome to bring your own. We will be joined by various members of the media.
