GAPIMNY

See below for our statement on the White House Initiative on Asian Americans & Pacific Islander’s “What’s Your Story” video challenge, in which GAPIMNY, a member of the Asian Pride Project, participated.

As LGBT Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, issues of deportation and repatriation are our issues too.

For Immediate Release
May 3, 2012

Contact:

GAPIMNY – gapimny@gapimny.org
Q-WAVE – info@q-wave.org
SALGA – hello@salganyc.org

For a Pdf version, of the statement Click Here.

GAPIMNY, Q-WAVE, and SALGA Stand With My Asian Americana

New York, NY — GAPIMNY, Q-WAVE, and SALGA are core partners in the Asian Pride Project (APP).  Together, we submitted a video for the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (WHIAAPI) “What’s Your Story” video challenge.  WHIAAPI received over 200 submissions for the contest.  After choosing 11 finalists from the pool, WHIAAPI asked the public to watch and vote to aid the judges’ choice in who would be invited to the “Champions of Change” event on April 5, 2012.  APP was one of the finalists ultimately recognized.

We are truly honored by the recognition of our work elevating the stories of parents, siblings and friends of LGBTQ Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. However, we are also disappointed that another project was not given similar recognition.

“My Asian Americana”, a video featuring experiences of several Southeast Asian American deportees, received over 10,000 views by the end of the competition, nearly double the views of most of the finalists, including APP.  Although views do not equate to votes, we believe that “My Asian Americana” should have been recognized not only because of the overwhelming public interest, but also mainly because of its pressing and too often neglected subject matter of criminalization and deportation of members of the Southeast Asian American community.

Read the rest of this entry »

Join us for GAPIMNY’s Theater Night Out to The Inexplicable Redemption of Agent G on Wednesday, February 29th, 8pm at the Beckett Theater (410 West 42nd St).

Tickets are $10 dollars and donations are encouraged; all proceeds will go to the Ma-Yi Theater Company. Buy your tickets here or email rsvp@gapimny.org to make a reservation.

We will meet at 7:45 PM at the Beckett Theater. After the show, we will go to Dalton’s Bar and Grill (611 9th Ave) for drinks and snacks. We look forward to seeing you!

More details: [Play Synopsis] [Review] [Facebook Event]

Scholarships up to $33K for students enrolled in undergraduate or graduate programs with demonstrated academic excellence, leadership skills, community involvement, and financial need. Particular attention is paid to students who have lost the financial and social support of their families and/or communities as a result of revealing their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

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/HongKon​gAction

Background info:

- General Meeting on Hong Kong Political Action

- Hon​g Kong Government Sponsore​d Workshop to Cure Gays wi​th Cold Showers

- Tell Hong Kong’s Soci​al Welfare Department to End Sponsorship of Ex-Gay Ther​apy

- C​onversion Therapy

Sponsored by GAPIMNY, Q-WAVE and International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission.
Questions? E-mail us at gapimny@gapimny.org

This year, GAPIMNY is teaming up with our sister organization Q-WAVE during Manhattan’s Pride Parade. As part of our contingent, we’ve recruited Korean drummers from NYU to teach us how to play Korean drums (poongmul) for the parade, which will take place on Sunday, June 26th.

Want to learn how to play Korean drums for Manhattan Pride?

Check out some of the former video clips of our drummers from the 2009 Pride Parade:

http://youtu.be/YeH0BFqkv3k
http://youtu.be/LZH2yFQwzZk

Weekly practices will be starting within the next week. If you do participate, we ask that you be able to attend most if not all the practices we hold as there is a lot to learn in the next two months before Pride. In order to coordinate a location, date and time we are asking that potential participants let us know when they can meet during the week. If you are interested, please email Catherine Kwak at cskwak@nyu.edu the following information by this Friday!

-Name
-Preferred contact email
-What organization(s), if applicable, you’re a part of (APICHA, GAPIMNY, QWave, Binari, NYURI, etc)
-What instruments, if any, you have experience with
-If you own an instrument or if you have extra instruments
-Which nights you are available to practice i.e. Tuesday nights

And if you know of anyone who may be interested, feel free to forward these emails to them as well!

Dear Community Member,

Please join GAPIMNY for this year’s AIDS Walk New York on Sunday, May 15th 2011!

We’ll walk, talk, and fundraise towards ending AIDS. Please visit the GAPIMNY team page to join and/or donate!

tinyurl.com/GAPIMNYAIDSWalk11

EVENT INFO:
8:30am: check-in begins
9:15am: opening ceremonies begin
10am: AIDS Walk begins

GAPIMNY will meet in front of the water fountain on 5th Ave between 59th and 58th St (across the street from the Apple Store) by 9:30am.

March 7, 2011

We, the undersigned Queer Asian Pacific Islander groups, are very concerned with the LGBT Community Center’s decision on canceling the scheduled March 5th “Party to End Apartheid” event. The Center has a long history in providing a space, for many LGBTQ and other vulnerable groups, to hold dialogue and give voices to explore conflicts, issues and resolutions. The Siegebusters Working Group, while not identified a LGBTQ group, it is a minority voice seeking to address oppression and deserves a safe space.

In cancelling this event and disallowing Siegebusters Working Group from meeting at the Center, the center comes across as supporting censorship. The LGBTQ movement has always had many voices, and suppressing these voices does not serve to make the center a “safe haven for LGBT groups and individuals.” Social justice and open dialogue has always been a central part of LGBTQ organizing. Many of us in the QAPI Community believe that queer rights are human rights, and therefor human rights issues in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict are inexorably linked to our struggle for queer rights.

We are pleased to know that there will be an open forum to help clarify and possibly amend this decision, and we believe that the outcome will be supported with full consideration of justice. LGBTQ minorities have always found a safe space at the center, and we hope that this space continues to exist for us. Thank you very much.

Your Truly,

SALGA, Q-WAVE & GAPIMNY

Join us in celebrating Lunar New Year and LGBT diversity within the APA/API community

Monday, Feb. 7, 2011
6:30 to 9 pm
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
125 Broad Street
Between Water and South Street
Downtown New York, NY 10004

Featuring remarks from Ben de Guzman, Co-Director for Programs at the National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance and a national 2009 Unsung Hero by Asian Pacific Americans for Progress, who will share insights into the current political climate for the LGBT and Asian American/South Asian communities in Washington, DC and its implications for the Big Apple.

Fabulous conversation - fabulous food - fabulous friends- old and new.
Read the rest of this entry »

What happened?
Starting in 2009, the weekly Friday night gay party, Rock It (originally at Amalia, now at Quo), has become notorious for turning away gay Asian and Pacific Islander (API) men. From our request of stories since August 2010, GAPIMNY has collected numerous, detailed stories that demonstrate a pattern of racial discrimination at Rock It. Although these instances were sporadic, they occurred often enough to raise many people’s attention and elicit strong reactions especially since there were clear cases of unequal treatment i.e. white patrons (same sized groups, arrival time, and dress) entering the club when gay API men were denied.

These experiences speak to greater social issues: assumptions that APIs don’t count or are dispensable; APIs don’t fight back; APIs don’t have or spend enough; APIs are undesirable/unattractive; gay APIs travel in groups and don’t socialize with others. This list goes on.

We also know that these incidents are neither new nor isolated to our community. For years, community activists in NYC have fought discrimination against all gay men of color, transgender individuals and women at popular gay bars/clubs.

We must build on this legacy and ensure that any discrimination based on race, gender and gender expression is stopped.

GAPIMNY mobilizes:
Read the rest of this entry »

Protect yourself when you go to a bar or club in NYC. Know that the community and the law are on your side. There are federal, state, and municipal civil rights laws prohibiting racially discriminatory behavior at these venues. And there’s a deep history of community and legal action against bars and clubs that discriminate based on race. Below are useful tips if you experience racial discrimination by bar or club staff.

1. Assert yourself. (Call out racist behavior and don’t be afraid to threaten legal action)

2. Take photos and videos. This is legally permissible.

3. If possible, request to speak with management and file a complaint.

4. Gather names of perpetrators (bartenders, bouncers, dancers, DJs, etc.).

5. Gather witnesses, esp. strangers (names, numbers, e-mail addresses).

6. If a non-API or non-person of color is allowed entry when you are denied, get his/her info and story (to demonstrate unequal treatment).

7. Record the location, date, and time of the incident.

8. Notify GAPIMNY (www.tinyurl.com/racismgayclubreport).

9. If you have an account with Yelp or another review site, we encourage you to write a review of your experience.