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?
Even as New York becomes the largest state to legalize same sex marriage, the queer body remains a point of contention in public policy and literature. In writing the queer body, its desires and representations, literary borders manifest themselves not only as gender, sexuality, and race, but also voice, form, and genre. To discuss queer approaches to writing, we invite Ronaldo Wilson, Rahul Mehta, Kit Yan, and Ching-In Chen to share their work and border-crossings.
Avant-garde poet Ronaldo Wilson will read from Poems of the Black Object, detailing the nitty-gritty of bodily fluids, illicit subcultures, and dream states to critique the objectification of the black queer body. Short story writer Rahul Mehta will take us across continents, uncomfortable family gatherings, and bitter generational rifts to reveal the growing pains of being gay + Indian American in Quarantine. Multi-genre poet Ching-In Chen will play with form and theatrical jazz aesthetics in her latest work. While spoken word artist Kit Yan will render all those things into soulful confessions and laugh-out-loud humor. Don’t miss these readings and performances, followed by a Q+A discussion on queer writing.
On Friday, GAPIMNY members joined trans activists from all over the city by marching in the Audre Lorde Project’s Trans Day of Action. Hundreds gathered in front of city hall in Manhattan to advocate for the rights of and increased visibility for our trans siblings around the world.
On Sunday, GAPIMNY, along with Q-WAVE and AQUA-DC, celebrated the landmark marriage equality legislation in New York by marching together in a unified API contingent in 2011’s Manhattan Pride March. Nearly 50 marchers turned out to support the visibility of queer API people. Marching side by side with us were the fierce Korean Drummers who filled the air the excitement and energy of the momentous day. Never before has GAPIMNY and Q-WAVE shown such a unified and cohesive front. It is clear that we are strongest as one community, united.
GAPIMNY also made headlines in several Chinese-language media, commenting on the NY Marriage vote in Sing Tao Daily and also discussing QAPI people in the Pride March in China Press.
Thank you to everyone who came out to march with us! We had a great turnout of marchers thanks to you. We hope you join us and continue to support the QAPI community by attending the rest of our events throughout the year.
Come march with GAPIMNY and Q-Wave in the NY Manhattan Pride this Sunday, 6/26/11!
If you haven’t marched before, now’s your chance. It’s an amazing experience and we get to show the world that we are indeed part of the greater LGBT community.
We will be showing our true colors along with our lovely posters from last Friday’s Pride Sign-Making Party! If you would like to color coordinate with us, come in red.
We will line up at W 39th St between 6th and 5th Ave by 11am. Please RSVP at rsvp@gapimny.org.
GAPIMNY and Q-Wave will be marching together at Pride!
Come support Q-Wave & GAPIMNY by making some awesome posters for the 2011 NYC Pride Parade! Meet some fun-loving people! Come show us your writing and drawing skills (or just talking skills)!
Bring your smart slogans
Bring your art class talent
Bring your API pride to support our annual pride prep party!
Friday, June 17, 2011, 7pm - 9pm
CUNY CenterOn 5th Ave between 34th and 35th Streets, Room C197 (in the basement level)
{ All sign-making materials will be provided; however, if you would like to bring your own stuff to share, you are the most welcome! }
Sunday, June 5, 2011
4:00 to 9:00 PM
Jackson Heights, Queens
Before the weekend ends, join us for dinner and drinks.
(It’s real food and yes beer and wine!)
$15 for members / $20 for non-members
All proceeds benefit GAPIMNY and the Audre Lorde Project
Location:
Glenn, Chris, and Malcolm’s Home
34-05 80th Street, Apt. 22
(corner of 34th Ave and 80th St.)
Jackson Heights, Queens
RSVP to gmagpantay@nyc.rr.com
Open to all.
Directions:
Take the # 7 to 82nd St. stop in Queens. Walk down to 80th St. and then north 3 blocks to 34th Ave. Apt. building on the right.
OR
Take the E/F / G/R / V to Jackson Heights/Roosevelt Ave./74th St. stop in Queens. You will be on Roosevelt and 74th St. Cross Roosevelt Ave. (#7 subway tracks above) and walk north 3 blocks to 34th Ave. Make right and walk to 80th St. Apt. building on the right.
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:
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!
