Category Archives: events
Team QAPA plays Trivia!
Courtesy of Bihn.
Despite the hardly audible trivia host, Team QAPA had a great time! We had a great turnout this time with more than a full team; there was tons of shared food, laughs, and appreciation of the fine dance music at Club Cafe. Sure, we may not have placed, but can you list all the Olympic years with their respective cities? Did you know that Michael Bolton was sued for plagarism? Or even that Apple surpassed Exxon Mobile as most valuable company recently?
If so, we need YOU to come play trivia with us next time!
QAPA Pride March
This is much long over due but we wanted to still give a great big shout out to everyone who joined us in marching in Pride this year! THANK YOU!
The weather was terrible, we were all wet from the rain (one of our marchers decided to go barefoot), but we marched on and showed everyone our Asian Pride!
This year QAPA marched as an independent organization, we fundraised and hit our target of paying for our pride registration and making other purchase to help make our presence fabulous and memorable. We did it, on our own, and thanks to YOU, our members – whether you came and helped us build our signs, marched with us in the rain, or stood by us in the audience. This coming year QAPA is working hard to bring you a new line up of events, and we have, and will continue to build our community.
And that means we need you to join us! Not that you don’t already…but just a little more this year…so we know that our efforts are paying off and we see more old and new faces at our events.
Great job everyone, and thank you!!!
QAPA Steering Committee
New Banner and Logo
For more pics – join our facebook page!
Pride Planning
This being our first year marching independently, QAPA was psyched about our presence in the Pride parade. In our usual frugal tradition, the first thing we did was head to the dollar store to pick up decorations that we could piece meal together. You may laugh, but the last time we did this, we actually won second place with our adaptation of that year’s green theme with a carbon neutral presence AND we made it to the front page of Bay Windows, no joke! We made the same streamers that looked so good unfurled in the wind that past year, and we solicited for volunteers to help us make candy/business card hand outs for the crowd.
Planning Gang
Also, we did some custom stuff. We got our new logo printed out on a big banner which we planned to carry at the head of our marching section, and we made QAPA t-shirts for our contingent to show our unity.
Banners
All in all, a very productive pride planning party with food and friends.
BBQ Recap
Grill Master Max and Cedrick
Our fundraising BBQ for Pride was a success and we ended up making back about 75% of our Pride costs. Thanks to everyone who attended, and a special thanks to those who donated money in addition to their ticket cost. I (Mimi) would also like to express my appreciation for everyone on the QAPA steering committee for essentially donation food/dish ware/etc, allowing QAPA to keep most of the proceeds raised by ticket sales and cash contributions.
Big shout out to our man, Max the grill master, and chief contributor of all things meat.
We got to meet a few new people, even some out of towners, and most importantly, we got to spend time with our members. Looking forward to the next event — hopefully it’ll be a little warmer!
Keeping Warm
BBQ Lovers
Thousand year old eggs
This is long over due…but we wanted to express our BIG thanks for Tao Kai, who has been a staunch QAPA supporter throughout the years, for hosting our March QAPA Connect event, Porridge Potluck!
We had about 15 people attend, and our selection ranged from thousand year old eggs, to pickled cabbages, to eclairs, and much more! As folks know, we’re a volunteer driven organization so finding space for events is always a challenge. The event could not have happened without Tao Kai’s generosity and to all of our members who came out, supported QAPA, and had a feast while we’re at it!
Pride BBQ Fundraiser – May 14 @ Arsenal Park
QAPA is proud to announce that this year is our first time ever registering as an independent organization, and as such, we are incurring the full registration fee so we can strike out on our own.
We are hosting this BBQ in an effort to raise $500 for Pride. Your contribution will help us cover the cost of food, Pride registration, and materials used for marching. The BBQ will take place at the sprawling 13-acre Arsenal Park in Watertown. There will be ribs, steak, wings, hot dogs, vegetarian fare, and drinks. If you want to bring a special dish, please do, it is welcome but not required. Feel free to bring frisbees, balls, water guns, cards, board games — we might even play a little capture the flag. Bring a partner, bring a friend, bring an ally, bring your mom — everyone is welcome!
Please reserve your ticket ahead of time, $20 online / $25 at the door.
Register online now for our Pride BBQ Fundraiser!
Upcoming Speak Out!: LGBTQ Partner Abuse 101
Did you know that 1 in 4 LGBTQ people will be abused by a partner?
For this month’s QAPA Speak Out! event we will hear from Chai Jindasurat from the Network/La Red (TNLR), and Qingjian Shi and Dahvy Tran from the Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence (ATASK), about partner abuse in LGBTQ communities. We will discuss the definition of abuse, myths and facts about LGBTQ domestic violence, root causes, resources and ways to support survivors. Domestic violence is a community issue, we are all responsible for ending partner abuse.
The event will take place on Wednesday, April 27, 2011 from 6-8PM at MAP for Health, 322 Tremont St., Boston, MA 02116.
Yes, we are wicked smaht
At Club Cafe the other night, the QAPA team almost came from behind to win Pub Trivia. After a rocky start caused by hesitant wagering, we went from last place to third place in 3 rounds. Then, under the semi intoxicated suggestion of Maxwell to “go big or go home” we risked it all in the Final Round, only to come up short. Did you know that the popsicle was invented in 1905 by an 11 year old? Or that Cassandra was the sister of Hector and Paris, and propositioned by Apollo? If you did, then you MUST come out the next time we play. Winning teams get free brunch at Club Cafe.
An LGBT Immigration Forum
Join us for a evening discussion about LGBT immigrants’ rights. In follow-up from last year’s successful Queer Immigrants’ Rights Forum, local LGBT Asian American and immigrant organizations will delve deeply into the current status of immigrant rights in Boston and at the federal level and its implications for the LGBT community.
Panelists will provide an update on developments from both the federal level in Washington, D.C. as well as on the local level in Boston; how immigration reform may affect LGBT individuals, and how the audience can get involved.
Cost is FREE! Light refreshments will be provided.
Information:
Monday, February 28, 2011
Reception and Networking: 6:00 PM, Program starts at 6:30 PM
Suffolk Law School Room 335
120 Tremont St., Boston, MA
(Park Street MBTA Station – red or green lines)
Panelists:
-Law Professor Ragini Shah from Suffolk Law School; and
-Ben de Guzman, Co-Director of the National Queer Asian and Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA), Washington DC.
To RSVP:
ben_deguzman@nqapia.org (e-mail)
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=155894387798288 (Facebook)
Co-Sponsored by:
National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA)
Massachusetts South Asian Lambda Association (MASALA)
Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (QAPA)
Suffolk Law School
The Network/ La Red
Discussion on Queer API Issues for Asian American TV show
We are holding a discussion on Feb 17th, 2011 at 7pm (see listserv for details).
From Max, our newest Steering Committee member:
My fellow QAPArs,
My mom hosts an online television show that addresses modern Asian American issues. She discusses many topics, but is hoping to have one show where she interviews three APIs (an L, G and T) on queer issues. She has asked for help in preparing for this, and I want to open this up for discussion from the larger group.
SO…
What kind of issues do you think the larger public should know about Queer APIs?
What kind of stereotypes would you like to see busted?
What questions would you LIKE to be asked?
What kind of story would you like to hear?In preparation, and in the hope that we can get a good discussion going, I wanted to get people together so we can talk about this in a friendly relaxed manner. I had also talked with a few people about going for Shabu Shabu, so I’m combining these events!
This will be an open event, all significant others and allies are welcome, but please see the listserv for the time and venue.
