Category Archives: issues
Support the Transgender Equal Rights Bill!
Fellow QAPA members, please take a moment to call your state lawmaker to support this very important piece of legislature:
Dear MTPC Supporter, I am writing you with important news.
Lawmakers are expected to vote on the Transgender Equal Rights bill TODAY or TOMORROW.
Please take a moment NOW to contact your state lawmakers to ask for their support of this bill.
Your request for support from state lawmakers is vital. Opponents of the bill have been swamping the inboxes of lawmakers. Lawmakers need to know that the public and their constituents support this bill!
Over the next 24 hours, it is critical that lawmakers hear from bill supporters!
MassEquality will be phonebanking in support of the bill all day tomorrow. And we need volunteers! During phone banks, we talk to constituents and transfer supporters of the bill directly to their lawmakers’ voicemail boxes so they can leave messages in support of the bill. Call Justin at 617.878.2344 to sign up or send him an email!
In the days ahead, you may hear confusing things about this bill. To be clear, this bill provides vital protections in employment, education, housing, credit, and hate crimes which transgender residents of the Commonwealth desperately need. The bill is not perfect as it does not include public accommodations protections, but it is a solid civil rights bill that represents an historic step forward in supporting full civil rights protections for the transgender community.
Sincerely
Gunner Scott, MTPC Executive Director
For more information, go to http://www.masstpc.org/.
Donation to Japan
Hi Folks -
Please consider donating to relief efforts in Japan in light of the recent earthquake and Tsunami. QAPA is donating $150 to American Red Cross. If you’ve already made your donation, please consider leaving a comment on the blog post, and the organization that you contributed. It would be great to see a community wide effort in providing assistance to the tragedy.
Click the link to see QAPA’s donation letter to the American Red Cross.
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.
Transgender Day of Remembrance – November 20 6pm
Hi QAPA-ers,
We wanted to pass on a special message from one of our members who is active in the transgender community, inviting everyone to the Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20.
Location: Cathedral of St Paul, 138 Tremont St (at Park St T stop), Boston.
TDOR organizers have reached out to the asian community and we should represent!
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Thanksgiving isn’t the only T-Day in November. November is also the time for the annual Trans Day of Remembrance.
From the MTPC website (http://www.masstpc.org/dor/):
The annual Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) memorializes individuals who have been killed throughout the world in the previous year because of anti-transgender hatred. Between 2008 and 2009, at least 163 people were murdered because of their gender identity or gender expression. Boston’s community observes with inspirational speakers, community SpeakOut, candlelight vigil, and hot apple cider with snacks and camaraderie afterward.
[from NQAPIA] Get your QAPA on!
Did you know that QAPA is the oldest co-gender LGBTQI Asian and Pacific Islander (API) organization in the United States? I didn’t – until I read it on our website while at the NQAPIA Summit yesterday. And neither did most of our fellow LGBTQI Asian groups; in fact, most people had never even heard of QAPA. That QAPA began in 1979 (under the name BAGML, Boston Asian Gay Men and Lesbians and later renamed AMALGM, Alliance of Massachusetts Asian Lesbians and Gay Men) is historic and symbolic. The gay movement was still young, and the Asian community was largely absent from it. Today, there are 42 LGBTQI Asian organizations, with NQAPIA (National Queer Asian and Pacific Islander Alliance) as the umbrella foundation. I think QAPA and the brave men and women who founded it galvanized the LGBTQI API movement even if it wasn’t a political organization, and I want QAPA to continue to inspire us and our allies, whether they be LGBTQI, Asian, straight, LGBTQI and Asian, straight and Asian or non-Asian and straight. We don’t have to just focus on politics or social justice issues; providing a social and supportive environment for LGBTQI API’s in Boston sends a message that we exist, and it’s okay.
Okay, so I’m still on a high from the energy and inspiration from the past 3 days, but what I’m saying is sincere. I truly believe in QAPA and I want all of our members and steering committee to believe in it as well. I feel honored to be a part of this group, the first co-gender LGBTQI Asian organization in the U.S., honored that you, our members, are a part of it as well. I don’t intend to speak for the entire organization or the steering committee, nor would I want you to view my post as my “soap box” moment; rather, I want this message to serve as a reminder of the significance of QAPA, of what QAPA meant to its leaders and community at its inception so that we continue to sustain and celebrate its relevance and importance.
If there was only one thing I took away from the NQAPIA Summit, it’s that we (the LGBTQI Asian community) are severely underrepresented and underfunded, but we have the power and resources to change that. If a few gay men and women in 1979 can create change, we in 2010 can as well. So, let’s get our QAPA on!
API LGBT Health Needs and Challenges
Hello QAPA!
As some of you know, QAPA is working with Fenway Community Health on organizing an event for health issues for queer women of color. Somos Latinos, and QWOC are community organizations that will also be participating. I’ve been working behind the scenes with all the groups, and I can tell you it’s going to be awesome. First, it’s going to be strictly devoted to LGBT women minorities, and that’s special in itself. Also, it’s been inspirational working with women from different cultures and backgrounds, and learning about the similar and sometimes very different issues that affect us on both the health and social level. At QAPA, we want to create a respectful and social space for our API community, but we also recognize the importance of stepping out of our boundaries, and work together with other groups. How else are we going challenge discrimination, or racism, or stereotypes?
If you can come to the event, that would be fantastic (and you don’t HAVE to be a woman). We need all the API visibility we can get, and we know you’re out there…. Here’s the quick and dirty low down on the event:
Thursday, April 30th, 2008
6:30 PM – Early Bird Tour
7PM – DINNER
7:30-9:00 PM – Discussion, Resource Fair
At Fenway Community Health
1340 Boylston St, Boston
More info under our event tab.
We’re also going to do an informal community survey on your thoughts on API LGBT health, our needs and challenges. If we’re able to generate some responses, we’ll definitely compile your ideas and thoughts at the event. So, add your two cents, we want to hear from you!
Thanks!
Diana
Prop 8 = hate
Huddled Masses
As we are all aware, the fight isn’t over, and we must stand in solidarity as a part of the ational LGBT community as even though we have marriage rights here in MA. Here at QAPA, despite occasionally running thin on volunteerism, we’re still out there, demonstrating that our queer API community remains strong and committed.
Marriage is So Gay
