Kathy does Pride

Our resident social butterfly, Kathy, has relocated and has therefore stepped down from the QAPA Steering Committee. We are sad to see her go, but share her joy as she embarks on the next chapter of her life. During her tenure with us, she spearheaded the QAPA Connect series and brought QAPA’s presence to the national arena by representing us at the NQAPIA Summit, the LGBT Immigration Forum, and the National Conference on LGBT Equality: Creating Change.

We appreciate her dedication and contribution. Good luck and bon voyage, Kathy!

The rumors are true, QAPA is phasing out its Yahoo! Group listserv and going to the shiny, minty fresh, Web 2.0-ey Meetup.com. Despite there now being some overhead costs (annual fee) associated with Meetup, we thought it was the best move to make because it shifts the focus to QAPA’s next upcoming event while still allowing members to talk among themselves (discussion boards). Also it makes it easy as Sunday morning to view and RSVP to events. One of the coolest features introduced is that now members can suggest their own events. As soon as 3 others mark that they are interested, it becomes a full fledged event. Power to the people!

We encourage our members to start switching over to the Meetup as there are already events posted that are just waiting for you to RSVP to Come to one of our events or stay and chat a little on our Discussion Board (there’s not much there right now, but we’re looking to our members to get the ball rolling!) If you like the new system, please let us know, and if you really like the system or just want to show your support, you can donate any amount by clicking the link on the left under “Recommended Donation.”

So here’s the big ol’ link to the new location, it’ll be circulated on the Yahoo! Group several times before the Group is turned off for good:

http://www.meetup.com/qapa-org/

FYI,the new Meetup is just replacing the old clunky Yahoo! listserv. This blog remains alive and well, just like our Facebook group and Twitter Account.

See ya at the next Meetup!
- QAPA Steering

Our dear steering committee member Sarav Chidambaram recently stepped down from the steering committee. After more than four years of service, he will be sorely missed. Sarav is a fierce community activist involved in MassEquality, the Cambridge GLBT commission, and many more initiatives. We know he will continue to be a part of the QAPA community and we wish him the best!

Welcome Hung and Kathy!
QAPA welcomes two new steering committee member and community coordinators, Kathy and Hung Dinh! Kathy will be leading “QAPA Connect” – plugging you in to all the fun activities in Boston.

Hung is going to be our group facilitator extraodinaire, and will be leading the charge on “QAPA Speaks Out,” our latest discussion and safe space initiative.

Thanks guys for signing on for a year of craziness and lending us your time and passion. Welcome!

Hung Dinh was born in Vietnam and immigrated to The United States of America with his parents and brother at the age of 3. He came out at the age of 17 and never looked back. He identifies as a gay male who considers himself genderqueer in the sense that his gender identity and expression transcends the gender binary of the social construct of what defines a male or a female. He grew up in Connecticut, has recently relocated to Boston, and currently looking for employment in the social services/non-profit sector.

Hung Dinh is an alumnus of the University of Connecticut, School of Social Work, receiving a Master’s in Social Work. His concentration is in Groupwork with a substantive area of focus in Social Work with Women and Children in Families. During his time there he was the chair of the PRIDE committee where he advocated and brought awareness to LGBT issues to the school. He has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut, majoring in Urban and Community Studies with a minor in Sociology.

Hung draws influence for QAPA’s upcoming Speak Out discussion group from his experiences growing up a gay Asian and having a gender identity that does not conform to social norms and experiencing a lack of community within the Queer Asian community. There is potential to bring about mutual support and empowerment when marginalized and disenfranchised groups can come together to discuss issues and topics that are relevant to our lives and experiences and work through this as a community.

Please add your comments to the blog! Here are some general questions for discussion, feel free to address them or add your own. We welcome all opinions and ideas!

• As a queer API, what kind of questions do you have regarding your health as LGBT person?
• Have you personally faced certain health obstacles stemming from the fact that you’re queer and/or API?
• What kind of resources, and information would you like to see?
• What do you think are some of the challenges we face as API LGBT patients?
• Any advice/strategies on empowering our community on the issue of health?
• Any interesting health research or data that you know of that you can share?

Thank you!

Most exciting, MAP won second place for their adaptation of this year’s green theme with a carbon neutral presence (I’m pretty sure U-Hauls burn gasoline, but who’s counting?) MASALA was pretty green, though, with their leg powered rickshaw as was QAPA who was hoofin’ it the whole way. Any way you slice, it, congratulations to us! Second place! Here’s the blurb:

With so few parade participants embracing this year’s theme, the Pride Committee offered just one runner up award for best theme adaptation instead of its usual two. The second place award went to the joint contingent from Massachusetts Asian and Pacific Islanders (MAP) for Health and the Massachusetts Area South Asian Lambda Association (MASALA). MAP and MASALA had a carbon neutral presence in this year’s parade, combining a virtual float — a group of marchers surrounded by four poles connected with hanging strips of fabric — and a rickshaw.