The Human Rights Commission joined with the Japanese American Citizens League at JACL’s national convention for a panel on LGBTQ issues in the Asian American community.
HRC Senior Diversity Program Manager Hyacinth Alvaran sat on a panel with transgender rights advocate Mia Frances Yamamoto and professional entertainer and LGBT rights advocate Bryan Chan.
The difficulties of coming out in the Asian American community dominated the discussion.
“I didn’t come out until later in life,” Chan said. “It was more important to me to have the picture-perfect family with a wife and child. After my daughter was born, though, I realized that I helped create this child, and that I want to do right by her by living authentically.”
“Coming out is a revolutionary act,” said Yamamoto.
The JACL in 1994 became just the second non-LGBTQ organization to support marriage equality. You can find out more about that in the HRC.
