By Maya Seo, AsAmNews Intern
(AsAmNews updated this guide June 26, 2023. It was originally published on June 2, 2022. We have fixed broken links and added numerous resources to serve the AAPI LGBTQ communities.)
With Pride Month in June, we here at AsAmNews wanted to celebrate and give a list of resources for the AAPI LGBTQ community.
This list is by no means comprehensive. We welcome your suggestions. Please send to info at asamnews dot com.
National
The mission of Asian and Pacific Islander family pride is to end the isolation of Asian and Pacific Islander families with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members though support, education, and dialog.
A comprehensive list that outlines the different terminologies of sexual orientation identities and barriers for the API LGBTQ community.
Asian Pacific Islander Queers United for Action
AQUA is an all-volunteer organization empowering the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning members of the Asian and Pacific Islander community in the metro Washington, DC area focusing on queer API issues and interests.
“Asian Pride Project celebrates the journeys, triumphs and struggles of LGBTQ individuals and our Asian and Pacific Islander (API) families and communities. We seek to capture these stories by using the arts – film, video, photography and the written word – as a medium for social justice and advocacy in the LGBTQ realm.”
The Banyan Tree Project is a national social marketing campaign to stop HIV/AIDS-related stigma in Asian & Pacific Islander (A&PI) communities. Through education and storytelling, we at the Banyan Tree Project hope that you will be a part of creating a world that accepts people living with HIV/AIDS. The Banyan Tree Project is a program of API Wellness
We envision a powerful queer and transgender Asian and Pacific Islander (QTAPI) community that is seen, heard and celebrated. Our mission is to unite our families and allies to build a community through advocacy, inclusion and love.
This resource is an electronic pamphlet that aims to outline the AAPI LGBTQ experiences. A collection of quotes and positive affirmations, this pamphlet creates a community of solidarity through its writing.
Religion and Coming Out Issues for Asian Pacific Americans
With this resource kit, GLAAD encourages journalists to cover API LGBT people’s lives, families, accomplishments and issues in their own right, and include their perspectives in other relevant coverage. The Communities of Asian Pacific Islander Media Kit provides guidelines for coverage, terminology and contact information for API LGBT organizations for more inclusive, fair and balanced coverage of the API LGBT community.
“Every day GLSEN works to ensure that LGBTQ students are able to learn and grow in a school environment free from bullying and harassment. Together, we can transform our nation’s K-12 schools into the safe and affirming environment all youth deserve.”
The It Gets Better Project is a nonprofit organization with a mission to uplift, empower, and connect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer youth around the globe. Learn more about our work.
The National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA)
“The National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA) is a federation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Asian American, South Asian, Southeast Asian, and Pacific Islander (AAPI) organizations. We seek to build the organizational capacity of local LGBT AAPI groups, develop leadership, promote visibility, educate our community, enhance grassroots organizing, expand collaborations, and challenge anti-LGBTQ bias and racism.”
Prism Foundation (Formerly Known as GAPA: Gay Asian Pacific Alliance)
“Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, the Prism Foundation is dedicated to exploring critical issues that affect the Asian & Pacific Islander LGBTQ+ community and supporting innovative programs and individuals seeking solutions to those issues… We provide academic scholarships to non-traditional API LGBTQ+ students and core funding to under-resourced and underrepresented local community organizations and projects.”
Report: Asian American and Pacific Islander LGBTQ Youth Face Unique Mental Health Challenges, Increased Racial & Ethnic Discrimination
REGIONAL
California
Empowering Asian & Pacific Islander communities to achieve LGBTQ, racial, and social justice. Together we can create an inclusive, equitable, and just society where all API LGBTQ people will thrive.
Asian Pacific AIDS Impact Team
APAIT has held a distinctive record of providing high quality programming through its vision – to advocate, educate, and achieve optimal health and well-being for vulnerable communities. APAIT’s mission is to positively impact the quality of life for vulnerable communities experiencing behavioral health challenges, housing insecurity, and at-risk for HIV/AIDS. APAIT is grounded by its core values of compassion, commitment, communication, empowerment, integrity, mentorship, respect, and teamwork.
A/PGF is an non-profit, social and educational group established for gay Asians and friends who share an interest in Asian cultures and experiences. A/PGF’s primary purpose is to provide a supportive environment where the interaction between members is enjoyable, safe and enriching.
Asian Pacific Islander Queer Women and Transgender Community
“APIQWTC is a fun, welcoming, multi-generational group of Asian & Pacific Islander queer women and transgender people in the Bay Area, who are building community together. We are the legacy of queer A&PI activism, stemming from earlier-founded organizations going back to 1987. We are a wholly volunteer-based organization.”
GABRIELA National Alliance of Women is a grassroots-based alliance of more than 200 organizations, institutions, desks and programs of women all over the Philippines seeking to wage a struggle for the liberation of all oppressed Filipino women and the rest of our people. While we vigorously campaign on women-specific issues such as women’s rights, gender discrimination, violence against women and women’s health and reproductive rights, GABRIELA is also at the forefront of national and international economic and political issues that affects women.
Gay & Lesbian Vaishnava Association
This website is provided by the Gay & Lesbian Vaishnava Association, a nonprofit religious organization offering positive information and support to LGBTI Vaishnavas and Hindus, their friends, and other interested persons.
GALVA-108 is an international organization dedicated to the teachings of Lord Caitanya, the importance of all-inclusiveness within His mission, and the Vedic concept of a natural third gender. Its purpose is to help educate Vaishnavas, Hindus and the public in general about the “third sex” as described in Vedic literatures.
“Through our values, APIENC’s role is to build alternatives—real solutions—that are centered in our communities, build self-determination, and promote healing and restoration for the land and the people. All of our programs are led by QTAPI members who are directly impacted by the issues we address.”
NRJ creates community spaces and leadership development for Asian Pacific Islander LGBTQ people of faith and allies
“Satrang serves the South Asian LGBTQ community by promoting awareness, acceptance, and empowerment through social, educational, and advocacy-related events. We envision an inclusive and visible community in which South Asian LGBTQ-identified people feel whole and heard.”
A social group for lesbian, bisexual, queer, transgender women of Korean heritage in San Francisco Bay Area.
To provide a fun and safe environment for queer Asians and Pacific Islanders in the South Bay to come out and be comfortable with their sexual identity and ethnicity, as well as be vital and visible to the greater community.
Trikone is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) people of South Asian descent, who trace their ethnicities to one of the following places: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Tibet. Founded in 1986 in the San Francisco Bay Area, Trikone is the oldest group of its kind in the world.
Massachusetts
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ+)
Asian Pacific Islanders (API) are minorities within a
minority. For many who identify as API LGBTQ+, it can be
challenging navigating both identities between living
authentically and balancing traditional cultural norms
and language barriers. This resource guide serves to
provide additional support for the API LGBTQ+
community
Asian Pride is a youth development and leadership program that provides services for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) youth of Asian and Pacific Islander descent. Allies and friends of LGBTQ+ identified youth are also welcome to participate. The program serves as an open, safe space for youth ages 16-24 to explore their identities while building job & life skills, and a sense of community with their peers.
Bagly: Boston Alliance of Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Youth
“The Boston Alliance of LGBTQ+ Youth (BAGLY) was formed in 1980 and is a youth-led, adult-supported organization committed to social justice, and creating, sustaining and advocating for programs, policies and services for the LGBTQ+ youth community. BAGLY believes in a world that is more equitable and safe for LGBTQ+ youth and prioritizes the needs of LGBTQ+ youth of color, trans and gender non-conforming youth, and homeless LGBTQ+ youth.”
“GLASS provides a continuum of services to LGBTQ+ youth of color and their allies in the Greater Boston and Greater Framingham areas. As a leader in LGBTQ+ youth services, we also provide education and consultation to other providers and community organizations.”
Greater Boston- Queer South Asian Collective
We’re a group of LGBTQIA folx, residing in the Greater Boston Area, who can trace our heritage to South Asia
Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth
The Commission is an independent state agency that helps all youth thrive.
MTPC works to ensure the wellbeing, safety and lived equity of all trans, nonbinary, and gender expansive community members in Massachusetts.
We educate the public; advocate at state, local, and systemic levels; and through collective action, we mobilize community, engage in capacity building, and advance community wellness and prosperity.
The NAAAP PRIDE program aims to empower, educate, engage, and celebrate the Asian American LGBTQ+ professional community and its allies by providing education, promoting visibility, and developing current and future LGBTQ+ leaders. We will provide resources and support for those in all stages of the coming out process and for those creating safe and affirming work and learning spaces where Asian American LGBTQ+ students and employees can live, work, and study safely, openly, and genuinely.
New York
“API Rainbow Parents provides information and support to Asian-Pacific Islander (API) families with a family member who is lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ+). The group is open to parents, other relatives and family members, and friends, as well as to LGBTQ+ people themselves.”
“Founded in 1990, GAPIMNY is an all-volunteer, membership-based community organization with the mission to empower queer and trans Asian Pacific Islanders* to create positive change. We provide a range of political, social, educational, and cultural programming and work in coalition with other community organizations to educate and promote dialogue on issues of race, sexuality, gender, and health.”
Serving the desi queer community of New York City, we are based in New York City that offers community and safe space for all South Asian queer and trans people.
Pennsylvania
We are Philadelphia-based gathering working to build community for Queer Asian, Pacific Islander and South Asian lesbian, bisexual women, trans*, gender variant/queer/non-conforming identified folks through social gatherings, political action and good food.
Washington
Founded in 2012, Pride ASIA’s mission is to celebrate, empower and nurture the multi-cultural diversity of the LGBTQ communities through the Asian Pacific Islander lens.
Trikone Northwest has been serving the South Asian community in Seattle for over 20 years. We are a vibrant, diverse group of individuals creating a social, supportive, educational, and political space for LGBTQ and differently-oriented South Asians and their family, friends,allys and community. We are a community based organization which is 100% volunteer run. To know more about some highlights of our history please scroll through the timeline.
Creating a safe, welcoming, supportive and vibrant space for members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
We are a group of folks devoted to celebrating and empowering LGBTQ Vietnamese folks in the Pacific Northwest. We do this by raising visibility via awareness campaigns, events, and mentorship.
Washington State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs
Both the LGBTQ+ community and the APA community are bursting with diversity. We are vibrant communities with storied histories and diverse needs. LGBTQ+ APAs hold generations of history that flow through their lives. In order to fully serve our communities, CAPAA compiled resources for our LGBTQ+ communities. Our communities can also follow and reach out to the Washington State LGBTQ Commission on Facebook for the latest updates, and to their website for further resources.
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