A Letter from Michael
Dear #GAPAFam,
I write this one week into the mandated order to shelter in place, and honestly, I feel a bit frazzled and disoriented. The calendar says it is Thursday, but honestly days feel nameless these days. At the same time, I feel that I’ve been preparing for this moment my entire life, learning from the older folks in our LGBTQ community about how to survive a plague, inspired by our collective resilience and ability to come together even when we are physically apart.
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About a month ago, we launched our restated brand mission, vision, and values and a newly redesigned website, gapa.org. We also joined together in community with our sibling Queer, Trans, Asian and Pacific Islander (QTAPI) organizations in the Bay Area for “Leaping Rats, Hidden Histories” at Origin Nightclub. I would like to extend a special thanks to lead organizer, Nick Large (aka Kristi Yummicochi of the Rice Rockettes) and board members Marcus Wang, Tony King, Rowland Mendoza and chair emeritus Danny Pham for working for weeks to create that special space. Shout out to Brand Director and Mr. GAPA 2017 Danny Chung for leading our efforts at creating a brand launch at the event that included an amazing video, created in part by past board member Dylan Liang. Also, this was the second year we joined a QTAPI Coalition in the Bay Area, building on last year’s successful “When Pigs Fly Over The Moon” event at Salesforce tower, largely led by the same team with Mr. GAPA 2018 Christo Roma picking up a heavy oar last year. We were entertained by so many performers this year, including our GAPA Men’s Chorus, two amazing South Asian performances by Parivar and a command finale performance by Mr. GAPA 2019 SNJV, Miss GAPA 2019 Mocha Fapalatte and Kristi Yummicochi.
I continue to be amazed by the talent and grit of our community in creating such a welcoming and inspiring space for our QTAPI family. The two panels that day focused on our shared history of QTAPI organizing, and I was inspired watching Amy Sueyoshi moderate an expert panel that included GCHIP founder Steve Lew, APIQTWC leader Koko Lin, UTOPIA founder Neo Veavea, and activist Gisele Pohan. I joined the second panel, “Leaping Rats,” moderated by SNJV and joined Parivar Co-Founder Anjali Rimi, APIENC Director Sammie Ablaza Wills, and activist Madhvi Pathak for a wonderful conversation on what faces current organizers today.
I explained the essence of our rebrand; GAPA must evolve to support the new generation of organizers while honoring the legacy where we came from. I know that my life was changed by GAPA when I became Miss GAPA 2016 as my drag persona, Juicy Liu, and was welcomed into a community, a family, and a home in GAPA. Huge shout out to GAPA Foundation, which recently rebranded themselves as Prism Foundation. We are so lucky to have an organization of past GAPA board members that are looking to create something amazing for the world in Prism Foundation. The application cycle has begun for their grants and scholarships, and check out their new fellowship program.
Meanwhile, the world is in crisis dealing with the pandemic of COVID-19. By now, you have seen, or perhaps even experienced the extreme hate against Asian and Pacific Islanders in these times. We stand in solidarity with our community that is being vilified and othered by our own President, and we strongly condemn the characterization of coronavirus as a “Chinese Virus”. We will weather this storm by doing exactly what we did in the past: lean on and support each other during this pandemic.
So, I am excited to share that we will be hosting regular online meetings via Google Hangouts. Every Friday from 5-7 pm, we will create a virtual social space to relax and catch up. Be sure to check out Meetup.com, Facebook Group, or our online calendar on our website for more information. Let us take this time to reflect on what we want to accomplish in 2020. In addition to supporting each other during these tough times, we can also take some time to plan out the rest of the year!
Sponsored for the second year by API Cultural Center as part of the United States of Asian Americans, GAPA Theatre, led by GAPA Immortal César Cadabes, and GAPA Men’s Chorus, conducted by Musical Director Randy Kikukawa and managed by GAPA founder Dino Duazo, are planning to team up for “Echoes Across the Sea” on May 9th, which may, unfortunately, need to be rescheduled due to the pandemic.
For SF Pride this year, GAPA Treasurer and GAPA Men’s Chorus member Oliver Cacananta has taken the lead on our parade contingent. We are closely monitoring the news from SF Pride, and our celebration may look different this year. Make sure to sign up closer to the event for a great time parading / dancing down Market Street (or virtually) with your #GAPAFam!
Later in the year, we are planning to have our 32nd Anniversary Banquet in September or October. New GAPA Board member Ricardo Valenzuela is looking for folks to help to plan this amazing recognition event!
Our new Political Director, Justin Sha, is looking forward to building out our PAC with QTAPI elected officials and community leaders who share the goal of increasing political representation at all levels of government. We were proud to endorse Alex Lee in the AD 25 race, which includes parts of Santa Clara and Milpitas. We are proud and excited that he won, in an upset, in the March primary to the November election. If elected, Alex would be the youngest Asian American and first openly bisexual legislator in California. Read more about him here.
As you can see, there is a whole world of activity besides COVID-19. If you need to talk, please reach out to me personally at chair@gapa.org or join one of our upcoming GAPA Happy Hours on Google Hangouts. I know, on behalf of the board, that we are all excited to continue serving you, our QTAPI community, family, and home here in the Bay Area and beyond. Let’s make the most of the rest of 2020!
In solidarity,
Michael Nguyen