Writer: Siena Iwasaki Milbauer
It can be hard to feel part of community when you can’t physically be in community. However, organizations are stepping up to provide opportunities to connect virtually. To celebrate the wealth of online events out there, and to make content from these events accessible to folks who may not be able to virtually attend, AAOP is recapping 1-3 online opportunities each month! You can see our past and future recaps at http://aaopmn.org/tag/virtual-event-recap/
CW: Discussion and examples of anti-LGBTQIA+ discrimination
This Pride month, AAOP is proud to present “Beyond Allyship to Solidarity,” a series of workshops about queer allyship in our APIDA (Asian Pacific Islander Desi American) communities. “Beyond Allyship to Solidarity” was created by our Gender Justice team, and builds from the work of our summer 2020 Gender Justice Research Cohort. We are so excited to share these crucial virtual spaces and conversations with all of you!
The second of four workshops took place on June 12. One focus was on the challenges queer APIDA folks can face in our APIDA communities. The session also looked at the historically queer-positive traditions of our APIDA cultures that were corrupted by colonization and trauma, and the ways APIDA folks are reclaiming queer-positivity and showing up in solidarity with our queer siblings.
The event began with a reflection on the ways queermisia shows up in our APIDA communities and families. Some of the most common experiences shared involved hearing queermisic remarks from elders, families reacting with shame and prejudice to relatives and community members coming out, and the integration of queermisic attitudes into some faith practices. Some of the most harmful phrases participants recalled hearing included “It’s a phase,” “It’s a shame that they are gay,” and “I hate the sin but not the sinner.”
All of these behaviors and attitudes can make it very difficult for queer APIDA folks to receive the support, love, and dignity that we are due within our APIDA communities. It wasn’t always like this though. Many Asian cultures actually have ancient traditions of queer-positivity, particulary relating to faith and spirtuality. However, when the forces of European white colonization invaded Asia, they brought queermisic attitudes and policies as a weapon of imperialism. In many ways, the queermisia that plagues our communities today is a direct consequence of colonization.
Confronting the ways colonization has inflicted trauma on our Asian cultures and communities is a very heavy task. But when we understand the source of the problem, we can become empowered to joyfully resist and revolt. That’s exactly what many queer and queer ally APIDA creators and advocates are doing. Folks are reclaiming the queer-positive traditions of our cultures, which is a act of revolution not just against queermisia, but also against colonization and hetero-patriarchy. Together, we are making our APIDA families and communities safe and healthy for all!
As participants left the virtual workshop, folks shared the emotions they were taking with them. These included “encouraged,” “aware,” “empowered,” “ready to speak up against queermisia,” and “hopeful.” Overall, the message of the session was that while queer APIDA folks can face many challenges, both queerness and APIDA identities are ultimately sources of enormous pride, beauty, and innovation. It’s hard to think of a more true, or a more timely sentiment to celebrate and hold in our hearts this Pride month.
“Being queer saved my life. Often we see queerness as deprivation. But when I look at my life, I saw queerness demanded an alternative innovation from me. I had to make alternative routes; it made me curious; it made me ask ‘Is this enough for me?” -Ocean Vuong
Join us for the final two workshops of “Beyond Allyship to Solidarity!”
-June 19: “Addressing Queermisia”
-June 26: “Advocacy and Community Building”
Learn more about “Beyond Allyship to Solidarity” and register here. All queer and non-queer APIDA youth/young adults ages 14+ are welcome!
More resources from AAOP on queer allyship in APIDA communities:
–How do I become a better queer ally?
–Is my queer allyship good enough?
–Resources for queer APIDA allyship
Special thanks to our fantastic Gender Justice interns Anne Hall and Savanna Thao for creating and leading “Beyond Allyship to Solidarity”
Photo Credit: AAOP