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Welcome!

API Equality-LA is a coalition of organizations and individuals working in the local Asian and Pacific Islander (API) community to build support for the right of same-sex couples to marry. From its founding in 2005, API Equality-LA has uniquely bridged the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community with the civil rights and other social justice communities, united by a common understanding of the parallels between past anti-miscegenation and current marriage equality struggles.

API Equality-LA is a partner with many other statewide and local coalitions, including API Equality and API Equality-San Francisco.

To learn more about API Equality-LA, click here.

API Equality-LA's Response to the "Korean Americans Hate Gay Marriage Most, New Poll Reveals", SF Weekly Article

A recent Field Poll indicated that certain Asian American ethnic groups are more opposed to marriage equality than African Americans or Latino/a Americans. A closer examination of the methodology reveals that while this research oversampled the Korean, Chinese, and Vietnamese communities, Filipino/a, Japanese, and other ethnicities were mostly left out, leaving a partial image of the Asian Pacific Islander (API) community. This skewed analysis could send a potentially divisive and polarizing message to the general public similar to the aftermath of Proposition 8, when African Americans were used as scapegoats for its passage. Furthermore, the title of the San Francisco Weekly article, "Koreans Americans Hate Gay Marriage" demonizes an entire ethnic group and is counterproductive to the diligent work that pro-equality activists in the Korean American community have been engaging in post Prop. 8.

The data provided by The Asian Pacific American Legal Center and Binder/Simon in 2009 indicate age, language proficiency, and religiosity as key factors when it comes to API perspectives on marriage equality. The Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kwong, Director of API Equality-LA says, "While it is true that most frequent church attendees tend to disapprove of marriage equality, more and more denominations and communities of faith are coming to the realization that the gospel is about inclusion and love, not divisiveness and waging culture wars. Proponents of justice and equality, both religious and secular, need to be vigilant in reaching out across all artificial boundaries and to continue building bridges instead of walls. We desperately need to allocate more resources to educating people of faith and in-language to reach the older immigrant population."

Like other Californians, there has been a tremendous shift from Prop 22 to Prop 8 over the years. Tawal Panyacosit, Director of API Equality Northern California says, "Though it is a far cry from where we'd like it to be, APIs are inching closer to marriage equality as an ideal and a reality in a just world. Our research indicates that the API community represents the highest percentage of moveable voters. We have a tremendous opportunity to change hearts and minds."

Click here for a link to this article.

Activist of the Month: Ericson Herbas

API Equality-LA's Activist of the Month: Ericson Herbas We're proud to present Ericson as our July Activist of the Month!

What committee are you involved with in API Equality-LA?
Outreach & Recruiting Committee

How and when did you get involved?
I discovered API Equality-LA via another group called the API Pride Council (APIPC) around January 2007. I was the GAPSN representative at the time and was helping coordinate APIPC's participation in the Lunar New Year festivities, which API Equality-LA sponsored. Also, my friends Marshall Wong, Jury Candelario and Alex Fukui were active volunteers of API Equality-LA and they convinced me to become more involved. Eventually I got sucked-in (in a good way) just by common associations and friends inside API Equality-LA.

Why is it important to continue this fight for marriage equality?
As a whole, it's a simple matter of civil rights that filters down to your day-to-day living, and how people treat you differently. But on a personal level, I probably won't be getting married anytime soon (I prefer having boyfriends - keeps me feeling young - just look at Marshall).

Where are you right now?
At home recovering from a July 4th stomach flu. After I finish typing this, I'm going to CVS to buy more TUMS.

Occupation?
I've been graphic designer for the past 18 years. But when I was little, I wanted to become an entomologist (study of insects), specializing in spiders and related groups such as centipedes and scorpions. Seriously.

What is one sound that characterizes you?
1420 MHz (google it!)

What is one thing about you that surprises people?
I'm totally into cosmology (no, not the study of "make-up" but the study of the universe and humanity's role in it). Think Dr. Stephen Hawking as a reference. At the moment, I'm taking some online astronomy courses via iTunes U. Ask me anything about large-scale structures in the cosmos! I also like radio astronomy (see my 1420 MHz answer above).

Hometown?
I was born in Makati, Philippines and immigrated to the US at the age of 12 with my family. I grew up in Daly City (that's a suburb just outside San Francisco). I moved to Pasadena for a job on January 1, 2004. I'm now living in San Gabriel.

Heritage?
I'm a Filipino mutt for the most part. My mom is Ilocano and my Dad is Bicolano and they both met during college in Manila.

Facebook or Twitter?
I'm a Facebook stalker.

Coffee or tea?
I prefer tea because it has anti-oxidants that keep my skin supple and pimple-free. Sometimes I drink coffee too, specially during long drives or if I'm working late.

Click here for a link to this article.

API Equality-LA Hires Its First Director

Honoring The Dead

(Dr. Rev. Jonipher Kwong with volunteer Stephanie Van at a Prop 8 rally)

After an extensive search, API Equality-LA, praised for its work in Marriage Equality, hired its first Director, Dr. Rev. Jonipher Kwong.

Dr. Rev. Kwong most recently served as the Interfaith Organizer for California Faith for Equality, interacting with various religious leaders and activists in the Southern California region. He was prominent in educating the faith community and the Asian and Pacific Islander community about marriage equality leading up to the Prop 8 ballot initiative during the 2008 elections.

Dr. Rev. Kwong is not new to API Equality-LA. He served as a Co-Chair of its Faith Committee. He introduced one of its signature programs "Queerying the Bible," exploring queer themes in the Good Book. Jonipher also currently serves on the Board of Directors for the California Council of Churches and is a member of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors.

In Honolulu, he served as the Executive Director of the Counseling & Spiritual Care Center of Hawaii and was the Founding Minister of the Ohana Metropolitan Community Church (MCC). Dr. Rev. Kwong received his Doctoral degree of Ministry from the Claremont School of Theology. He is fluent in the Filipino languages of Tagalog and Cebuano; the Chinese dialect of Fukienese; and is conversant in Mandarin and French.

"We are thrilled that Jonipher has agreed to serve in this capacity," said Doreena Wong, Co-Chair of API Equality-LA. "We are confident that he has the leadership to carry this organization forward."

Dr. Rev. Kwong's first day as Director begins July 16, 2010.

Click here for a link to this article.

Hear Us Roar: Essays by API Equality-LA Members

As we enjoy Pride month, let's enjoy these articles written by members of our organization. They were posted on the Asian Pacific Americans for Progress Blog.

The Importance of API LGBT Visibility by Deanna Kitamura. Click Here.

A Time for Celebration, A Time for Unity by Steven Truong. Click here.

A Parent's Perspective by Harold and Ellen Kameya. Click Here.

Click here for a link to this article.

Don't Forsake Blake

Gay Asian politician Blake Oshiro advocates for civil unions in Hawaii. Watch here:

http://www.kitv.com/video/23327914/index.html

Click here for a link to this article.

Two API Equality-LA Heroes are Recognized

Congrats to Steering Committee members Jury Candelario and Karin Wang! Read more about Jury, click here. To read about Karin, click here.

Click here for a link to this article.

Honoring The Dead

Earlier this month, Rev. Jonipher Kwong (in purple) from the Faith Committee participated in the Ch'ing Ming festival, a Chinese tradition of honoring the dead. It was held at Evergreen Cemetery in Boyle Heights. To his left is Dianna Ybarra, President of the Boyle Heights Historical Society and, to his right, is Assemblymember Mike Eng. In a speech to visitors, Jonipher said, "May all of us, people of faith and goodwill, continue to rise up and leave OUR legacy of setting free those who are oppressed and marginalized in our world."

Click here for a link to this article.

Our Stories

Loren Javier

The issue of marriage equality is an important one to me. I know that, one day, my mom would love me to settle down with somebody I love. And, given the adversity I had to overcome as a child, where I had to suppress everything I was, I want to live in a world that treats me with dignity.

[Read the full story]

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