Sisters Standing Up for Love: API Equality-LA Honors Three Remarkable Women Leaders Supporting Marriage Equality
Congresswoman Judy Chu, Attorney Julie Su and Philanthropist Lina Paredes Receive Awards for their valuable work in the community
Los Angeles (CA) - On April 10, API Equality-LA held a special reception honoring three outstanding women leaders for their efforts in increasing support for marriage equality in the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. The second annual Sisters Standing Up For Love event in Monterey Park was hosted by actress and comedienne Amy Hill.
"In the 2008 election, Asian American voters in Los Angeles County demonstrated significant support for marriage equality. Each day, API Equality-LA's work through our allies and friends -- such as our honorees Congresswoman Judy Chu, attorneys Julie Su, and philanthropist Lina Paredes -- to win even more support from our community," said Doreena Wong, API Equality-LA co-chair and one of the evening's presenters. "Recent victories in the District of Columbia and Mexico City are reminders that we are on the winning side of history."
Sisters Standing Up For Love proudly honored:
Congresswoman Judy Chu, US Congress, 32nd District, has been a staunch supporter of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues for many years. She has been the go-to elected official in the AAPI community to seek endorsement and to champion LGBT-related rights and issues including HIV/AIDS, human rights and, of course, marriage equality.
Attorney Julie Su is Litigation Director at the Asian Pacific American Legal Center (APALC) of Southern California, an affiliate of the Washington DC based Asian American Justice Center. She has worked in collaboration with Lambda Legal and API Equality – LA, and assisted in the amicus brief signed by APALC and other civil rights organizations representing communities of color to the California Supreme Court challenging the passage of Proposition 8.
Philanthropist Lina Paredes, former Director of Grantmaking at the Liberty Hill Foundation, serves on the national board of directors of Asian Americans/Pacific islanders in Philanthropy and Funders for LGBT issues. As a board member she helps to advance the strategic positioning of API and queer communities in philanthropy.
Presenters for the evening included noteworthy community activists Wendy Chang (Dwight Stuart Youth Foundation), Karin Wang (Asian Pacific American Bar Association), Mia Yamamoto (Asian Pacific American Women Lawyers' Alliance), Eileen Ma (Koreatown Immigrant Worker's Alliance), Genevieve Tan (Barangay), and Michelle Soliman (co-chair of Media/Website committee, API Equality-LA).
This summer API Equality - LA celebrates their fifth anniversary. In 2010, API Equality - LA is tripling their annual budget, expanding staff and plans to reach thousands of AAPI voters with their message of justice, inclusion and hope.