Volunteer Highlight ~ Paul Tranđź‘ľ
Graphics by @pandahatdoodles and @rei.ko.dash
Article by Shei Yu
Paul Tran (he/him/they) is a member of the Grassroots Fundraising Committee. Born and raised in the 626, they have been a volunteer at API Equality LA since June 2020.
An architectural lighting designer by day and a Twitch streamer by night, Paul joined API Equality LA in June 2020. During quarantine, he began streaming more frequently on Twitch and decided “to give back in some way” to his local community through volunteering. As a Queer Asian person living in Los Angeles, they came across API Equality LA at events like the Chinese New Year festival or the 626 Night Market. As a member of the Grassroots Fundraising Committee, Paul looks forward to the monthly meetings held over Zoom. ” When asked whether he wanted committees to meet more often, Paul replied, “It’s almost even more communal that we get together once a month for two hours and talk about how things are going.” Despite the remote setting, Paul observes, “I don’t think there’s any loss of a sense of community.
When it comes to building a sense of community on virtual platforms, Paul is a natural. An avid gamer, they can be found streaming Dungeons & Dragons and Final Fantasy XIV as Paulthemadtran or PTMT Games. Paul has diverse interests outside of work and tries to maintain what he calls “a bit of a degenerate life.” They enjoy attending raves with their boyfriend, watching CriticalRole, and listening to podcasts like Hello from the Magic Tavern.
For Paul, exercise is an integral part of his self-care routine. “I think the best thing I try to do for myself is just getting my body moving: physical fitness, working out, or even just going for a walk for an hour a day.” Their hair, a burst of blue (or sometimes purple), signals their refusal to conform and their commitment to self-love. After struggling with negative self-talk and body image issues, Paul met great people who encouraged him to embrace his individuality and dye his hair. “I love that I’m able to kind of be a beacon. And I love seeing a little bit more color in life.”
Fun facts
Chinese Zodiac: Monkey
Western Zodiac: Pisces
Favorite 2D shape: Triangle
Favorite 3D shape: Icosidodecahedron
Favorite time of day: 5 PM