Dear friend,
We are proud to announce that the GAPIMNY Steering Committee has voted to drop our acronym, “Gay Asian Pacific Islander Men of New York.” Going forward, our organization will be formally known as “GAPIMNY” with the tagline “Empowering Queer & Trans Asian Pacific Islanders”.
GAPIMNY was founded in 1990 to provide a supportive space for queer and trans Asian Pacific Islanders. We are incredibly proud of our history and all that we have accomplished over the last 28 years, but our work is far from over.
Three months ago, we announced that our theme for 2018 is Taking Action in Solidarity. This theme is a response to our government’s continued assault on our most marginalized communities.
Our commitment to our values is stronger than ever, and it is crucial that we adopt a name that accurately reflects who we are. We are not just gay Asian Pacific Islander men—we are transgender, non-binary, gender non-conforming, genderqueer, two-spirit, lesbian, bisexual, queer, questioning, and more.
In addition, we are strong believers that in order to create meaningful change, we must center our most marginalized communities, and when we do, our entire community benefits. Therefore, it is crucial that we not only include trans Asian Pacific Islanders, but that we center trans Asian Pacific Islanders in our work and all that we do.
For this reason, we are expanding our membership from “queer Asian Pacific Islander men and transgender people” to include all queer and trans Asian Pacific Islanders. As part of this initiative, we have been collaborating with our partner organizations Q-Wave and SALGA-NYC to align our missions, support one another, and fight for trans justice in solidarity.
Our marketing committee has gone above and beyond to ensure that our branding reflects these changes. You will see our new logo in our digital presence and marketing materials going forward.
Regarding our programming, our goals to center trans Asian Pacific Islanders are multifold: to educate our members on trans allyship, to support and develop trans leaders, and to create more spaces for trans folks.
I want to thank the entire GAPIMNY Steering Committee because these pivotal changes would not have been possible without them. Their hard work, talent, and passion are what allow GAPIMNY to continue thriving and making a positive impact on our communities.
Thank you for taking part in our mission to empower queer and trans Asian Pacific Islanders to create positive change. We hope to see you at an event soon.
In solidarity,
Charles Lin
GAPIMNY Chair