| | Recently, I had the amazing opportunity to volunteer with Downetime --- which is the young adult group of the Gay Asian Pacific Islander Men of New York (GAPIMNY).
It's been a rewarding experience so far. I don't think I give enough credit to the spaces in my life that have allowed me to be completely who I am, unabashedly and uncompromisingly. I tend to alter my presentation depending on the group that I'm with.
It's a gut reaction. It's a survival instinct.
Right now, I feel as if I have plenty of gay in my life (holla!), and the spaces that I live, work, and play in are, for the most part, gay-friendly. Not to say that there aint homophobia goin down, but for now, it's all good. I gotta admit though, at this time, I haven't been feeling particularly accepted into spaces for POC. I know this aint nothin new, and opens up a volume of analysis, but I don't want to get into that here. Lately, I've been exhausted with legitimizing API experiences, and having to bring that analysis to the table. And, you know what, I've been tired of it. It's not the role of the oppressed to teach the oppressor, as Audre Lorde stated somewhere --- I'm too lazy to look it up now.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that a gay Asian space is exactly what I need right now. A place where I don't have to prove that my experiences merit talking about.
For me, that is a world of good.
If any gay Asians 18-26 in the NYC area want to come, it's this Thursday, April 10. Go here for details.
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| | Posted 4/8/2008 12:24 AM - 122 Views - 0 eProps - 0 comments
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