From Jan 9, 2000, Sing Tao Newspaper, a Local Chinese Language Newspaper
On GAPSN 2000 Installation Dinner
Special Thanks to Henry Lo & Howard Yao for the Clipping

The English Translation by André Ting
(Note: A reporter from Sing Tao Daily, a major international Chinese language newspaper, attended our installation and interviewed some GAPSN spokespersons. The following is the translation of the article that appeared in that publication on Jan. 9, 2000. There are some errors in the content due to the reporter's unfamiliarity. Nonetheless this is an unaltered version of the original article. A.T.)

Southern California's largest gay Asian organization, Gay Asian Pacific Support Network, had their l5th year anniversary/installation event. It was a celebration held at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel on Jan. 8, 2000. The themes of the events were "Seeking Societal Understanding, Struggling for Equal Rights" [sic]. It also honored California Assemblyman George Nakano, Chinese [American] film producer [sic] Marcus Hu, and human rights advocate Morris Kight. It thanked these people for their many years of support. Over 200 people attended the function.

GAPSN is a gay Asian Pacific organization for men. It currently has over 200 members. Over half of the members are of Chinese descent, the rest are of Filipino, Japanese, Thai, Korean, Vietnamese, etc. The chair of the organization Howard Yao, who immigrated to this country from Taiwan in his youth, indicated that the mission of the organization is to provide a place where gays can congregate and build a support network to reduce societal pressure, and to express their feelings. Members come from all walks of life and professions. They have widely different societal and academic backgrounds. But all share the same "classless and equal" vision. [He said] " We are an entity within the living society. We have our own lifestyle." Gay organizing is a societal phenomenon. It has its basis in their sexual orientation. Their goal focuses on their emotional and physical needs.

[New co-chair] Pei-Chi Chang, who came to this country at a very tender age from Taiwan, indicated that gays are struggling for equal rights and equal benefits. For instance, the right to get married is especially important to new immigrants. If a gay person had a lover, be it male or female, in Taiwan, Hong Kong, or China, his partner would be able to immigrate to the US through marriage. Without the right of [gay] marriage, they would not be able to unite.

André Ting, who came [to this country] when he was 21, indicated that 10% of the population is gay and lesbian. Their community constitutes a significant [voting] block in the society. 5% of the [total] votes for President Clinton's election and re-election came from gays and lesbians.

Meanwhile, these spokespersons indicated that the Chinese community is under the influence of eastern culture, which discriminates against the homosexuals. These gay people are also under pressure form their own families. When they interact with other people in the society, they are not willing to claim to be gay. Also, they are not willing to reveal their real names to the public. However, they emphatically hope that society [at large] can correctly understand and accept or tolerate them.

Assemblyman Nakano (Southern California 53rd District) told this reporter that he totally indorsed AB 22, which aims to protect gays and lesbians in schools against harassment and criminal acts. In his speech [when accepting the Pacific Bridge Award] he said that he was not willing to see societal prejudice [against gays and lesbians]. He did that [supporting AB 22] in spite of the fact that it would have adversely affected his chance of re-election.

American-born Chinese Marcus Hu is a well-known gay personality. He is a film producer [sic] of Strand Releasing. In the past 20 years that company has produced [sic] over 100 gay-theme movies. They include "Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss," "East Palace, West Palace," "Macho Dancer," "Tongues Untied," "Reeds," and "Edge of Seventeen." "East Palace, West Palace" is [a film] about two upscale restrooms in a venue in Beijing. Gays call them palaces, which became at one time an active site for gays in Beijing.

Morris Kight, a Caucasian, was the founder of a gay center called Christopher Street West [sic]. He has been a supporter of [gay] Asian Pacific organizations in the last 20 years, fighting for their civil rights. Since l980, he has been a commissioner on the LA County Human Relations Commissions. The dignitaries who attended the event unequivocally requested the society at large to truly understand the gays and lesbians. They support the protection of gay legal rights.