A small but steady informal group of LGBT queer Asian/Pacific Islander organizers who first came together for an open forum in October are gearing up in 2005.
The group has had a follow-up small potluck event in December. The group was also more mixed-gender this time around. This has made organizers more excited about the future. As the group is trying to form, inclusion and strength in numbers is being emphasized.
Also, the group is formally launching a Chicago-based email newsgroup called qapi_chi. It is a listserv dedicated to keeping queer A/PIs informed around its events and meetings. Please contact David ( see e-mail below ) if you are interested in keeping updated about the group's upcoming events and organizing efforts.
In the next few months, the group is hoping to form a temporary planning committee that will decide on the group's name and its mission. They are hoping to complete this by June in time to recruit new members during Pride.
In the meantime, the group is planning on having monthly social activities to keep the momentum flowing. A queer A/PI women's social event is in the works for February. Please contact Lola ( laijong_2000@yahoo.com ) right away for more information. Plus, the group is meeting for sweets and other yummy treats at 'A Taste of Heaven' in Andersonville, Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. Please contact David ( damara66@yahoo.com ) for info.