Asian Pacific Islander Queer Women and Transgender Community
| Abbreviation | APIQWTC |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | API Lunar New Year Banquet |
| Formation | 1999 |
| Website |
www |
Asian Pacific Islander Queer Women Transgender Community (APIQWTC) is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization in the San Francisco Bay Area that provides opportunities for Asian & Pacific Islander queer women and transgender people to socialize, network, build community, engage in inter-generational organizing, and increase community visibility.
APIQWTC grew out of the API Lunar New Year Banquet, founded in 1987 by a small group of queer and transgender Asian women. APIQWTC was officially founded in 1999 by Crystal Jang, Koko Lin, and Trinity Ordona, as a new hub for established and new community groups to exchange news and coordinate projects in the San Francisco Bay Area.[1] Over time, it evolved from a network to a community organization.
In 2012, the co-founders reported that APIQWTC provides the space for an estimated 1,000 queer women and transgender individuals of Asian descent to gather and celebrate who they are.[2] Today, APIQWTC is a space for "many queer women and transgender Asians [who] live in the closet in fear of losing their family and community."[2]
APIQWTC hosts the following events and activities annually: Lunar New Year Banquet;[2] Summer Barbeque; Phoenix Award;[3] Community Artist award; Trips; Support for community LGBT organizations; Monthly Meet-ups. Every year, APIQWTC provides two scholarship to deserving API LGBT students pursuing higher education.[4] During the yearly banquet, an API LGBT organization is designated to receive a percentage of the annual banquet receipts to further its mission.
References
- ↑ "APIQWTC December 1999". Brochure. 1999.
- 1 2 3 Cassell, Heather (April 19, 2012). "Queer Asian group celebrates silver anniversary". Bay Area Reporter. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
- ↑ "Koko Lin to Receive Phoenix Award from Local API Group".
- ↑ "2015 Scholarship Applications". APIQWTC.