ICYMI: PSAs Counter Popular Narrative About Asian-American LGBTQ Youth And Parents

By Sameer Rao Jul 15, 2015

Pride Month was in June, but it’s always a good time to watch this set of PSAs from the Asian Pride Project and National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA). 

The two organizations partnered over a series of videos featuring parents of various Asian and Pacific Islander backgrounds talking about their LGBTQ children. The videos, released throughout June close to the Supreme Court’s historic marriage equality decision, aimed not only to counter perceptions about Asian-American LGBTQ youth but also to help fight prejudice within the AAPI community. Says Suma Reddy, co-director of the Asian Pride Project: 

Our campaign not only empowers immigrant parents, but also LGBT youth struggling to come out to their families. We are raising the visibility of supportive Asian parents and family members so they can act as catalysts for acceptance within their communities.

The total of nine videos, recorded in nine different languages, all feature the same script: 

Too often our children are shunned, ostracized and discriminated against in our own community. I am proud of my [son/daughter/child]. I have always been proud of my [son/daughter/child]. It is time to take a stand to support your children, my children, our children. Share your story of love and acceptance for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender children. After all, family is still family and love is still love.

The videos were also played on various Asian-language television stations throughout the United States

Click here to see the videos in full.