New Coming Out Q&A Site For Gay Asian Pacific Community

Los Angeles, Calif.  – API Equality-LA, a non-profit organization that advocates for equal marriage rights and fair treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in the Los Angeles Asian and Pacific Islander (API) community, has recently launched Q&A Space (www.QAspace.org), a coming out website for API youth.

Q&A Space is specifically designed for LGBT API youth struggling with their identity and coming out, as well as parents and allies of individuals navigating the coming out process. This online resource allows for individuals to submit their own stories to share with others and will serve as a place of support and advice for those seeking it from all over the world.

“There is a great need for more accessible and culturally relevant resource for API LGBT youth,” says Eileen Ma, API Equality-LA executive director. “Q&A Space is the first online resource and story-telling forum of its kind, and we hope it will provide a safe space for people to learn more and hear stories that will inspire, encourage and empower them in their own lives.”

Q&A Space contains the following:

•         Individual coming out stories, videos and art pieces (public submissions welcome)
•          Fact sheets for parents in Chinese (simplified and traditional), Bahasa Indonesia, Tagalog, Urdi, Hindi, and Vietnamese (Farsi, Japanese, Korean and Hmong coming soon)
•         A list of API and LGBT friendly faith, mental and sexual health, housing and community  organizations
•         Questions and answers about the coming out process

“As a Filipino mother to a gay son, I knew how to help my son navigate how to be an Asian-American; however, I didn’t have any frame of reference for what it was like to be gay,” said Carol Mannion, President of San Gabriel Valley API PFLAG. “I’m extremely thankful and glad to see API Equality-LA is creating a resource desperately needed.”

This project was funded by API Equality-LA, Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy Queer Justice Fund, Asian Pacific Community Giving Circle, and OUTfund.

To learn more about Q&A Space or to submit a coming out story, visit www.QAspace.org.