August 2012 Newsletter

Summer is in full swing!  As the national conventions for the major Presidential candidates approach, all eyes are beginning to focus on the upcoming political season.  NQAPIA is already engaging our lawmakers and our political process and in this newsletter we’re happy to share some resources to get you up and at ‘em as well!

Join us for our NQAPIA Quarterly Briefing next week on Wednesday, August 22, where we will explore better ways to get all our communities involved!

This e-mail includes the latest information about the following:

• NQAPIA Announcements and Activities:  NQAPIA Quarterly Briefing, Joint Statement on Violence in Oak Creek, WI and Joplin, MO, Amicus Brief for University of Texas Supreme Court Case, Statement on Shooting at Family Research Council
• Around the Horn: Invisible 2 Invincible- Asian Pacific Islander Pride of Chicago, Trikone (SF), SALGA (NYC)
• News and Notes: Immigration Updates, Judicial Nomination, Resources for Transgender Voters

As always, for more information, contact NQAPIA directly at nqapia@gmail.com and check out our web site.

 

NQAPIA Announcements and Activities

NQAPIA Quarterly Briefing:  Let’s Get Engaged!- Political and Civic Engagement for AAPI LGBT Communities

Join us for this opportunity to re-connect after the NQAPIA Conference and before the 2012 Presidential Election Season hits full stride.  Learn more about what other communities are doing and how we can all get more engaged and more involved!

Wednesday, August 22, 2012 6pm Eastern/ 5pm Central/ 4pm Mountain/ 3pm Pacific/ 1pm Hawai’i.

Dial 712-432-3900 (access: 9156628#) to join the call.

NQAPIA Statements:  In the spirit of solidarity and “showing up” for our allies and partners, NQAPIA has signed onto a number of statements positioning the LGBT community on a number of issues, including:

• Violence in Oak Creek, WI and Joplin, MO:  NQAPIA led the LGBT community in a sign-on letter here.
• Amicus Brief on University of Texas- Austin v. Fisher:  Leading AAPI national organizations signed onto a legal brief to the Supreme Court in support of affirmative action program at the University of Texas.
• Family Research Council Shooting:  NQAPIA is joining a statement of LGBT groups condemning violence regardless of victim in response to a shooting at the Family Research Council.

Around the Horn: Actions and Activities in the AAPI LGBT Community

SALGA- NYC:  On August 19, SALGA NYC will be marching in NYC’s annual India Day Parade.  They report that New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn is going to greet SALGA’s contingent.  SALGA’s web site is here.

Invisible to Invincible- API Pride of Chicago:

Photos of I2I’s August Potluck appeared in an eblast for the upcoming Chicago conference for the Asian American Center for Advancing Justice.

 

News and Notes: National Legislative and Policy Updates

Immigration:  NQAPIA is joining other organizations to cohost a Webinar & Call on information for young LGBT Immigrants on the Department of Homeland Security’s new Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals for eligible undocumented youth under the age of 31.  Join us to learn more about this important policy change.

Pamela Chen Nominated to Federal Bench:  Pamela Ki Mai Chen has been nominated by President Obama to the bench for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York and if confirmed, will be the second Chinese American woman to serve on the federal bench and one of a handful of openly lesbian judges.  See the statement of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association here.

Voting While Transgender:  The National Center for Transgender Equality has provided a great resource for transgender voters to understand the impact of new Voter ID laws on their ability to access the polls in November.  Click here for more information.

 

We’re glad you’re with us on the journey as we gear up for the fall.  With your support it will NOT be politics as usual!

 

In partnership,

Ben de Guzman, Co-Director and Aya Tasaki, Program Committee Chair

NQAPIA