Meet Obama Leaders supporting the global LGBTQIA+ community​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍‌​‌​​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍​​‌‌‍‍​​‌‌​‍‌‌‍‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‍‍‌‍​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‍​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​​‍​‌​‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍​‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‍‌​‌​‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‍​​​‌‍​‌​‌​‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​​‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌​​‌‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍​‍​‍‍‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌​‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍‌‍​‍​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌​‌​‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​​‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌​‌​‍‌‍​‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​‌​​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍‌‌​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍​​‍​‍‌‌‌‌

PLUHO, People Like Us Hang Out! is a grassroots LGBTQ+ organization in Malaysia that focuses on LGBTQIA+ rights advocacy, awareness raising, and community strengthening. Founded in 2016, PLUHO has pioneered and led multiple community initiatives and services addressing the systemic oppression faced by LGBTQIA+ communities in Malaysia. This includes The BlueBird Project: a volunteer-run LGBTQIA+ affirming mental health referral service, Rumah Angkat: an inclusive emergency shelter, and Keluarga Qu: an initiative to connect with parents of LGBTQIA+ people. Most of these initiatives have ceased operations due to funding constraints, staff burnouts, and other structural barriers. However, this hasn’t stopped my commitment to providing a safe and inclusive space for LGBTQIA+ people in Malaysia.. I believe in the power of meaningful inclusion and that the beauty of diversity should be celebrated.​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍‌​‌​​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍​​‌‌‍‍​​‌‌​‍‌‌‍‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‍‍‌‍​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‍​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​​‍​‌‌​​‌‍‌‌‍‌​‌​‍​​‍‌‍‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌​‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌​​‌‌‍​‌​‍​‌‌‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌‌​​‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌​​‌‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍​‍​‍‍‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌​‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍‌‍​‍​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌​‌​‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌​‌​‍‌‍​‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​‌​​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍‌‌​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‍​‍‌‌‌‌

From my experience as an LGBTQIA+ leader, I’ve learned that the situation for LGBTQIA+ people and other marginalized communities in Malaysia will not improve without advocacy. Most of the issues we face are rooted in systemic oppression, cultural discrimination, and marginalization. For too long, LGBTQIA+ people have existed and survived underground, at the margins of society. It is PLUHO’s mission to challenge the status quo, our core focus over the last three years.​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍‌​‌​​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍​​‌‌‍‍​​‌‌​‍‌‌‍‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‍‍‌‍​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‍​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​​‍​‌‌​​‌‍‌‌‍‌​‌​‍​​‍‌‍‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌​‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌​​‌‌‍​‌​‍​‌‌‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌‌​​‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌​​‌‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍​‍​‍‍‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌​‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍‌‍​‍​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌​‌​‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌​‌​‍‌‍​‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​‌​​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍‌‌​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‍​‍‌‌‌‌

The leaders program has definitely widened my perspective and understanding of what value-based leadership meant. As someone who has been an activist in a country that oppresses LGBTQIA+ people, the conversation around values often stops at superficial and aspirational levels. The program provided me the tools and opportunity to reflect on my personal values, explore whether they align with the organization’s values, and further identify conflicts and dissonance. Knowing what my values are, and why it is important to practice them, grounds me as an activist, and provides clarity with my approach and attitude towards activism.​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍‌​‌​​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍​​‌‌‍‍​​‌‌​‍‌‌‍‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‍‍‌‍​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‍​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​​‍​‌‌​​‌​‌‍​‌​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‍​‌​‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌‍​‌​​‌‌‍‌‍‌​‍‍‌​​​​​‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌​​‌‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍​‍​‍‍‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌​‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍‌‍​‍​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌​‌​‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌​‌​‍‌‍​‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​‌​​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍‌‌​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‍​‍‌‌‌‌

The longer that I am in activism, the more I understand that LGBTQIA+ rights advocacy will always be a battleground for most of the queer people in this world. There is no space for absolute safety and refuge. I am hoping to empower more queer people to understand our issues, and become educated on our basic human rights. Only when there are enough of us to create, defend and protect spaces for other queer people, we can then equip ourselves with the resilience we need in this long battle. Social change takes time and effort, I am privileged to be part of it. It is also where I derive joy from: knowing that I am not alone in this, and that I can offer the same wisdom to the next queer people I meet. Joy is knowing that you are not alone.​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍‌​‌​​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍​​‌‌‍‍​​‌‌​‍‌‌‍‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‍‍‌‍​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‍​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​​‍​‌​‌​‌‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‍‍‌​‍‍​​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‍​‌‌‌‍‌‍​‌‌‍​‌​‌‌‌​‍‌‌​​​​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌‍‍‌‌​‍​​‌​‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌​​‌‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍​‍​‍‍‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌​‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍‌‍​‍​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌​‌​‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌​‌​‍‌‍​‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​‌​​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍‌‌​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‍​‍‌‌‌‌

My commitment is rooted in family, survival, and the belief that dignity should never be negotiable. My family’s history and experience with stability has been volatile. We are Central American and Hong Kongese, navigating a world still learning to understand our cultural intersections. My family fled war and anti-Asian hate, sought refuge in LA, and worked low-wage jobs to restabilize.​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍‌​‌​​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍​​‌‌‍‍​​‌‌​‍‌‌‍‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‍‍‌‍​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‍​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‍​​‍‌​​​‍‌​​‌‌‍‍​​‍​‌​​‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‍‍​​‌‌​​‍‌​​‌​‌​‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌​​‌‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍​‍​‍‍‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌​‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍‌‍​‍​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌​‌​‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌​‌​‍‌‍​‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​‌​​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍‌‌​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‍​‍‌‌‌‌

As a queer person growing up in a household already navigating profound instability, I feared my identity might unravel the fragile safety we had just started to secure. While my family fortunately embraced me, I carried the awareness that such acceptance was never a guarantee for others. That truth fuels my work.​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍‌​‌​​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍​​‌‌‍‍​​‌‌​‍‌‌‍‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‍‍‌‍​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‍​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‍​​‍‌​​​‍‌​​‌‌‍‍​​‍​‌​​‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‍‍​​‌‌​​‍‌​​‌​‌​‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌​​‌‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍​‍​‍‍‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌​‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍‌‍​‍​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌​‌​‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌​‌​‍‌‍​‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​‌​​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍‌‌​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‍​‍‌‌‌‌

Over the past decade, I’ve worked across movements: digital justice, education, civic engagement, and youth power-building (because LGBTQIA+ liberation doesn’t exist in a vacuum). My work builds connective tissue between issues, sectors, and people. Whether it’s coalition-building in LA or co-designing systems with those most impacted, I’m driven by a belief in shared power, interdependence, and futures we’ve yet to imagine.​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍‌​‌​​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍​​‌‌‍‍​​‌‌​‍‌‌‍‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‍‍‌‍​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‍​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‍​​‍‌​​​‍‌​​‌‌‍‍​​‍​‌​​‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‍‍​​‌‌​​‍‌​​‌​‌​‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌​​‌‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍​‍​‍‍‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌​‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍‌‍​‍​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌​‌​‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌​‌​‍‌‍​‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​‌​​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍‌‌​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‍​‍‌‌‌‌

​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍‌​‌​​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍​​‌‌‍‍​​‌‌​‍‌‌‍‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‍‍‌‍​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‍​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‍​​‍‌​​​‍‌​​‌‌‍‍​​‍​‌​​‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‍‍​​‌‌​​‍‌​​‌​‌​‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌​​‌‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍​‍​‍‍‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌​‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍‌‍​‍​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌​‌​‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌​‌​‍‌‍​‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​‌​​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍‌‌​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‍​‍‌‌‌‌

I grew up trying to make sense of multiplicity - Asian and Central American, child of immigrants and war survivors, queer in a culture of quiet endurance. I didn’t lack love, but I lacked language for who I was. That absence made me a bridge-builder across identities, across silences, across differences.​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍‌​‌​​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍​​‌‌‍‍​​‌‌​‍‌‌‍‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‍‍‌‍​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‍​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍​‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​​​​​‌‍‍‌​​‍​​‍‌​‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍​‌‌​‍‌‌‌‌‌​​​‌‌‍‌‌‍​‌‌‌‌‌‍‍​‌‍‍​​‍​‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌​​‌‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍​‍​‍‍‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌​‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍‌‍​‍​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌​‌​‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌​‌​‍‌‍​‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​‌​​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍‌‌​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‍​‍‌‌‌‌

Being advanced a grade in elementary school meant growing up fast, learning to be taken seriously in rooms where I was often the youngest and often the only. But it also taught me to ask deeper questions: Who’s missing? What’s possible? What needs to change so that more of us can belong?​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍‌​‌​​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍​​‌‌‍‍​​‌‌​‍‌‌‍‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‍‍‌‍​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‍​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍​‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​​​​​‌‍‍‌​​‍​​‍‌​‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍​‌‌​‍‌‌‌‌‌​​​‌‌‍‌‌‍​‌‌‌‌‌‍‍​‌‍‍​​‍​‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌​​‌‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍​‍​‍‍‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌​‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍‌‍​‍​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌​‌​‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌​‌​‍‌‍​‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​‌​​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍‌‌​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‍​‍‌‌‌‌

Leadership, to me, isn’t about having the loudest voice, it’s about creating conditions for others to rise. I’ve mobilized AAPI leadership to shape a more inclusive government, I’ve organized low-income and immigrant families to gain access to systems, and I’ve worked to preserve queer history and celebrate queer futures steering the Circa Queer Histories Festival. And recently, I helped lead a coalition of dozens of organizations fighting for digital justice, for both broadband and dignity. Across everyinitiative, I’ve tried to root transformation in relationship, reciprocity, and radical imagination.​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍‌​‌​​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍​​‌‌‍‍​​‌‌​‍‌‌‍‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‍‍‌‍​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‍​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍​‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​​​​​‌‍‍‌​​‍​​‍‌​‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍​‌‌​‍‌‌‌‌‌​​​‌‌‍‌‌‍​‌‌‌‌‌‍‍​‌‍‍​​‍​‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌​​‌‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍​‍​‍‍‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌​‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍‌‍​‍​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌​‌​‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌​‌​‍‌‍​‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​‌​​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍‌‌​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‍​‍‌‌‌‌

The Obama Leaders Program has deepened my belief that we pass on hope not through perfection, but proximity, and by showing up in our fullness and inviting others to do the same.​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍‌​‌​​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍​​‌‌‍‍​​‌‌​‍‌‌‍‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‍‍‌‍​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‍​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍​‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​​​​​‌‍‍‌​​‍​​‍‌​‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍​‌‌​‍‌‌‌‌‌​​​‌‌‍‌‌‍​‌‌‌‌‌‍‍​‌‍‍​​‍​‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌​​‌‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍​‍​‍‍‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌​‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍‌‍​‍​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌​‌​‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌​‌​‍‌‍​‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​‌​​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍‌‌​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‍​‍‌‌‌‌

​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍‌​‌​​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍​​‌‌‍‍​​‌‌​‍‌‌‍‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‍‍‌‍​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‍​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍​‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​​​​​‌‍‍‌​​‍​​‍‌​‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍​‌‌​‍‌‌‌‌‌​​​‌‌‍‌‌‍​‌‌‌‌‌‍‍​‌‍‍​​‍​‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌​​‌‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍​‍​‍‍‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌​‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍‌‍​‍​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌​‌​‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌​‌​‍‌‍​‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​‌​​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍‌‌​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‍​‍‌‌‌‌

For much of my life, walking into a room meant scanning for risk: Who’s here? Am I safe? How much of myself do I have to withhold to survive this space?​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍‌​‌​​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍​​‌‌‍‍​​‌‌​‍‌‌‍‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‍‍‌‍​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‍​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​​‍​‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌​‍​‌​‍‌‌‌​‌​‌‍‌‌​‌​‍​‌‍‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌​‌​‍‌‌‍‍‌​‍‍‌‌‌‍​‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌​​‌‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍​‍​‍‍‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌​‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍‌‍​‍​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌​‌​‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌​‌​‍‌‍​‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​‌​​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍‌‌​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‍​‍‌‌‌‌

In this program, for the first time in a long while, I didn’t feel the need to perform or protect. I could walk in and scan not for danger, but for people who saw me. That shift was transformative. Emotional and mental safety became the baseline, not the exception.​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍‌​‌​​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍​​‌‌‍‍​​‌‌​‍‌‌‍‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‍‍‌‍​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‍​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​​‍​‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌​‍​‌​‍‌‌‌​‌​‌‍‌‌​‌​‍​‌‍‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌​‌​‍‌‌‍‍‌​‍‍‌‌‌‍​‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌​​‌‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍​‍​‍‍‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌​‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍‌‍​‍​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌​‌​‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌​‌​‍‌‍​‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​‌​​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍‌‌​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‍​‍‌‌‌‌

Connecting with other queer leaders in this program reminded me of the many versions of queerness I’ve lived and witnessed, from growing up in Northeast LA, to studying drag and performing in San Francisco, where I first tasted what it meant to be free. Drag became a way to reclaim my body, to tell my story on my terms, to rewrite shame into power. And being in community with other queer leaders reminded me that queerness isn’t something to explain or justify. It’s something we embody, every day, in how we create, resist, and love. For once, I didn’t have to code-switch or compartmentalize. I could just be. And that is where joy begins.​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍‌​‌​​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍​​‌‌‍‍​​‌‌​‍‌‌‍‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‍‍‌‍​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‍​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​​‍​‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌​‍​‌​‍‌‌‌​‌​‌‍‌‌​‌​‍​‌‍‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌​‌​‍‌‌‍‍‌​‍‍‌‌‌‍​‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌​​‌‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍​‍​‍‍‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌​‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍‌‍​‍​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌​‌​‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌​‌​‍‌‍​‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​‌​​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍‌‌​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‍​‍‌‌‌‌

​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍‌​‌​​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍​​‌‌‍‍​​‌‌​‍‌‌‍‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‍‍‌‍​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‍​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​​‍​‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌​‍​‌​‍‌‌‌​‌​‌‍‌‌​‌​‍​‌‍‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌​‌​‍‌‌‍‍‌​‍‍‌‌‌‍​‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌​​‌‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍​‍​‍‍‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌​‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍‌‍​‍​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌​‌​‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌​‌​‍‌‍​‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​‌​​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍‌‌​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‍​‍‌‌‌‌

Queer folks want the same things as everyone else: to fulfill the same fundamentally human instinct to love, to belong, and to make meaning in one's life with another. And over time, and with a little bit of work, we see that our fellow citizens get better at recognizing the completeness of our common humanity and at admitting more people as equal members of our communities.​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍‌​‌​​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍​​‌‌‍‍​​‌‌​‍‌‌‍‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‍‍‌‍​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‍​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​​‍​‌​‌​‌‍​‌​‌​‌‌‍‌​​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‍​​‌‍‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌​​‌‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍​‍​‍‍‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌​‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍‌‍​‍​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌​‌​‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌​‌​‍‌‍​‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​‌​​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍‌‌​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‍​‍‌‌‌‌

I’m working for a future where all queer Australians feel free to realize the full promise of their lives, where life’s ordinary joys are not merely within our reach, but where our communities encourage their attainment, much as they would for anyone else.​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍‌​‌​​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍​​‌‌‍‍​​‌‌​‍‌‌‍‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‍‍‌‍​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‍​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​​‍​‌‍‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌‌‍‌​‌​‌‌‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌​‌‌‌‍‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‍‍​‌‌‍​‌‌​​‌‌‍‍‌​​​‌​‍​​‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌​​‌‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍​‍​‍‍‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌​‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍‌‍​‍​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌​‌​‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌​‌​‍‌‍​‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​‌​​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍‌‌​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‍​‍‌‌‌‌

And although it won’t have been right to have suffered for our differences, I hope that in time queer folks will also be able to look upon our hardships and realize that it is us who have understood our world and its sharp edges in ways that others never will, and that these experiences will become wellsprings of compassion and justice for others.​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍‌​‌​​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍​​‌‌‍‍​​‌‌​‍‌‌‍‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‍‍‌‍​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‍​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​​‍​‌‍‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌‌‍‌​‌​‌‌‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌​‌‌‌‍‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‍‍​‌‌‍​‌‌​​‌‌‍‍‌​​​‌​‍​​‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌​​‌‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍​​‍​‍​‍‍‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌​‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍‌‍​‍​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌​‌​‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌​‌​‍‌‍​‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​‌​​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍‌‌​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‍​‍‌‌‌‌