Pride Talks: Our Queer Asian-American Voices
Join The DC Center and the Capital Pride Alliance for our next Pride Talks on Thursday as we bring voices from our AAPI community organizations together for a conversation. You may join the conversation via Zoom or participate via Facebook Live.
*If you are in need of ASL, please join via Zoom.
Discussion topics:
How can we respond to Anti-Asian Violence in the DMV?
Exploring the Roots and History of Anti-Asian Violence.
How can we support our AAPI communities right now?
How are Queer Asian Americans responding to Anti-Asian violence?
Organizations:
Facilitator:
La Sarmiento is a queer, non-binary, Filipino-American who unconventionally shares accessible and authentic dharma with humor and depth. They have been practicing Vipassana since 1998 and lead sanghas and retreats for people of color, the LGBTIQ community, teens, young adults, and everyone else. La lives happily and gratefully with their life partner Wendy and two Cairn Terriers Annabel and MacGregor in Towson, MD. Visit www.LaSarmiento.com
Panelists:
Anna Storti graduated with her PhD in Women’s Studies from UMD, and recently accepted a faculty position in Asian American Studies at Duke.
Nicholas Hatcher is a writer, artist, and organizer dedicated to building spaces and systems for people of color with intersectional identities. They believe in building intergenerational and multiracial coalitions, storytelling as advocacy, and centering queer and disabled experiences in design. They chair the board of directors of the East Coast Asian American Student Union, are political chair for API Queers United for Action DC, and are the Founder of Public Access Magazine.
Noel Ramirez is a behavioral health practitioner and innovator who focuses on Asian-Asian American communities, gay/bisexual men, people of color, HIV/AIDS, body-positive communities, social workers and other social service providers, and the recovery community.
Rajani Gudlavalleti (ruh-juh-nee good-love-uh-let-ee) is a dark-skinned, second-generation Asian Indian queer woman living in Baltimore, MD. Her work focuses on advancing social justice at the intersections of public health and the legal system. She serves on the executive team of Baltimore Harm Reduction Coalition as director of mobilization, advocating to end drug war and anti-sex work policies. Rajani is also a consultant with Baltimore Racial Justice Action and co-organizer with Baltimore Asian Resistance in Solidarity. Her writing can be found at www.rajanigudlavalleti.com.
