May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPIHM). Victory Institute celebrates the groundbreaking contributions of the AAPI community year long and are so grateful to all the AAPI leaders currently serving in elected office around the world. This month, we’ll highlight a few leaders that have forged a critical path toward inclusivity and acceptance by running for office.
These trailblazers continue to inform conversations around the significance of equitable representation on all levels of the U.S. government, especially for LGBTQ communities of color. Their status as one of the firsts will inspire the efforts and political ambitions for many generations to come.
Submissions will be updated with new interviews soon!
Georgia state Representative Marvin Lim
1. What inspired you to run for office?
The number one complaint in my district is that government wasn’t responsive – and most frequently they mean an official didn’t respond to their email or voicemail! You shouldn’t promise you can “solve” everyone’s problems – and many people just want to be listened to. But you can promise, at least, to respond. We need to show people they care, not just tell them we care – and the best way to do that is give room for them to tell *their* stories, and then actually respond to those. Without first doing that, we can’t really create viable long-term solutions.
2. What does AAPI Heritage Month mean to you?
AAPI Heritage Month means that Americans are encouraged to see the “American” part of Asian-Pacific American. So often, it is true: we are seen as Asian, and that’s great, we should be proud of that. But we’re American.
3. What is the biggest issue facing LGBTQ+ AAPI people right now? What is your plan to address the issue?
Discrimination of AAPI people in the LGBTQ+ community, and vice versa. Of course, “intersectional” discrimination exists across all cross-groups. But you’re asking me about LGBTQ+ AAPI people, and certainly there are AAPI people who still don’t accept LGBTQ+ people, and discrimination against AAPI people on gay dating apps is well-known.
4. What’s your favorite moment from AAPI history?
I’ll take a slice of AAPI history – currently, in Georgia, we have the largest AAPI state legislative caucus in the continental US (love you, Hawaii)! And it’s got, not just bipartisan representation, but also from descrent across the gamut of AAPI ethnicities, from Palestinian, to Bengali, to Filipino (yep, me)!
DC State Board of Education Member Allister Chang
1. What inspired you to run for office?
I was activated by the challenges posed to students and educators by the pandemic, particularly around literacy. I decided to run for office in order to advance literacy for all DC students.
2. What does AAPI Heritage Month mean to you?
As the first AAPI person elected to the DC State Board of Education and to any ward-wide position in DC, I’ve taken this month to reflect on my own family story and to ask my AAPI neighbors about theirs as well. There is no monolithic AAPI narrative. Our broader efforts to build trust and progress benefit from the sharing of diverse, real, lived experiences.
3. What is the biggest issue facing LGBTQ+ AAPI people right now? What is your plan to address the issue?
The intersection of multiple marginalized identifies leads to marginalization within both the LGBTQ and AAPI communities. I’m grateful that the LGBTQ+ Victory Institute is working to be more inclusive of AAPI experiences and perspectives. It’s continuous work that must extend beyond one month each year.
4. What’s your favorite moment from AAPI history?
DC is currently revising public schools’ social studies standards for the first time since 2006, so a lot of cases and examples are top of mind for me right now, including the organizing to pass the Hate Crimes Prevention Act and the Supreme Court’s upholding of birthright citizenship in United States vs. Wong Kim Ark. I’ll be proud to live in a city where student gain opportunities to learn about AAPI history.
5. Who’s your AAPI LGBTQ+ inspiration?
My AAPI LGBTQ+ neighbors in DC who have shared their experiences with me. I did not grow up with access to an AAPI LGBTQ+ community. To any AAPI LGBTQ+ people in DC, please don’t hesitate to reach out (allister.chang1[at]dc.gov).
