A Season of Joy, Resistance, and Community
The first quarter of 2026 was extraordinary for our LGBTQ+ work! It has been a season defined by resistance, pride, and deep community care—one of the most powerful beginnings to a year we’ve ever experienced since founding the AAPI Queer Joy coalition in 2024. In a time when attacks on the LGBTQ+ community, and especially our trans siblings, continue to escalate through harmful rhetoric and policy proposals, showing up has never mattered more.
Over these past three months, our community has moved with courage and clarity. We’ve gathered, marched, advocated, celebrated, and held one another close. We’ve been loud when the moment demanded it, joyful when joy felt like an act of defiance, and steadfast in our commitment to protecting and uplifting queer trans API (QTAPI) and the larger LGBTQ+ community across Southern California and beyond.
Here’s a recap of our activities!
Building Power Through Connection: LGBTQ+ Partner Brunch

We kicked off the year with our LGBTQ+ Partner Brunch, bringing together 13 LGBTQ+ community partners and leaders at our DTLA office. We shared stories, broke bread, and explored new opportunities for collaboration. Most importantly, we strengthened relationships and created new connections.
Southern California is home to fierce organizations serving our beautifully diverse LGBTQ+ community. Each one brings a unique vision for equity and liberation, and gatherings like this reminded us that longevity in this movement requires rest, reflection and connection. We feel honored to work with these partners and building connections to strengthen our collective voice.
Celebrating QTAPI Joy: Lunar New Year Events
- LA Blade Lunar New Year Gay Singles Mixer



We ushered in the Year of the Fire Horse with the Los Angeles Blade as co-hosts of their Lunar New Year Gay Singles Mixer. With Best Man Matchmaking and host ChiChi Charlas at The Abbey in West Hollywood, the night was filled with laughter, connection, and QTAPI joy. Before the festivities, we held a community partner meet-and-greet—another reminder of how powerful it is when our community comes together.
- Golden Dragon Parade



The celebrations continued as we marched in the Golden Dragon Parade in Chinatown with API Rainbow Coalition and PFLAG SGV API. Joined by more than 70 community members and partners including APAIT, Okaeri, SIPA, and many others, we filled the streets with pride flags, a trans-flag dragon, and the kind of joy that refuses to be dimmed.
In a moment when QTAPI communities face relentless attacks, celebrating our culture, diversity, and resilience felt both empowering and liberating.
Advocacy in Action: Protecting the Trans Community
- CMS Public Comment

In partnership with Viet Rainbow of Orange County and Hmong Innovating Politics, we submitted a federal public comment opposing a proposed CMS rule change that would severely restrict access to gender-affirming care for transgender youth nationwide. Our message was clear: trans youth deserve to thrive, and they deserve access to life-saving healthcare. Read our full public comment here.
- SCOTUS Ruling on Trans Student Protections

Alongside the AAPI Queer Joy Coalition, we denounced the recent ruling allowing the forced outing of trans and gender-nonconforming students in California. We remain committed to advocating for the safety, dignity, and empowerment of TGNC youth in every space they navigate. See our full post here.
QTAPI Voices in the Capitol: EQCA’s Lobby Day



Our AAPI Queer Joy Coalition showed up strong for Equality California’s Lobby Day, meeting with seven legislative offices to advocate for mental health resources, protections for gender-affirming care, extended leave for chosen family, and the enforcement of LGBTQ+ inclusive curriculum. Nearly 300 advocates from across the state joined in this effort, and our QTAPI voices were essential to ensuring statewide advocacy reflects the full diversity of our community.
We were proud to represent for our AAPI Queer Joy coalition and for the QTAPI community with our partners from HIP, SIPA, and Viet Rainbow Coalition. Thank you to EQCA for another powerful day of action.
Honoring Legacy and Community: Okaeri Benefit




We gathered to celebrate the transformative work of Okaeri and honor the life and legacy of its founder, the late Marsha Aizumi. Our LA Regional Policy Advocate, Jeff DeGuia, joined a panel with PFLAG API SGV and VietROC to discuss the vital role QTAPI organizations play within the broader AAPI community.
Together, we laughed, cried, learned, and found renewed strength. Spaces like these remind us why we fight—and who we fight for.
Trans Day of Visibility: Celebrating Love, Resilience, and Joy
On Trans Day of Visibility, we uplifted the brilliance, resilience, and joy of our trans community members. We shared a video honoring the powerful love between community leader Maria Carmen and her mother—a reminder that visibility is not just about being seen, but about being cherished, protected, and celebrated.
We remain committed to uplifting and protecting our trans siblings every single day.
Looking Back, Moving Forward
The AAPI Queer Joy Coalition and AJSOCAL’s LGBTQ+ policy portfolio were officially established in 2024 after identifying the deep gaps in services and visibility for QTAPI community members during the COVID-19 pandemic. While AJSOCAL has long been an ally to LGBTQ+ communities, this work represents a deeper, more intentional commitment to ensuring QTAPI voices are included in statewide advocacy and community care.
Q1 showed us what is possible when we move with courage, pride, and collective pur