Although I've been somewhat visible in both the Asian Pacific American (APA) community and the gay community, I've never considered myself to be an activist or voice for either group. I mean, I'm much too busy trying to beat my own Ms. Pac-Man high score to do much of anything else. But growing up a double minority, having to work through two different layers of self-hate, and desperately seeking Asian-American role models and subsequently gay role models, I've become particularly sensitive to issues surrounding gay Asian Americans.

So when The Advocate recently published its list of the 40 Greatest Gay Heroes, selected by readers from a list of 100 nominees, I of course noticed the absence of APAs. (The full list can be accessed here.) Surely, there are Asians who have had some impact on the gay community, right?

Gay people of color are in a difficult position. They face homophobia in their own ethnic community--it's hard enough fighting for racial equality without throwing the whole gay thing into the mix, after all. And they simultaneously face racial prejudice in the LGBT community--the idea of a color hierarchy among gays is a persistent problem.

It's heartening to see, then, the APA community making strides to embrace its gay members and show support for gay rights. Among the more than 500 organizations that submitted legal briefs to the California supreme court in support of gay marriage recently were 63 local, state, and national Asian-American organizations. Perhaps this will inspire the LGBT community to, in turn, continue recognizing and embracing all of its own.

I have compiled my own list of Asian-American Heroes in the LGBT community, who have increased APA visibility in their own ways. Since I am primarily a whore for pop entertainment, I had my friend Peter over at Plastic Bubble World help me select from activists, athletes, and other categories that I'm naive about. And since I have limited my list to one hero in each category (one actor, one novelist, etc.), you may find some glaring omissions. (For example, I chose someone other than Margaret Cho in the comedian category--GASP!) I encourage you to add your own names to the list to give praise where it is due--especially in the category of "musician," in which both Peter and I came up short.

So click on a pic below to browse through my Gallery of Gaysian Heroes and read a little bit about them....