Get ready for some undersea fabulousity, as the Gay Asian Pacific Alliance crowns its 27th round of royalty. It's an old-fashioned pageant where competitors (called "candydates") get to compete in a variety of categories such as costumes, talent, formal evening wear, and a question and answer session, just like other pageants.
Since 1987 the Gay Asian Pacific Alliance, aka GAPA, has been a place where LGBT-identified Asian Pacific Islanders could network in a safe, welcoming environment. The organization's mission statement states, in part, that GAPA "creates awareness by developing a positive collective identity, and by establishing a supportive community."
GAPA has had programs which supports community members with HIV, and people who are age 35+. GAPA also has its own chorus which is set to perform at Taiwan Pride. Other GAPA programs include a variety of social groups where members can connect to one another and be heard. GAPA Runway has been around for 27 years.
"The GAPA Runway was created to express themselves and to be the face for their reign," explained GAPA co-chair Jonathan Cheung.
Cheung said that past winners have utilized their crowns for the betterment of the community.
"2011 winners Michael Nguyen and Lychee Minelli ran a platform for youth leadership within the Queer API community," Cheung said. "They raised money for a mini-conference for over twenty Queer API youth to give them the tools and resources to continue being activists and involved in the community."
Cheung also pointed to 2013 winners Sir Whitney Queers and Khmera Rouge, who raised over $8000 for youth scholarships.
"The Board and members of GAPA realized that this fun event had a more profound and constructive purpose," said GAPA's Alan Quismorio. "It was a platform for Gay Asian Pacific Islander men to showcase the diverse nature of their community and to access that political voice which challenged the stereotypes, the racism and the homophobia they experienced culturally and personally."
In the course of its 27-year history, Runway has gone from small banquet rooms to larger venues like the Herbst and Marines Memorial theaters, Yuerba Buena Gardens, and now the Cowell Theater. This year's judges include District 6 Supervisor Jane Kim, Miss Gay SF Lily Rose, Absolute Empress 39 China Silk, and Tamiko Wong, Executive Director of the Oakland Asian Cultural Center.
Runway 27 has been dubbed "Under the Sea."
"Expect to see a lot of mermaids," said Quismorio. "In the spirit of generating diversity, for a day or two I was campaigning for any of the Mr. GAPA candydates to dress up like Aquaman. I hope someone picked up on that. We'll see. It'd be hot!"
Both Quisimorio and Cheung shared a bit of their back stories and how they found their way to GAPA.
"I came out to my family and friends at 17," Cheung said. "I was immediately introduced to the Queer API space in Southern California, but I only saw the partying and social side of the community."
Cheung became involved with the LGBT Center in Long Beach and in community service at UC Irvine.
"I did not see a space specifically for Queer API in Southern California," he recalled. "In 2010 I moved up to San Francisco to start a new job with JP Morgan Chase and found this amazing API community."
Cheung began to work with the API Wellness Center and was asked to join the GAPA Board. He said that GAPA fulfills the need to have a space where people can combine their Asian and queer identities.
"Looking at the rich history of GAPA, it makes me proud that this organization has led the way to the creation and development of other organizations like GAPA Foundation and API Wellness Center that has provided amazing resources to our community," Cheung said.
Much more work needs to be done, Cheung feels, for the transgender and immigrant communities, and racial justice.
Quismorio is the 1998 winner of Mr. GAPA. "I joined a growing list of titleholders that will forever represent the mission of the Gay Asian Pacific Alliance," he said. "That tenure helped me develop really good leadership and social skills. I think the Runway Pageant does that for everyone. Whether you win the title or not, you become even more confident and more vocal with where you stand in this or that issue."
Quismorio feels that the whole process bonds people into a unit that's less competitive and more supportive, "which is a terrific template for the community."
"Runway 27: Under the Sea," the annual Mr. and Miss Runway Pageant, takes place on Saturday, September 12 from 6-10 PM at the Cowell Theater in the Fort Mason Center. $30-70. www.facebook.com/GAPASF