History

2022

Co-Chairs: Daniel Chapman | Bianca Humady Rey
Other Board members: Sean Munar, Sam Bhutia, Eddie Carreon, Thomas Nagata, Kenny Rakwong, Mitch Chan, Colton Marshall, Paul Palapal, Jenish Patel

Approved the new Constitution.
Added the “Outreach Committee.”
Hosted AQUA DC’s Drag Extravaganza Fundraiser.
Started initiative to create SOPs for committees.
Started the pilot for a Mentorship Program.

2021

Co-Chairs: Daniel Chapman | Bianca Humady Rey
Other Board members: Sean Munar, Shutian Wang, Nick Hatcher, Ben Falk, Kenny Rakwong, Eddie Carreon, Thomas Nagata, Sam Bhutia

Hosted “RPDR 101: Purse First,” a virtual drag fundraiser with drag queens both local and across the US.
Started selling AQUA DC-branded face masks.
Started an social media AQUA rebrand.
Participated in AAPI Capital Pride Virtual Art Show.
Participated in Capital Pride’s Colorful Fest.
Hosted a virtual vigil and program for International Transgender Day of Remembrance.
Started drafting a new Constitution for a clearer purpose and more structured workflow
Switched to a committee structure to handle ongoing work: Finance, Marketing, Operations, Political, Programming.
Re-Evaluated our Mission and Values.
Participated in the 2nd Annual LGBTQ Filipino American History Month Celebration with the Kamayan Coalition.
Participated in a vigil and rally in support of “STOP ASIAN HATE.”
Hosted a reading and Q&A with award-winning queer Asian poet Daniel W.K. Lee.
Started “Community Member Spotlight” initiative.

2020

Chair: Daniel Chapman (Starting April 2020)
Other Board members: Clarence Cabañero, Sean Munar, Bianca Humady Rey, Shutian Wang, Nick Hatcher, Ben Falk

Created the position of Political Chair
Participated in Census education and promotion efforts in tandem with NQAPIA
Hosted Law workshops on topics including immigration law, domestic violence, and Covid-19 resources with the Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center
AQUA DC joined with a number of DC API professional and advocacy organizations for a Asian Pacific Islander American Heritage Month series of workshops and events
Joined in organizing “One Diva, One Mic”, a DC APIDA Queer virtual Pride Night
Joined the 57th Annual March on Washington with the Caribbean Equality Project to show up for #BlackLivesMatter and to rally against police brutality
Joined in organizing the first national LGBTQ Filipino American History Month Celebration with the Kamayan Coalition
Began a number of event series, including: hiking, cooking demonstrations, tennis, watch parties, and more!

2019

Co-Chairs: Kevin Chen | Kyle Livingston
Other Board members: Clarence Cabañero, Sean Munar, Bianca Humady Rey, Shutian Wang, Daniel Chapman

Accomplishments:

Celebrated Lunar New Qyear with a dumpling making party
Joined the greater AAPI DC community in an AAPI Salute to Service at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery
Joined other LGBT+ QAPI organizations in a celebration of heritage and pride headed by the National LGBTQ Task Force
Led the reinstatement of Asian and Pacific Islander Capital Pride with other QAPI organizations in the DC area
AQUA’s Dragon Boating team “Out2Paddle” won the Government Open Champion gold trophy, the silver medal for the 250 meter A Major Division, and the bronze medal for the 500 meter A Major Division at the 2019 DC Dragon Boating Festival
AQUA DC among other DC QAPI groups won the 2019 NQAPIA Community Catalyst Award for Building Community Coalition
Hosted a Barbequeer Fundraiser which saw over 100 guests and over $1,000 raised
Hosted Queergiving, a Thanksgiving event that brought together different LGBT orgs in the DC area and over 120 people for food and friendship
Joined with other QAPI organizations to enjoy a stroll through the National Zoo’s “Zoolights” event

2018

Co-Chairs: Jeffrey Wong (Jan.-June) | Kevin Chen
Other Board members: Clarence Cabañero, Heejun Choi, Eddie Chong, Peter Cruz V, Kyle Livingston, Hoang My “Ping” Nguyuen

Jeffrey was speaker for the 2018 NQAPIA DC Community Catalyst banquet.
Hosted a Pride and Heritage Potluck (fundraiser for 2018 NQAPIA conference).
Started monthly QAPI Support Group at the D.C. Center with APIQS, from Jan. 2018.
Out2Paddle reformed after 2 year hiatus with MOAPIA sponsorship.
- Won the Government Open division trophy, A-minor division gold in 250M, and A-major division bronze in 500m
Established a relationship with Capital Pride and their API board members; Awarded Best Showcase by Capital Pride.
Spill the Tea—monthly tea social series at Teaism Penn Quarter—initiated in June.

2017

Co-Chairs: Jeffrey Wong

AQUA 20th Year Anniversary, honoree at NQAPIA Catalyst Dinner.
Supported the formation of the Korean American Rainbow Group (KARG).

2016

Co-Chairs: Jeffrey Wong | Ben Chou

2015

Co-Chairs: Vincent Wang | Eugene Hwang

Collaboration with MOAPIA on DC AAPI LGBT Visibility Campaign.

2014

Co-Chairs: Ben Chou | Vincent Wang
Secretary: Michael Tzeng
Treasurer: Troy

Winter party.
Thanksgiving Member Thank You event.
AQUA marched at Pride and had a booth at the Capital Pride Festival.

2012

Co-Chairs: David Lee, Thuan Nguyen
Secretary: Michael Nguyen
Treasurer: Troy Pham

Co-hosted events for NQAPIA’s National Conference in Washington, DC.
Visited the White House with a delegation of NQAPIA and PFLAG advocates, received signed Presidential Proclamations of LGBT Pride Month.
Attended NQAPIA’s Leadership Retreat in New York, NY.
Launched newly-branded AQUADC and Out2Paddle identity systems.
Rallied at the Supreme Court to support marriage equality during opening arguments for ‘United States v. Windsor’.
Raised funds for the ‘Marylander for Marriage Equality’ campaign to vote for Question 6
Co-sponsored phone banking operations with the Human Rights Campaign, which helped pass same-sex marriage legislation on 1/1/2013
Hosted 2012 Presidential debate watch parties with recap discussions
Community Outreach
Held a Date Auction fundraiser and a Lunar New Year potluck benefit party
Revived aZen, our weekly Saturday mixer, across two venues; Cobalt and MOVA lounge
Competed at DC’s annual Dragonboat Festival, winning Gold in the 500m finals
Marched at DC’s Capital Pride and hosted a festival booth

2007

Co-Chairs: Linh Hoang | Wee Lee Sim
Treasurer: Danny Leung
Other members: Kham Moua, Eugene Lee, Alex Tsao (communications), Kevin Lee (membership)

2006

Co-Chairs: Don Verde (Jan.-Dec.)|Linh Hoang (July-Dec.)
Secretary: Linh Hoang (Jan.-June)
Treasurer: Alex Sun (Jan-Dec.)
Other members: Van Do, Go Kasai, Loi Luong, Michael Sun (at-large July-Dec.), Vinh Nguyen, Irwin Gueco, Jack Wang

Lunar New Year Dim Sum.
Pride & Heritage at Chaos.
First AQUA float in the Capital Pride.
Start of ‘AQUA’s Night Out’ at Apex, First Fridays.
AQUA enters the annual Dragon Boat Festival
- Won 3rd in the 500m, 4th in 250m
DC Mayor’s office declares Pride & Heritage Day.
P&H featured as cover article in MetroWeekly.

2005

Chair: Don Verde (G8)
Treasurer: Jerome Flores (G8)
Other members: G8 (Interim Operating Committee): Henry Ocampo, Alex Sun, Gerry, Umali, Nick Nadal, Linh Hoang, Loi Luong, Charlie Ahn

Mid-Summer Soiree at Gallery Place.
AKA Community Thanksgiving Potluck.
Started Spicy Asian Crunch Mixer @Halo.
A:Y Anniversary Celebration.
AQUA participates in DC-MAPS, first national survey focusing on GBTQ A/PI men.
AQUA participates in national gathering of queer APA organizations at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s Creating Change Conference.
AQUA members are key in securing funding and providing programming for the event.
AQUA and other queer and progressive organizations hold a Town Hall Forum on Marriage Equality and the APA Community, “How Do You Say ‘I Do’ in Punjabi?” at the University of Maryland-College Park.

2004

Chair: Joseph Truong
Treasurer: David Mori
Other members: Samson Huang (at-large)

AQUA active at Queer Asian Pacific Legacy Conference, New York City (March).
First AQUA Scholarship created by Denys Lau to fund participation in QAPL Conference.
Bylaws amended to include grievance policy.

2003

Chair: Joseph Truong
Secretary: David Mori
Treasurer: Kevin Lee
Other members: Shin Inoue (at-large)

Fourth QAPA Heritage Month event retains the Pride & Heritage (P&H) moniker. AQUA & APIQS co-host slam poetry event Tea & Poetry.
AQUA as a member-driven organization, votes against officially protesting the U.S. invasion of Iraq. However, many AQUA members and community partners actively participate in several protest events on their own.

2002

Co-Chairs: Ben de Guzman | Irwin Gueco
Secretary: Allan Pacheco
Treasurer: Kevin Lee
Other members: Alan Cariaso (at-large)

Third QAPA Heritage Month event – Asians and Pacific Islanders OUT Loud, with local and national artists and performers.
First AQUA Happy Hour at Thirty Degrees (FoodBarDC/Cobalt).
AQUA meets with David Tseng- Executive Director of PFLAG National.
Along with the Domestic Violence Resource Partnership (DVRP), AQUA is co-recipient of APA Community Gala Awards.
AQUA members participate in Gay Games VI in Sydney, Australia.
First AQUA survey of membership makeup is conducted.

2001