GLSEN Supports Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Originated in 1978, when President Jimmy Carter designated the first week of May as Asian-Pacific Heritage Week, Asian Pacific Islander Month was extended and established by law in the 1990s. The month of May was chosen to celebrate the beginnings of Japanese immigration in 1843, as well as the Chinese who helped to complete the transcontinental railroad in May 1869.

In 2012, President Obama proclaimed, "Generations of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have helped make America what it is today. Their histories recall bitter hardships and proud accomplishments - from the laborers who connected our coasts one-and-a-half centuries ago, to the patriots who fought overseas while their families were interned at home, from those who endured the harsh conditions of Angel Island, to the innovators and entrepreneurs who are driving our Nation's economic growth in Silicon Valley and beyond. Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month offers us an opportunity to celebrate the vast contributions Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have made to our Nation, reflect on the challenges still face by API communities, and recommit to making the American dream a reality for all."

As a part of GLSEN's Days of Support, we encourage GSAs and other student organizers to take the time during May to recognize the contributions of our API brethren, particularly to the LGBT and safe schools movements.

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Heroes

Learn. Asian American and Pacific Islanders are a diverse and important part of the LGBT community. API individuals have a variety of ethnic and cultural backgrounds, which include all countries on the Asian continent, as well as several Pacific islands. These include Micronesia (Marianas, Guam, Wake Island, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Naruru, and the Federated States of Micronesia), Malenesia (New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji, and the Solomon Islands), and Polynesia (New Zealand, Hawaiian Islands, Rotuma, Midway Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, and Easter Island).

Share. Our API Heritage Month Heroes downloadable flier has information about nine notable API heroes. It's perfect for sharing. Print off copies and pass them out to members of your GSA, teachers and fellow classmates. To download, see RELATED DOCUMENTS on the right. Also feel free to use our other activities, including a timeline of LGBT API milestones in American history and matching game for our heroes.

Post. Put up the Cover Photo on your Facebook page and let others know why you support API Heritage Month. We want to know who your heroes are! If you know a person of API descent who has contributed to the LGBT and safe schools movement, post about them on our Facebook page. You can also tweet your heroes to @DayofSilence using the #GLSENAPIHM hash tag!

Research. Learn more about the incredible contributions people of API heritage make! You can also check out the links below to connect and see what opportunities may exist!

Facts for Features- Information from the 2010 census on API people in the US, including demographic make-up, socio-economic status, and behavioral factors.

Links for teachers - Various activities, lesson plans, and teaching guides to help teachers to engage with students on the rich history and culture of API Americans

Queer Asian Youth (QAY) - a safe space for LGBT youth of East and Southeast Asian ethnicities. It has an online message board for youth anywhere.

Youth Resource - A website by and for LGBT youth of color with various supports and resources.