SARAH LOHMANN WRITES — Often, our innermost desires stay that way: internal. These wants hum to themselves, “Why can’t I be the only one you need?” This thought, and many others are brought to life in Zeph’s newest album, Character Development. Zephani Jong, known as Zeph, is a Korean singer-songwriter…
ANYA CHINAPPI WRITES – On June 17 police and city officials in Daegu, South Korea, clashed with supporters of LGBTQ rights just hours before the scheduled start of the 15th annual Daegu Queer Culture Festival. Tensions ran high as hundreds of local city officials and workers, backed by Daegu’s mayor…
SAM BECK WRITES – It was a momentous event, the culmination of a long fight to recognize the rights of those who identify with the LGBTQIA+ community, and a nationwide celebration of Pride Month: On June 24, Manila held the Metro Manila Pride March and Festival, and Quezon City held the LoveLaban:…
GABY RUSLI WRITES— To be or not to be happy? That is certainly not the question. The soon-to-be-published in America short story collection Happy Stories, Mostly (2021) expresses an LGBTQ+ person’s limited accessibility to happiness in a world plagued with acute heteronormativity. Happy Stories, Mostly (2023) by Indonesian-born Norman Erikson Pasaribu is a collection…
BOOK REVIEW EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ELLA KELLEHER WRITES – There’s nothing quite like finding out your house is very much alive and wants to consume you. Vietnamese American teenager, Jade Nguyen, lands in Vietnam with her younger sister Lily for the heroic purpose of surviving five weeks with her estranged father, with…
**Trigger Warning: This article recounts experiences of homophobia, suicide, physical abuse, and rape. BOOK REVIEW EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ELLA KELLEHER WRITES – “Love conquers all” – we are often taught this maxim as children. We are persuaded to believe the very essence of love can solve all life’s problems. Yet, for those…
LILLY WEBBER WRITES – The long-awaited Japan 2020 Olympics is finally in full swing— or it would be if the COVID-19 pandemic hadn’t forced the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to postpone the event to 2021 (hopefully). The Olympics would have brought renowned athletes and thousands of tourists to the East…
NICOLE ALAVERDIAN WRITES – A roar of happiness and tears erupted around Taiwan – and in many communities around the world – as the Taiwanese parliament approved same-sex marriage. This is a historic win as Taiwan becomes the first in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage – proving to be more socially…
[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”] [et_pb_row admin_label=”row”] [et_pb_column type=”4_4″] [et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”] TABITHA THEARD WRITES – Bi-Visibility Day began in 1996, when American LGBTQI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex) Rights activists Wendy Curry, Michael Page and Gigi Raven Wilbur noticed a lack of representation for bisexuals in queer movements. Thus, they organized to…
AASHNA MALPANI WRITES — On September 6, India’s Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favor of legalizing consensual same-sex relations by striking down a draconian law that deemed LGBT Indians to be “against the order of nature.” The landmark ruling marks the culmination of decade-long protests staged by gay Indians and…
EVA THIO WRITES – Indonesian lawmakers have started to ban LGBT activates, and police have raided popular spas, arresting hundreds of people in the process. In lockstep, the government is considering banning LGBT-related television programming in an effort to head off what one politician says could become a wave of…
MATTHIEU LANGE WRITES – “Not all heroes wear capes.” This saying, originating from the 1900s in reference to pop culture superheroes, has become popular in our generation to portray individuals that demonstrate exceptional qualities. The concept of a hero, however, is as old as history itself, and the qualities required…
