Upcoming Pride Events for June 2013

KhushDC's Upcoming Pride Events:

• Friday, May 31 at 10pm (Tomorrow night!): Pop-up AAPI Queer Dance Party
  We're joining forces with our queer AAPI brothers and sisters to throw a dance party tomorrow night as we transition from Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month (May) to LGBTQ Pride Month (June). It's our QUEER AAPI Pop-Up Dance Party!

Our DJ's will be spinning Top 40's, Bollywood, Bhangra, 80s, and more all night long!

WHERE: Upstairs of MAMBO Room at Chief Ike's, 1725 Columbia Rd NW Washington, DC 20009 (In the Adams Morgan area, between Columbia Heights and Dupont Metro stops)
WHEN: 10pm on Friday, May 31

NO COVER! $3-5 domestics. $6 RAIL drinks.

Hosted by: KhushDC, AQUA, NQAPIA, and APIQS

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/149708791880370

• Friday, June 7 at 6pm: Truck Decorating Party for Pride

Join KhushDC to decorate our truck for the Capital Pride Parade and make posters! We'll bring the food. You bring the drinks. We'll all decorate the truck and make posters while listening to Bollywood/Lollywood/Tollywood, Bhangra, and other beats. ;)

Also, please bring any old saris, dupattas, streamers, etc. that we can use to decorate the truck!

WHERE: RSVP to board@khushdc.org and we'll send you the address.
WHEN: 6pm on Friday, June 7

Only open to KhushDC members, their partners, and allies (especially ones that can do desi truck art and have fabulous decorating skills!).

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/581073398593629/

• Saturday, June 8 at 2pm: March with KhushDC at the Pride Parade

KhushDC would like to invite DC's South Asian LGBTQ community and our straight allies to the 38th Annual Capital Pride Parade on Saturday, June 8th.

The Pride Parade is an opportunity to showcase the diverse faces of the LGBTQ community and stand proudly for those South Asian LGBTQ individuals who are not yet able to be out. We stand as friends, mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters to celebrate, but also remember the struggles we’ve fought collectively to reach this right to be equal.

DJ Harsh will be spinning Bollywood, Bhangra, and more during the parade to keep us going!

WHERE: Meet at Larry's Lounge (1836 18th St NW, Washington, DC) and we'll walk over to the parade meeting spot.
WHEN: 2pm on Saturday, June 8 (important to be on time)

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/499052163493386/

KhushDC statement at 2013 Pride & Heritage

KhushDC recognizes Mala Nagarajan and Vega Subramaniam at D.C.’s Pride & Heritage Celebration – Statement by KhushDC President, May 18, 2013

I am lucky enough to introduce two of our honorees today, Mala Nagarajan and Vega Subramaniam. In the LGBTQ advocacy world, you have those who speak for our rights and those who take it a leap further and act on the fight for our rights. Mala and Vega are two such individuals.

Mala has served on the National Queer Asian Pacific Islanders Alliance board and was a fellow of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute, where she researched leadership development and movement building in small identity-based organizations.

Vega is the executive director of the Collaborative Project of Maryland, which offers low-income Marylanders access to a respectful alternative dispute resolution process.

While living in Seattle, together with Mala, she co-founded Trikone-NW in 1997, an organization for queer South Asians in the Pacific Northwest. The two of them helped organize the DesiQ conference in San Francisco in 2006 and the NQAPIA national conference in 2009 and 2012. They are among the founding members of the Rainbow Dragon Fund, a giving circle that aims to increase social justice philanthropy supporting queer Asian and Pacific Islander communities in the DC area. For those of you who are not yet members, I recommend you look into the Rainbow Dragon Fund and the great ways it’s helping our community and its various organizations.

Importantly, Mala and Vega were one of eight couples who participated in the marriage equality lawsuit against King County and the state of Washington in 2004.  Their advocacy raised awareness to this inequality that led all the way to a public referendum that finally brought gay marriage to Washington state last year.

They have also proved to be incredibly caring, welcoming people for those of us who are new to DC and the queer advocacy world. It’s been incredibly helpful for me to get to know them these last few years. But they also took their open arms even further recently when they took in an at-risk, homeless queer teenager. They gave him a welcoming place to live and open ears to hear and help him through his problems.

Congratulations, Mala and Vega. Your willingness to act where you see inequality and to help those in need is something we cherish and I know of few people as deserving as you for this type of an award.

2013 DC Pride & Heritage - May 18

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Heritage Month. June is LGBTQ Pride Month. May 17th is the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.

Join DC's queer AAPI community to celebrate each of those events and recognize community leaders. The event, Pride & Heritage, is a collaboration between APIQS, KhushDC, AQUA, and NAPAWF-DC and it will be our 13th year celebrating it together!

This year's program includes updates from each of our organizations, honoring of local community leaders, and more.

• Date: May 18, 2013
• Time: Party starts at 5:30PM; programming starts at 6:30PM.
• Location: Larry's Lounge, 1840 18th St NW, Washington DC
• Lower level and outdoor patio
• Nearest Metro station is Dupont Circle
• Cover: $5 cover includes hor d'oeuvres from Burma Restaurant and a raffle ticket. Prizes include selection of sex toys courtesy of The Garden. Additional raffle tickets may be purchased.
• Other information: 
• Happy hour specials from 4pm to 9pm.
• Dress code: casual.
• This event is open to all.

HONOREES:

• Danny Leung (AQUA)
• Mala Nagarajan (KhushDC)
• Vega Subramaniam (KhushDC)
• Lan Van (APIQS)

Asian Pacific Islander Queer Sisters (APIQS) - http://www.apiqsdc.org/
KhushDC - http://www.khushdc.org/
Asian Queers United for Action (AQUA) - https://www.facebook.com/aqua.dc.5
National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum (NAPAWF-DC) - http://napawf.org/

March with KhushDC at Capital Pride!

I want to march for tolerance, acceptance and understanding. I want to take a stand and say, "Me, too." – Jason Collins, Sports Illustrated, April 2013

KhushDC would like to invite DC's South Asian LGBTQ community and our straight allies to the 38th Annual Capital Pride Parade on Saturday, June 8th at 2pm.

The Pride Parade is an opportunity to showcase the diverse faces of the LGBTQ community and stand proudly for those South Asian LGBTQ individuals who are not yet able to be out. We stand as friends, mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters to celebrate, but also remember the struggles we’ve fought collectively to reach this right to be equal.

The sign-making and truck decorating party is on Friday, June 7th at 6:00pm. Please RSVP to board@khushdc.org or on the Facebook event page to receive the address.

Plus, DJ Harsh will be spinning Bollywood, Bhangra, and more to keep us going during the parade!

LOGISTICS for Saturday, June 8 (Day of the Pride Parade):

• Meeting location: Larry's Lounge (1836 18th St NW, Washington, DC)
• Meeting time: 2pm ET on June 8th (please do not be late)
• What to wear: Desi/South Asian clothes are encouraged, but make sure it's "breathable" clothing because it may get warm. Also, you want to be able to dance in it! :)
• What to bring: Water bottle is always a good idea; otherwise keep very little on you. 

RSVP on the Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/499052163493386/

Contact: board@khushdc.org

Read Jason’s full op-ed on the Sports Illustrated website:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/magazine/news/20130429/jason-collins-gay-nba-player/#ixzz2RuawZh7A

Queer Women's History Month event - Mar. 24

Celebrating South Asian Queer Femininity in Body and Spirit!

Date: Sunday, March 24, 2013
Time: 4pm to 9pm
Location: CauseDC (1926 9th St. NW, Washington, DC)

Five years ago, KhushDC established one of our key annual traditions: an event recognizing and celebrating the queer women/trans/and genderqueer folks in our community. In keeping with this month’s distinction as Women’s History Month, this event has traditionally been held in March. 

This year, we have been working hard to finalize the details for a very special KhushDC Women’s History Month event: an open mic lounge, “Celebrating South Asian Queer Femininity in Body and Spirit!”

“Celebrating South Asian Queer Femininity in Body and Spirit!” will begin with performative readings from the new anthology, “Out! Stories from the New Queer India,” edited by renowned author, writing coach and member of our global South Asian queer community, Minal Hajratwala. “Out!” has been published by the first LGBTQ publisher/retailer in India, Queer Ink! Following these readings, we will open the floor to story-telling of and about South Asian queer women/trans and genderqueer folks via film, dance, music and/or other offerings. We are particularly keen to represent the range of ethnic, national, linguistic, religious, class and other diversity of our South Asian diasporic community, so if you know already that you are interested in sharing something, or would like to nominate a local artist, please email vp@khushdc.org – if you’re not sure yet, remember that you have the opportunity to jump up to the mic on the day of the event itself!

Stick around after the performances to pick up your own copy of "Out!" and have it signed by Minal. The book-signing will occur during our very own Queer Women's History Month reception/”mini Jalwa” where you can enjoy the delicious cocktails and locally sources, ethically produced dishes on offer at CauseDC!

In addition to being published by the first LGBTQ publisher in India, “Out!” is very special as it is the first anthology of LGBTLiterature in India after the 2009 Delhi High Court Ruling on Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. Contributors in the book include published writers Sandip Roy, R.Raj Roy, Dibyajyoti Sarma, Sunny Singh, Kama Spice, Anisha Sridhar, Arun Mirchandani and a vibrant group of emerging writers. Further, the book celebrates the presence of the queer community among the “mainstream” in India.

Click here to view an excerpt from “Out!,” featuring a conversation between actress/activist Nandita Das and writer/proud mother of a queer Indian woman Chitra Palekar: 

Link to video: http://youtu.be/9hgG4dfoMC0

Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/events/128011964044102/

Look forward to seeing you all there!
KhushDC Board

KhushDC Veep becomes DC Commissioner

Sapna Pandya speaking with DC Mayor Vincent C. Gray behind her

KhushDC is proud to announce that our very own Vice President, Sapna Pandya, was sworn-in as a Commissioner for the DC Mayor's Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs on February 8, 2013.

Congrats, Sapna, and thank you for representing the queer, South Asian, and larger API community in DC!

Check out the full press release by clicking here.  And photos from the event here.

End-of-Winter Potluck: Feb. 16th

UPDATE: Thanks for the overwhelming response to the KhushDC potluck on Saturday, February 16th!  Unfortunately, we have reached maximum capacity and cannot take any more RSVPs. However, if you would like to be added to the wait list in case anyone cancels, please email secretary@khushdc.org.  For those that have received confirmation of your RSVP, but need directions, contact info, etc. please email secretary@khushdc.org or board@khushdc.org.  Please also let us know if you cancel last minute so that we can let folks on the wait list attend. Cheers! -updated Feb. 12, 2013

Join us for KhushDC's End-of-Winter Dinner-Potluck on Saturday, February 16th at 7:00pm. Please remember to RSVP to attend before space fills up! More information below:

Has this cold Northern winter got you down? Did Valentine's Day leave you all worked up? Well, not to worry--we at KhushDC will warm you up in the spirit of Mardi Gras (or perhaps Maagh Mela, or perhaps Goan Carnival) with our "Winter Farewell" dinner party!

This event will take place the a metro-accessible part of Northeast DC (Eckington/Edgewood). Out of consideration for privacy, the address is not posted here, but will be sent out after you RSVP. The space is capped at 28 people, so please be sure to RSVP soon! Biryani (both veg and non-veg) will be provided courtesy of KhushDC. Guests are encouraged (but not required) to bring either a small appetizer, dessert, or drink. Please RSVP to secretary@khushdc.org with your name and what you might bring (don’t worry, you can change it later).

The host happens to have tabla, harmonium, guitars and a piano in his home. For those of you who can play some other musical instrument, feel free to bring it along.

This event is limited to KhushDC members and their partners and/or immediate families.

Please contact Rashad (secretary@khushdc.org) if you have any questions, thoughts, or requests.

New Year Happy Hour -- Balle Balle!

Happy Holidays, KhushDC!

Join us as we celebrate the new year at Larry's Lounge on Saturday, January 5th at 8pm. We'll have Bollywood, bhangra, and other desi beats playing downstairs.

After Larry's, some of us will be heading to Black Cat to get our bhangra on with DJ Rekha and Panjabi MC.

The happy hour is free to attend, but you'll have to purchase tickets for Black Cat here if you wish to go to the later event: http://www.blackcatdc.com/shows/rekha.html. (We recommend purchasing tickets in advance, just in case.)

Facebook link: http://www.facebook.com/events/441159869284301

Jalwa!!!

OYE! It's high time for another Jalwa, KhushDC's LGBTQ Bollywood Dance Party!!! Get ready for two floors of desi fun including a night of great dance music by our very own DJ Geeta on the main floor and VJ Jeff Eletto downstairs to start off the night!

Date & Time: Friday, December 7, 2012, 9:30pm
Where: Green Lantern, 1335 Green Court NW
(b/w 14th & 15th Street and L & M Street NW)

Cost: $10 before 11pm, $12 after
RSVP: Facebook link

API LGBTQ Orgs Make History - 10/24 & 10/25

AQUA, APIQS and KhushDC have partnered with the Human Rights Campaign and the DC Center to co-host two events:

Phone Banking for Marriage Equality in Maryland

6pm on 10/24/12 [free pizza + refreshments]
Human Rights Campaign
1640 Rhode Island Avenue NW

We will all take part in making history in the fight for equality in Maryland by helping with phone banking at the Human Rights Campaign. Please arrive by 6p for a brief orientation conducted by HRC staff. Latecomers will still be able to take part, but 6p is preferable.

RSVP on Facebook here: http://on.fb.me/TpTBNI

Marsha Izumi of PFLAG Book Reading

7pm on 10/25/12 (free refreshments)
DC Center
1318 U Street NW
Free to attend!

AQUA, APIQS and KhushDC have sponsored Marsha Izumi's book reading event at the DC Center. Aizumi shares her compelling story of parenting a young woman who came out as a lesbian, then transitioned to male. This inspiring memoir chronicles Marsha's personal journey from fear, uncertainty, and sadness to eventual unconditional love, acceptance, and support of her child who struggled to reconcile his gender identity. Told with honesty and warmth, this book is a must-read for parents and loved ones of LGBT individuals everywhere.

More information on DC Center's website: http://bit.ly/Scsnp4

DeQH: South Asian LGBTQ Helpline

On National Coming Out Day, Thursday, October 11th, 2012, a coalition of South Asian lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) organizations and individuals in the U.S. will launch DeQH, the first South Asian LGBTQ national helpline. DeQH offers free, confidential, culturally sensitive peer support, information and resources by telephone for LGBTQ South Asian individuals, families and friends around the globe. The intent is to provide a safe and supportive ear for callers to share their concerns, questions, struggles or hopes through conversations with trained LGBTQ South Asian Peer Support Volunteers.

Callers can reach the helpline at (908) FOR-DEQH (908-367-3374)  8pm-10pm on Thursdays and Sundays, Eastern Standard Time [5-7pm PST].  Days and times will expand over time.

For general information, check out www.deqh.org and contact deqh.info@gmail.com. 

DeQH is a collaboration of South Asian LGBTQ groups and individuals around the nation including AQUA North Carolina, Hotpot! in Philadelphia, SALGA NYC, Satrang in LA, and Trikone San Francisco. Please contact us if your group is interested in joining our effort, and/or if you are interested in becoming a general volunteer or would like to be trained as a peer support volunteer.

DeQH operates with support from NQAPIA. Trikone is a fiscal sponsor of DeQH.

Please spread the word about this initiative to any South Asian LGBTQ individuals that you know are struggling with coming out or just need to talk about issues they're going through.

Also, KhushDC encourages our members to become trained in offering support over the phone to help expand the hours of availability.  If you'd like to become trained, please email board@khushdc.org and we'll put you in touch with the right people.

Happy National Coming Out Day!

Eidwali Potluck and Dakshina Event - Nov. 3

Join KhushDC to celebrate two important holidays: Eid and Diwali.

Date: Saturday, November 3, 2012
Time: 6pm - 12am
Location: Mount Pleasant area

Sapna and Sahar have been kind enough to open their home for this joint celebration. Out of consideration for their privacy, we’ll refrain from posting their address here, but will send it after you RSVP. The space is capped at 30 people, so please be sure to RSVP soon! You can RSVP to board@khushdc.org with your name and the dish you will bring (don’t worry, you can change it later). Though it’ll likely be a little nippy outside, we will fire up the grill if you’d prefer to use that.

While there will be music playing in the background, we also plan to open the party for some after-dinner singing. For those of you who can play a musical instrument, feel more than free to bring it along. Also, to add to the festivities, traditional clothing is encouraged.

This event is limited to KhushDC members and their partners and families.

Please email board@khushdc.org if you have any questions or special requests.

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/events/417719588286690/

--

An alternative, yet equally exciting event, is going on the same night: Dakshina, Daniel Phoenix Singh's dance company, welcomes back the acclaimed danseuse Alarmel Valli to Washington D.C.!  As many of you already know, Daniel is an active KhushDC member who is the Artistic Director and President of Dakshina.

Learn more about the event here: http://www.dakshina.org/2012/09/15/dance-alarmel-valli/.

Let us know if you decide to stop by the potluck afterwards or would like to meet-up after the Dakshina event elsewhere by emailing board@khushdc.org.

Presidential Debate Watch Party on Oct. 16

Please join APIQS, AQUA, and KhushDC for a Presidential Debate Watch Party on Tuesday, Oct. 16!  Doors open at 7:30 PM, program begins at 8:30 PM.  Make new friends and learn more about how you can get involved in these critical elections!

$5 suggested donation will be collected at the door to benefit the Marylanders for Marriage Equality campaign. Specialty cocktails for $5: Leechee Frozen Martini and White Lotus (shochu, sake, calpico, yuzu juice, and lime juice)

For more information, please contact Hyacinth Alvaran at halvaran@gmail.com.

RSVP on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/events/515552408472638/

Movie meet-up: English Vinglish on Oct. 14

Join KhushDC to watch English Vinglish at Loehmann's Twin Cinemas in Falls Church on Sunday, October 14th for the afternoon show (most likely around 2:00pm).  Loehmann's Twin is located at 7291 Arlington Boulevard  Falls Church, VA 22042.

We'll post the exact time of the show here on Wednesday, October 10, 2012 that way you can plan to be at the theater accordingly.  We recommend showing up at least 30 minutes prior to the show so that you can meet everyone and sit together.

Each person is responsible for purchasing their own ticket.  If you need a ride to the theater, please email board@khushdc.org by Thursday, Oct. 11 at 5:00pm -- we'll try finding someone you can carpool with.

RSVP to join us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/events/216364368490806/

In the meantime, check out the trailer below.

See you on Sunday!

Queer India: Play & Short Films on Fri. July 27

KhushDC, the South Asian LGBTQ community group for the DC area, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) are excited to present a play and short film from India. The play will be performed in English and the short film will either be in English or have English subtitles.


Queer India: Through a Play and Short Films
Date: Friday, July 27th
Time: 7:00pm - Program starts, 8:30pm - Q&A (please be seated by 6:45pm)
Cost: Free!  This event is a fundraiser for The Humsafar Trust and Kashish film festival in India.
Location: SEIU Conference Center - 1800 Massachusetts Ave NW (Dupont Circle/Red line)


View Larger Map

Details:
The play, "Ek Madhavbaug," is brought by Vivek Anand, who is the CEO of The Humsafar Trust, an NGO based in Mumbai, India. The trust acts as a focal point for LGBT activism and supports initiatives on local and national platforms that work towards reducing discrimination towards LGBT communities in country. The organization also works in the areas of health, advocacy, capacity building and research. Ek Madhav Baug, written by the late playwright Chetan Datar, is about a mother's journey into her son's sexuality through his written diaries. The 45-minute play is enacted by well-known Bollywood actress Mona Ambegaonkar. (Review of the play: http://bit.ly/O7j9uF)

Two short films, Breaking Free and Raat Baaki (Night is Young) are brought by Sridhar Rangayan, who is the curator of Mumbai's queer film festival, Kashish. Rangayan has directed several gay-themed films in India, including the country's first gay film in Hindi, called "Gulabi Aiina" (The Pink Mirror). Since then, he directed and produced more movies and now brings Bollywood celebrities to take part as judges in the queer film festival. Also, he spearheads "Project Bolo" (Project Speak), which encourages Indians to come out of the closet in an effort to lead the way for others who are struggling with their sexual identity, gender, and orientation in the country. (Kashish Film Festival website: http://www.mumbaiqueerfest.com/)

RSVP on Facebook today: http://www.facebook.com/events/393857250672303/

FOUR4PLAY on Thursday!

KhushDC is partnering with NAPAWF-DC, NQAPIA, and AQUA DC to host FOUR4PLAY, which is a combination of music, dance, and special performances this Thursday, June 28th at 6:00pm.  Here's more info:

On the eve of the DC City Council hearing on hate crimes, LGBT & APIs are coming together to

 CREATE A SAFE SPACE FOR LOVE, PEACE & JUSTICE

FOUR4PLAY @ EDEN DC

THURSDAY, JUNE 28TH 6PM-10PM 

Featurine D'Lo, DJ El Capone, SPECIAL DRAG PERFORMANCE by Ben de Guzman (NQAPIA Co-Director) and HIPHOP DANCE by Jamie Garcia + HAPPY HOUR TILL 7:30PM

Limited FREE Tickets for members at www.four4playspecial.eventbrite.com

#FOUR4PLAY

 

Limited $4 Pre-Sale tickets available by 4PM on Thursday 6/28

$8 At the Door (cash only)

 EMCEE/HOSTED By D'Lo

D’Lo is a queer Tamil Sri L.A.nkan-American, political theatre artist/writer, director, comedian and music producer. D’Lo has performed and/or facilitated performance and writing workshops extensively (US, Canada, UK, Germany, Sri Lanka and India). D’Lo’s work has been published in various anthologies and academic journals, most recently: Desi Rap: Hip Hop and South Asia America and Experiments in a Jazz Aesthetic (co-edited by Sharon Bridgforth). Read More » (www.dlocokid.com)

 

DJ El Capone (www.djelcapone.com) 

  

PRESENTED BY

NAPAWF-DC (www.napawf.org)

NQAPIA (www.nqapia.org)

KHUSH DC (www.khushdc.org)

AQUA DC (www.aquadc.org)

***Limited FREE tickets available for members. Contact your representative/board member for details!***

 

SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES

$25 "Born This Way" Community Table + 2 tickets

$50 Ben de Guzman's "Raise Your Glass, Raise Your Fist" Table + 4 tickets + Appetizer 

*Proceeds will support community members at the NQAPIA Conference July 17-22. Register today! Early bird registration available till

June 30th! (www.nqapia.org)

 

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHTS:

Gay and Lesbian Opposing Violence (GLOV)

Asian Pacific Islander Queers (APIQS)

Rainbow Dragon Fund

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