#aapi heritage

We shouldn't have Black History month. Or Women's History month. Or Hispanic Heritage month. Or AAPI Heritage month. Or Pride month.

These groups should be celebrated ALL YEAR LONG. Their stories should be included in the REGULAR curriculum at school. They should be protected and afforded EQUAL rights as ALL HUMAN BEINGS.

But until those things happen, putting a SPOTLIGHT on their plight and their stories and the LACK OF EQUALITY will just have to do.

NEW on the guest blog for #AAPIHeritageMonth:

Joanna talks what it was like trying to live up to the standards of the "model minority" while also coming to terms with their queerness - and shares some amazing tips for helping you define your own community, find culturally-competent care, and be kind to yourself!

Amazing art is by their sister, IG: @hellohaupia.

"Growing up Asian, I had to keep secrets, including my queer identity and my emotional struggles. I had to keep these secrets from my family and my social circles because of the pressures enforced by the model minority myth and intergenerational trauma. The concept of the “model minority” defines Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) as groups that owe their socioeconomic and academic success to a stronger work ethic, as compared to other minority groups. This myth holds up systems of white supremacy by placing AAPI in a higher position than Black Americans based on microaggressions that one’s intelligence should be ascribed to race.

Model minority myth harms AAPI people. It is impossible to adhere to every standard that it sets. Model minority myth can bar individuals with emotional struggles from asking for support. If you have to uphold others’ unrealistic standards of you, it can impact how you view your own mental health.  When I was attending school..."