Shades of Yellow, the nation’s first and only Hmong Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) nonprofit organization, has launched Queering it Up! a new arts program to support queer and trans Asian Pacific Islanders.

Queering It Up! “recognizes the obstacles of living at intersections of identities and wants to provide safer spaces and emotional, mental and financial support to QTAPI artists who are interested in being part of the year-long cohort for the program.”

“Queering It Up! came about through an experience a couple years back through one of our members on the board,” said program coordinator Skye Vang told The Column. “She had been holding space for Asian Pacific Islanders in the community to have space to create art and vibe together. It turned out that the space had just become very queer, allowing space for these folks to deconstruct and understand their identities and how their work was affected by said identities.”

“The program is brand new,” Vang said. “Currently it is the first and only, therefore we are working on getting this program set in and started up. We hope to see it running further into the future and perhaps have more art initiatives derive from it.”

The focus on art and intersectional identities — the interplay that race, class, gender, queerness or other identities have on experiences of oppression and representation — is an important part of the program.

“Intersectionality is important to all aspects of life; understanding where we sit at the intersections of our identities affects us in vastly different ways,” said Vang. “Specifically, in the art community, art is not at all easily affordable especially in a society that often undervalues and underpays artists – artists of color, queer and trans artists, women artists, artists with disabilities, and so on face more obstacles monetarily, emotionally, mentally, etc. Spaces often exclude said folks through oppressive systems and much of the time at art festivals, museums, and galleries minorities are often underrepresented.”

Vang continued, “It’s important to ask ourselves why we are often excluded and why other folks (for instance, white straight cis men) have more access – privilege and power – and how do we not only create space for ourselves but also take back space that should be ours to begin with. We can support by ensuring that these artists are backed monetarily, emotionally, mentally, and physically.”

Vang added, “Many of these artists have to try a hundred times harder for less than half of the recognition. Often times these artists face criticism not based on their art but their skin color, their gender, their sexuality, etc.”

Artists work will be incorporated into SOY’s events including the annual Soy New Year event every March.

Vang says that the program is still looking for participants, but “if you aren’t completely ready to commit, no worries! We still want you to come create and vibe with us! Offer your ideas, they are more than welcomed here. You are more than welcomed here! We have space for you to be who you are, create what you want.”

Specifically, the program is looking for:

Artists who are ready and willing to be reflective and self critical of themselves and the society around them.
Artists who are prepared to be the representation of QTAPI we need.
Artists who are interested in connecting and breaking barriers of language through their art.
Artists who want to make change through their art.
Artists who love to create.

Those interested in participating or have questions about the program can contact Skye Vang at [email protected].

Update 8/26/15: SOY contacted The Column and asked to include the following information: Queering It Up! is made possible by the support of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, as a part of the Knight Arts Challenge. “The Knight Arts Challenge draws the best and most innovative ideas out of local organizations and individuals seeking to transform the community through the arts.”