Asian American & Pacific Islander

overview

The Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) LGBT community has made important contributions to New York City’s history and culture, with the earliest featured site in this theme being the popular 1950s Chinatown restaurant Bo Bo, owned and operated by openly lesbian, Chinese American filmmaker Esther Eng.

LGBT immigrants and American-born individuals with roots in East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands have formed activist and social groups — such as Asian Lesbians of the East Coast (ALOEC), Gay Asian and Pacific Islander Men of New York (GAPIMNY), and the South Asian Lesbian and Gay Association (SALGA) — that also fought for visibility within the wider LGBT community.

This curated collection features historic sites connected to activism, artist studios and residences, and important gathering places for New York City’s AAPI LGBT people.