On Jason Wu

Though a young designer, Jason Wu, 26, seems prepared for all the attention he recieved when the First Lady Michelle Obama decided to pick his dress for the inaugural ball last week. He had been working since he was 16, first as a freelance designer and now a creative designer for a line of dolls called Fashion Royalty, which sell at F.A.O. Schwarz for between $70-$200.

He started his own label in 2006 with personal savings and money from his family. News accounts say his parents were supportive of his talent, driving him to bridal stores to make sketches. He practiced his craft as a child making dresses for dolls.

Okay, forget what I would imagine to be the initial horror of a mother who sees her son making dresses for dolls (whose dolls were they?). But to recover and then support the career aspriations of such a child ... Quite frankly, I think at a certain point, she must have known and just gone with the flow--all the way to the bank, cha-ching!

On another level, the stereotype of gay, Asian men being feminine and viewed (and accepted) by the mainstream as a submissive, flowery presence is again tested. In my opinion, what stands out about Jason Wu is his success as an artist and a business person. While it doesn't broaden the spectrum of professions that young, GAMs can aspire to, Jason Wu's appearance on the public stage here in the U.S. allows for yet another example of how GAMs are an essential part of the fabric that is America. It's up to each of us to do what we can to keep expanding that vision and show its true diversity.

Phoenix Travels

Here's a peek at the gay scene in Phoenix. My job has me traveling for workshops and conferences, and when I get the chance, I try to check out the gay, social scene. Here I took the opportunity to have a meal at Ticoz, a gay-friendly restaurant.



Then later, I was able to stop by Apollo's where the bartenders were gracious enough to pose.

Asian Night

A new Chicago bar has opened up in the Uptown Neighborhood, just north of where Crew--our resident gay sports bar--has achieved success. It's called Wild Pug and its at 4810 North Broadway. The owners are one and the same and they approached me as president of Asians and Friends Chicago about helping them start an Asian night there once a month. Their first attempt is next Thursday, January 29. Sounds interesting. As you know, sex sells and I'm interested in seeing if the gay, Asian community turns out for this. I was having trouble uploading the poster they sent me, but here's the verbage (imagine a sexy, Asian muscle man posing below the words).

Gaysia

A NIGHT IN THE ORIENT,IF YOU’RE LUCKY!
Featuring
$3 sapporo drafts
$6 saki-tini’s
DJ OSKAR & his sexy dancers & shot boy
Thurs. Jan. 29th, the last Thursday of each month.

Reading Between The Lines

Like many of you, I'm sure, we all gathered around the TV or computer screen to watch the inauguration of this country's first African-American president. I'm sure this is a special day to many citizens out there.

As a gay Asian male, I was heartened to hear the determination of hope in President Barack Obama's inaugural speech. Of particular interest were these words:

"The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness."

It's that last sentence about the full pursuit of happiness that I clung to, believing that it would translate to allow all Americans, no matter their sexual orientation, to pursue love and marriage. Let's hope this president is true to the meaning of his words and that he will support equality of marriage and condemn Prop. 8 in all forms.

Dave O.: Actor

Finding work as an actor and a model can be a challenge. Dave O. of Chicago has found success doing commercial and print work. Here are a few of his thoughts.

For the Benefit of Gay Asians in the U.S.

Though clearly assimilated into the gay American population, gay Asian males (GAMs) here in the U.S. struggle to gain the confidence, clout and power to exert influence on both the homosexual demographic and the mainstream.

This blog is a start. Its purpose is to nurture the following qualities among GAMs:

* Enterprise.
* Finance.
* Image.
* Relationships.
* Community altruism.

It is our time.