The San Francisco Bay Times on May 28, 2026, presented the second annual Celebrating Bay Area AAPI LGBTQ+ Women Leaders & Allies at the SF LGBT Center, where 16 of the region’s most accomplished individuals were honored during Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month.
This year’s honorees are: Miki Adachi, Rajasvini Bhansali, Mel Y. Chen, Margaret Cho, Alice Y. Hom, Manisha Israni-Jiang, M.D., Cj Jiang, Jane Kim, Audrey Koh, M.D., Jen Masuda, Ruth McFarlane, Michelle Meow, Priti Narayanan, Hon. Donna M. Ryu, Lynn. T. Sugihara, and Michelle Zhang. Please read more about them in the previous issue of the Bay Times.
Internationally-recognized Taiko Master Tiffany Tamaribuchi with professional Taiko artist and instructor Sascha Molina kicked off the evening with a powerful performance that began in the lobby of the center before culminating with Tamaribuchi playing a massive drum on the stage of the Rainbow Room. Emcees Madeleine Lim, the Founder of the Queer Women of Color Media Arts Project (QWOCMAP), and Nguyen Pham, who is the President of the Mensa Foundation and Director of Sponsorships at SF Pride, then welcomed guests and introduced DJ China G, who was presented by Olivia Travel.
Bay Times Co-Publishers Betty Sullivan and Jennifer Viegas, with Juan Davila, did the first raffle prize draw for the event that benefited the Use The News Foundation and QWOCMAP. It was a lucky night for Tookta, a performer who is the wife of honoree Michelle Meow, as she won multiple prizes throughout the evening.
The center’s Executive Director, Jen Valles, spoke to congratulate the honorees and to address the importance of this time in the LGBTQ+ movement. Other speakers included Shiyama Clunie, Senior Public Affairs Director of Kaiser Permanente; ABC7 Lead News Anchor Dan Ashley; State Senator Scott Wiener; President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors Rafael Mandelman; Supervisor Connie Chan; and a trio of drag stars—Khmera Rouge, Donna Sachet, and Sister Roma—who introduced special guest honoree Margaret Cho.
Following her time on stage and while still at the center, Cho filmed a video of her new song “Yer Dihh” with several of the drag artists along with her friend and fellow performer Kenny Hash—and her beloved dog Lucia! View it here: https://bit.ly/43oDxTu
All guests were treated to food and drinks from Tay Ho Oakland Restaurant & Bar, La Méditerranée Noe, and The Academy SF, which also hosted the After Party at its venue. Special thanks to Vince Crisostomo of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation 50 Plus Network and his dedicated team of volunteers who helped with the food, to Tay Ho Owner and Chef Denise Huynh (who came to personally oversee the setup and to finish off each dish in Michelin-star fashion!) and to Paul Miller and his team from The Academy SF.
Thanks also go to Danielle Siragusa, Michael Pembridge, Timothy Hampton, and their colleagues at the center for ensuring that everything went smoothly. The Bay Times also thanks presenting sponsor Kaiser Permanente and the supporting sponsors, which included the San Francisco Community Health Center; Crystal Jang & Sydney Yeong; Greene Law Firm, P.C., Trust, Probate, and Veteran Law; Horizons Foundation; The Sparks Family; Dr. Marcy Adelman; Diligent Security; Olivia Travel; San Francisco Pride; La Méditerranée Noe; San Francisco AIDS Foundation 50 Plus Network; 1800 Tequila; and V. Sattui.
In addition to Lim and Pham, Crystal Jang and Amy Sueyoshi provided invaluable guidance in creating this event. There are so many remarkable LGBTQ+ women leaders and allies in the Bay Area’s AAPI community that, for each of the two years, long lists of possible honorees have had to be carried over to the next year. A stellar lineup is already in the works for 2027!
In the meantime, the Queer Women of Color Media Arts Project will be holding the 22nd annual QWOCFF Film Festival June 12–14. There will also be an Online Encore and Satellite Screening. For more information: https://bit.ly/4dgSYCV
2026 Celebrating Bay Area AAPI LGBTQ+ Women Leaders & Allies
Published on June 11, 2026
Recent Comments