GAPA chair Robert Bernardo, MC Jon Saski and state Assemblyman Mark Leno, join keynote speaker George Takei - Sulu of Star Trek fame, at the GAPA event. Photo by Rink.

One of the most eagerly awaited events on San Francisco’s gay social calendar happened on Nov.r 10, when the Gay Asian Pacific Alliance (GAPA) hosted its annual banquet and celebration. This heralded the 18th year GAPA has hosted this grand soirée, and this year’s theme, “To Boldly Go,” celebrated not only GAPA’s continued leadership on issues of importance to the gay and Asian communities, but also the illustrious privilege of having distinguished star of stage and screen, George Takei, as keynote speaker. Takei is best known for his role as Mr. Sulu on the original Star Trek series, but he has many other television, film, stage, and radio appearances to his credit. His achievements have been recognized with a bevy of accolades, ranging from a Grammy nomination for Best Spoken Word Recording to a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Beloved for his unstinting involvement in community affairs, Takei serves as chair of the council of governors of East West Players—the nation’s foremost Asian Pacific American theater. As a spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign’s Coming Out Project, he shared his story and encouraged others to talk about their lives as well. He also serves on the board of the US-Japan Bridging Foundation. Always a political activist, Takei ran for the Los Angeles City Council in 1973, losing by a small percentage. He was appointed by Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley to the board of directors of the Southern California Rapid Transit District, serving from 1973 to 1984. He also served as vice president of the American Public Transit Association. Today, he lives with his partner of 19 years, Brad Altman, in Los Angeles.

GAPA welcomed two special guest masters of ceremonies. California State Assemblymember Mark Leno currently represents California’s 13th district. He has an illustrious career in politics, having served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors from April 1998 to November 2002. In 2005, Leno authored the first marriage equality bill in United States history to be approved by both houses of a state legislature. Though the historic civil rights measure to protect LGBT couples and their families was vetoed by the Governator, Leno plans to continue the fight for marriage inequality in the legislature.

Channel 2 journalist John Sasaki moved home to the Bay Area in September 1996 to join the Fox 2 news team at KTVU. And this, he said, is where he plans to spend the rest of his career. Sasaki said he has experienced countless unforgettable things in his career, including major wildland fires, championship sporting events, and executive producer tirades. Sasaki is a member of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and in the course of his career he has garnered several Associated Press awards for excellence in journalism.

Festivities took place within the lovely crimson walls of the Lodge, one of the function rooms of the sumptuous Regency Center in San Francisco. Doors opened for a special VIP reception, followed by a general hosted wine reception, and then a scrumptious buffet of culinary delights especially prepared by master chef Chau Lam, executive director of the Asian Chef’s Association. There were special performances from well-regarded local artists such as Mac Sanwo, who sang Japanese pop and classical songs, and comedian Nico Santos, as well as the GAPA Men’s Chorus, a silent auction with a multitude of great items up for bid, plus a raffle with exciting prizes.

The evening also saw a variety of extraordinary awards handed out to esteemed members of the community. The George Choy Award of Recognition—presented to an individual who has exhibited leadership and has contributed to the well being of GAPA—went to Clarence Wong for his outstanding vision and leadership with GAPAA’s marriage equality efforts in the creation of “Summer of Love 2004,” the first Asian rally to support same sex marriage rights. Choy was an ardent activist who spoke out for queer API’s, driven by the belief that we are all “part of the family too.” He was especially vocal in support of queer youth in the community, successfully representing GAPA to the SF Board of Supervisors to pass Project 10, the counseling program for LGBT teenagers in public high schools. Wong also spearheaded the highly successful Chinese New Year 2005 “Wedding Cake” float and the 2006 “Queer Family” float.

The Douglas Yaranon Community Ally Award—given to a community organization that has contributed to the growth of both GAPA and the GLBT API community—went to the Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center (A&PIWC) for being an exceptional partner with GAPA through many years, and for outstanding leadership and service in providing culturally competent HIV/AIDS care and prevention services to the API community. Yaranon was an HIV-positive Filipino activist who worked tirelessly to bridge communities. He helped found the GAPA Community HIV Project, the Filipino Task Force on AIDS, and the National Task Force on AIDS Prevention. 

The Lavender Godzilla Award (“Godzy” for short) typically honors “one of our own” for outstanding contributions to the organization. Individuals may have been most active during either the past year or throughout their association with GAPA. The input of every GAPA member is a valuable part of the selection process. Former GAPA co-chair, Joseph Mendoza, received the Godzy for his dedication and extraordinary sense of duty to GAPA and the LGBT API community.

The annual GAPA banquet and celebration is one of the ways the organization celebrates the achievements of both gay and Asian/Pacific Islander communities. In addition, though, the event serves as one of GAPA’s biggest fundraisers of the year. This year, GAPA helped host various community events; participated in this year’s Chinese New Year Parade as the only LGBT group to have a float in the event (which won an award from the parade committee); and the San Francisco Pride Parade (where GAPA also won an award).