When I was an intern at Mother Jones magazine, I was asked to be a part of a new progressive publication for Asian Americans, Hyphen Magazine. It’s hard to imagine that over eleven years have passed since, and Hyphen is now one of the most well-respected Asian American publications in the country. I helped create Hyphen to ensure that Asian American voices were heard and their faces seen. I’m proud to announce that in 2014, we’ll be taking that stance again with a new online section called LGBTQ Hyphen in collaboration with the Visibility Project. It’s inclusive, it’s diverse, it comes from the space that Hyphen was built on, to share stories of our community with intelligent sass and inspirational aesthetic.

As Hyphen’s founding photo editor, I wore many different hats as my colleagues (now friends) and I paved the road for what you see at hyphenmagazine.com today. For the past seven years, I’ve been the Director of the Visibility Project: a national photo and oral history collection of the Queer Asian American Women and Trans* community. I’ve traveled to over 14 states and worked with over 120 people collecting stories and hearing firsthand how this community—my community— still feels invisible.

The creation of LGBTQ Hyphen is one of the first mainstream AAPI publications to have a dedicated section to the LGBTQ community.

It will bring forth stories, voices, and contributions to reflect the talent, power, and diverse diaspora. It will create a culture shift through this powerful media platform called Hyphen.

There are numerous ways that you can get involved: pitch a story, apply for a staff position, or reach out if you have other creative, innovative ways you want to implement. Straight allies and people of color are encouraged to contribute, however all stories must be about the LGBTQ AAPI community. Click here to pitch a story, and check out Hyphen’s website for current staff positions!