2017 Annual Report


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2017 Annual Report
HONORING OUR LEADERS THE HAWAII LGBT LEGACY FOUNDATION RAINBOWS OVER WAIKIKI MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER THE LGBT CENTER-WAIKIKI CELEBRATING THE RAINBOW LGBTQ+ YOUTH PROGRAMS SHARING THE MESSAGE SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY API LGBTQ Family Acceptance Workshop RESOURCES FOR A CHANGING COMMUNITY CONNECTING WITH OUR DIVERSITY GROWING AWARENESS

HONORING OUR LEADERS

The Hawaii LGBT Legacy Foundation is proud to recognize and honor the work of civil rights pioneers and champions. Jack Law has been a lifelong advocate for Hawaii's LGBTQ communities and in 2017 we took the opportunity to thank Jack not only once, but twice! Jack was the recipient of our Visionary Award at the Annual Benefit Gala, and was also named Grand Marshal of the 2017 Honolulu Pride Parade + Festival. Jack's commitment has been steadfast and we were honored to celebrate Jack as an inspiration and a friend. Mahalo Jack!

THE HAWAII LGBT LEGACY FOUNDATION

Founded in 2010 by a small group of individuals who had experienced the AIDS crisis, political scapegoating and social isolation as LGBT people, but who also shared a vision of our community as respected and loved members of the larger society. Today the Hawaii LGBT Legacy Foundation remains committed to a legacy of hope, equality and unity, helping our community live happy, healthy and productive lives as an integral part of the larger diverse community that is Hawaii. We support, empower, educate, unify, and facilitate LGBTQ+ organizations and individuals in Hawaii in order to help create a more healthy and compassionate environment for all. As a community, we’ve accomplished so much; but there's still much to be done. We hope you will join us.

RAINBOWS OVER WAIKIKI

For the second consecutive year, the Hawaii LGBT Legacy Foundation hosted Rainbows Over Waikiki with the support of individuals, businesses, families, sponsors and non-profit groups. More than 150 rainbow banners brightened the parade route in the heart of Waikiki for two weeks leading up to the October 21 parade and festival, sharing the pride and aloha of Hawaii's LGBTQ+ community with local residents and visitors. We have rainbows most every day in Hawaii, but these brought special smiles of recognition and pride to the faces of our paradise ohana.

MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER

In 2017, we initiated a series of community talk story events to gather feedback, foster dialogue and to help us strategize our projects and priorities. Our Pride Planning Meetings, Pau Hana< With A Purpose and the follow up LGBTQ+ Community Survey were all very well attended, with deep engagement, hard questions, inspiring brainstorming and new creative approaches. This ongoing conversation with our community is crucial in a changing cultural and political climate and we’ll continue it into 2018, when we will share key findings from these vitally important conversations.

THE LGBT CENTER-WAIKIKI

At the very heart of our mission and vision: a safe gathering place where the community can learn, collaborate, and grow. More than a dozen groups regularly use The Center for meetings and events, and with our new drop-in hours, many others can use it as an informal space to talk-story, meet like-minded individuals and help shape the future of our community. We provide The Center free of charge to any group that supports LGBTQ+ equality. It's our kuleana, our gift and our commitment to present and future generations of Hawaii's LGBTQ+ people.

CELEBRATING THE RAINBOW

2017 Honolulu Pride™ Parade + Festival was the culmination of two weeks of events for Hawaii’s LGBTQ+ community and our allies, and it was one of the best Prides ever, with more than 25,000 people viewing the parade or attending the festival. Fantastic dance parties, performing arts events, educational panels and discussions, fun fundraisers, amazing festival entertainment, pool parties, and more, this year’s Pride had something for everyone. Honolulu Pride™ takes place the last two weeks of October, but we also proudly celebrate National Pride Month in June with our annual Community Picnic in Kapiolani Park and Splash at Wet ‘n’ Wild Hawaii. Serious fun for the entire ohana!

LGBTQ+ YOUTH PROGRAMS

In 2017, more than 700 LGBTQ+ youth and young adults participated in programs designed especially for them and in collaboration with our longtime partner University of Hawaii Manoa LGBTQ+ Center. LGBTQ+ youth have their own cultural, social and personal passions, and our programs are safe creative spaces for them to explore their evolving identities. Programs included resource fairs for National Coming Out Day and Transgender Day of Remembrance, dance classes with superstar choreographer Mark Kanemura, a discussion of the state of LGBTQ+ rights, talk story with two local moms who support their LGBTQ+ children, a cheerleading workshop with Pride Cheerleading Association, and Kimberly Dark’s edgy spoken word performance Dykeopolis, among others. We’re presenting diverse experiences that encourage youth to make smart choices as they become the next generation of LGBTQ+ adults.

SHARING THE MESSAGE

In 2017 the Hawaii LGBT Legacy Foundation made a concentrated effort to heighten awareness of Honolulu Pride™ and Hawaii’s uniquely open culture in both local and national markets. Our message focused on why Pride remains important, how a diverse community comes together to celebrate equality and love, and how experiencing Pride in Hawaii is truly special experience. Feature stories appeared in a range of mainstream and niche media outlets including The Advocate, Star Advertiser, KHON2, KITV, ThinkTech Hawaii, Seattle Gay News, Hawaii News Now, LEI Magazine, and Hawaii.com, among others. We’re sharing a message of hope, equality and unity, and more and more people are listening

SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY

In 2017 our sponsorships, which are crucial to our endeavors,  continued to grow in scope and diversity, and we are deeply grateful to them. The people in the organizations that support our projects recognize the diversity of our community, share our values of equality and inclusion, and are a tangible sign of our changing culture. Our sponsors range from large corporations with progressive social responsibility programs to small businesses that support us as a vital part of their community to non-profit and in-kind donors who know that every contribution, however large or small makes a real difference. We are especially grateful to our Visionary Sponsors for leading the way: Hula’s Bar & Lei Stand, Alaska Airlines, Sheraton Waikiki and Hawaiian Airlines. Mahalo

API LGBTQ Family Acceptance Workshop

As part of our continuing collaborations with local and national partners, the Hawaii LGBT Legacy Foundation brought the touring  "Family Acceptance Workshop" to Honolulu. Developed by the National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance in conjunction with their national PSA campaign "Family Is Still Family", the workshop featured parents of LGBTQ children in a talk story format offering guidance and support to other parents of Asian American and Pacific Islander (APIO) children. "We are making progress on many LGBT social and legal issues, but family acceptance is still of the upmost importance in Hawaii. Our young people lead the nation in plans for suicide, and there are still so many cultural and social barriers facing LGBTQ kids, especially in the Asian-American and API communities," noted Camaron Miyamoto, the Foundation's Director of Education. Facilitated by Monoiki Ah Nee-Bahn (Foundation) and Glen Magpantay (NQAPIA), the event featured Laurin Mayeno, Marsha Aizumi and Noralynn Mae Samalaulu Schubert, each a parent of an LGBTQ child who shared their stories of moving beyond anger and confusion. The intimate event, held at the LGBT Center-Waikiki, was attended by more than 30 parents who shared an evening of open dialogue, emotional honesty and a path toward love and acceptance

RESOURCES FOR A CHANGING COMMUNITY

We hope to provide the most comprehensive, trusted and relevant Resources listings for LGBTQ+ in Hawaii. The organizations we include cover the diverse and complex needs of today’s LGBTQ+ people and their families including groups that address discrimination, education, gender identity, sexual health, workplace issues, legal issues, government policy and more. We also provide listings of LGBTQ+ news sources, social clubs, inclusive businesses and cultural groups. We constantly evaluate our policy for inclusion on our Resources list in response to the changing needs of our communities. We aim to help people find the information, services and social connections they need to fully participate in their civic, family and social lives

CONNECTING WITH OUR DIVERSITY

As far as the LGBTQ+ community has come in terms of visibility and  integration in the larger society, there remains a great need for places and events where we can gather to learn, socialize and be completely open in our sometimes evolving identities. And though there are many published listings that promote upcoming events for everyone and anyone’s particular interests and passions, LGBTQ+ people still need a focused resource that connects them with each other with a broad range of experiences that encourage growth, both personal and social. We hope our Community Calendar does this by not just listing parties and celebrations, but also cultural, advocacy and athletic gatherings. We hope to share experiences that speak to the entire scope and complexity of who we are, and provide new ways to support each other and thrive as a changing community.

GROWING AWARENESS

The Hawaii LGBT Legacy Foundation’s experience and expertise across various sectors is increasingly being recognized, both locally and nationally. Members of the board were invited to attend and present at several key conferences including the 29th National LGBT Task Force Creating Change conference, 20th Annual Equality Federation, Trans Justice Funding Project, 2017 National Sexual Assault Conference, Lambda Law’s Diversity Dinner honoring civil rights leaders, and the Hawaii Tourism Authority conference Transforming Tourism. Together. In 2017, these and other networking opportunities allowed us to continue to grow our visibility and national capacity.

In our ten years as an organization the LGBT Legacy Foundation has never experienced a year like 2017.  A seismic cultural and political shift prompted deep questioning and urgent dialogue within the LGBTQ+ community. Where are we? How did we get here? Where are we going next? In some ways it’s been our most challenging year; but it has also been our most active, productive and impactful.

It’s been a year of unexpected changes and new challenges; but it has also been a year of affirmation and solidarity, and the Hawaii LGBT Legacy Foundation continues to evolve. Thanks to our sponsors, volunteers, donors and our community we continue to grow in our mission of empowering and unifying LGBTQ+ people, and strengthening our bonds with families, friends and the larger community. We are especially grateful to our Visionary Sponsors: Veronica Gail Worth, Hula’s Bar & Lei Stand, Alaska Airlines, Sheraton Waikiki, and Hawaiian Airlines.

In 2017 we added several new board members, creating an expanded, more diverse board that brings valuable new perspectives and capabilities to the organization. We’ve also increased our partnerships with a diversity of groups–locally and nationally–generating intersectional dialogue and collaboration. For example, we’ve joined forces with Friends of Youth Outreach as we continue to press forward toward our long-term goal of providing safe space for homeless LGBTQ+ youth.

Participation in our events grew significantly in 2017, and the annual Honolulu Pride™ Parade + Festival is becoming a true destination event; a celebration for the larger community–hosted by Hawaii’s LGBTQ+ people–welcoming everyone who supports equality (and wants to join in the fun).

The LGBT Center-Waikiki continues to be a crucial gathering place for our community, and we plan to offer expanded hours and additional services in 2018. And our community meetings throughout the year and our recent Pau Hana With A Purpose and LGBTQ+ Community Survey project are guiding us as we shape our future strategies and priorities to best meet the needs of our communities.

We hope you’ll join us. We look forward to moving forward together as a happy, healthy and thriving LGBTQ+ community.

Mahalo,

Jim Miller, Will Coleman, Joe Bock, David Brustein
The Hawaii LGBT Legacy Foundation Executive Team

Board of Directors

Joe Bock | David Brustein | Will Coleman | D.J. Dole | Luke Elick | Melvin Jadulang | Randall Jadulang | Cathy Kiana Keiko Kapua | Scott Larimer | David McEwan, M.D. | Jim Miller | Monoiki Ah Nee-Bahn | Lawrence Ozoa | William J. Sabel | Baijnauth J. (Tony) Singh

Advisory Council

William Char | Puakea Nogelmeier | Blake Oshiro | Kaleo Tevaitea Ramos

Very special mahalo to:

Veronica Gail Worth | Cathy Becker | Kelly Sanders


Featured Events + Projects


Family Acceptance Workshop

As part of our continuing collaborations with local and national partners, the Hawaii LGBT Legacy Foundation brought the touring  “Family Acceptance Workshop” to Honolulu.

Developed by the National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance in conjunction with their national PSA campaign “Family Is Still Family”, the workshop featured parents of LGBTQ children in a talk story format offering guidance and support to other parents of Asian American and Pacific Islander (APIO) children.

Facilitated by Monoiki Ah Nee-Bahn (Foundation) and Glen Magpantay (NQAPIA), the event featured Laurin Mayeno, Marsha Aizumi and Noralynn Mae Samalaulu Schubert, each a parent of an LGBTQ child who shared their stories of moving beyond anger and confusion.

The intimate event, held at the LGBT Center-Waikiki, was attended by more than 30 parents who shared an evening of open dialogue, emotional honesty and a path toward love and acceptance.


Celebrating National Pride Month

The Hawaii LGBT Legacy Foundation is working to make Honolulu Pride™ a true destination event, and we host our Pride celebrations in the Fall–the last two weeks in October–to allow the mainland LGBTQ+ community to join us after their hometown Prides have taken place.

But that doesn’t mean National Pride Month and summertime aren’t very special to us. In fact, it’s when we host two of our largest community fundraising events: The Pride Picnic at Queen Surf Beach and SPLASH at Wet ‘n’ Wild Hawaii. Thanks to over 20 community partners, 2017’s Pride Picnic was a free event attended by more than 300 LGBTQ+ people, their friends and families. With complimentary food and beverages, and lots of fun beach games and prizes, it was an old-fashioned family picnic in the heart of paradise.

SPLASH is our LGBTQ+ Day at Wet ‘n’ Hawaii Water Park. It’s one of our key fundraisers and it’s a party unlike any other! For 2017’s bash we reserved Cutter’s Island, offered special cocktails and pupus, danced to some sweet and sweaty tunes by DJ Joey Luna, and of course, spent a lot of time making a SPLASH. Good clean fun for over 250 sun kissed and water drenched revelers.

Save the dates for 2018: Picnic | June 2 and SPLASH | July 22.


Click here to take the LGBTQ+ Community Survey. Let us know how we can best meet the changing needs of our communities. Mahalo.


Collaborating with the Community

In 2017 we initiated a series of community talk story events to gather feedback, foster dialogue and to help us envision our future role.

We began with several open, very well attended meetings to evaluate the 2016 Pride™ Parade + Festival, and brainstorm ways to increase accessibility and diversity. The second phase of these meetings focused on planning 2017 Pride, and again, there was great interest in shaping Pride to respond to and anticipate the changing cultural and political climate. These community meetings had a real impact on 2017 Pride, which had the highest attendance and most diverse participation ever.

More recently we hosted the Pau Hana With A Purpose and the follow up LGBTQ+ Community Survey project to examine the Hawaii LGBT Legacy Foundation itself: is the Foundation’s mission and vision clearly communicated? Do our projects resonate with our community? How can we best meet our communities’ needs? We’ll release a full report on this community collaboration project and its impact on our organization in early 2018.

We’re inspired by the passion, creativity and commitment shown by those who have participated in this process, which is helping to shape our projects and priorities going forward. We hope you’ll contact and be part of this exciting dialogue.


Annual Benefit Gala + Visionary Award

Our Annual Benefit Gala isn’t just our most important fundraiser for the year. It is that, since it helps raise the dollars needed to keep the LGBT Center-Waikiki as a free resource to the community.

But it’s also an opportunity for the community to gather to honor and celebrate the leaders who have supported us through the years. Those courageous individuals who saw beyond current struggles and setbacks to envision a brighter future for LGBTQ+ people and their families. People who walked the talk and were sometimes unfairly criticized or marginalized by the mainstream for their progressive and inclusive ideas and work.

Honoring those who helped us get where we are today creates continuity from our history to our future. It’s an inspirational event, both for the old guard and for the next wave of LGBTQ+ leaders, bonding us together in knowledge and strength and solidarity.

Contact us. We’d love to hear from you.


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Please consider making a contribution to support our work. 

The Hawaii LGBT Legacy Foundation is an all-volunteer organization that depends on the support of our community.

We produce Honolulu Pride™, host the LGBT Center as a free resource and contribute to dozens of community events and programs throughout the year. If you’d like to help us continue our work, click here to make a recurring or one-time donation. Thank you!

Mahalo to our 2017 Sponsors