Great. All will need is more stats on gay Asian men. Isn't it bad enough that Asian men are already portrayed in the media as weak and whining? Underserved? Straight Asian Men Who Are Strong are underserved, under-represented, and are in the margins. Actually, I see more gay Asian men than straight Asian men in the media, news, books (authors). No, I don't hate gay Asian men, I just love straight Asian men. (Hmm. Does that make me gay?)

Thanks for posting this survey - I wouldn't have had an opportunity to participate in it otherwise. Looks like a good effort to yield important information for serving the API LGBT community politically and otherwise. Best, JMP.S. The previous comment from B. Takahashi seems exemplary of self-centered, aggressive (and thus silencing) attitudes from many straight men (not all, granted) in the API community that it speaks to the necessity for such a survey as this one conducted by the Task Force. And smacks of the whining tone he attributes to gay men.

Gee, like gays and lesbians aren't "self-centered, aggressive (and thus silencing)." They whine all the time. How many gays and lesbians know anything about Asian issues, anyway? Having said that, don't worry. There are already more gays and lesbians on TV, and the only Asian male you'll ever see will be weak, emasculated (and probably gay).

Playing with gender in popular media:Tony Leung plays a hot, very masculine GAY man in Wong Kar Wai's movie "Happy Together." Then he plays the hot lover to Maggie Cheung's gorgeous character in "In the Mood for Love," also from Wong Kar-Wai. "Beautiful Boxer" is an awesome movie based on a true story about a Thai male-to-female transexual who became a superstar kickboxer - a total flaming queen who kicked ass in one of the most masculine sports ever.To clarify:Emasculated means to be rendered impotent, therefore powerless, and has nothing to do with sexual orientation or queerness. It has more to do with male castration anxieties overall, but in the context of Asian issues, it has to do with Western (usually white) people metaphorically emasculating Asian subjects to render them powerless, because they are really feared as threatening. Thus in American culture Asian males are often depicted by the media (overwhelmingly white) as less than "masculine" because in reality Asian males are economically threatening to white males, more so than black or latino men (who are systematically kept poor). This media emasculation goes back to WWII and media depictions of the Japanese as weak and less than American meat-and-potatos manly - mainly because Americans were hurting after getting whupped by the Japanese at Pearl Harbor!I'm still waiting to see hot Asian queers on TV - flaming, butch, femme - whateva - we come all different ways, literally. And on the flip side, how many straight Asians know about Asian LGBT issues?One love.

your quickness to dismiss all gay men as weak is disgusting. ever think that the media portrail of gay men might be just as biased as their depiction of asian men? you cannot cancel out a stereotype with another stereotype...that is ignorant.

Good for Wong Kar Wai and "Happy Together." Too bad it's foreign and imported and isn't home-grown in the U.S.A and therefore not representative of American media -- which is what we're talking bout here. Focus, please.To clarify: There are plenty of straight Asian men in a variety of roles being depicted in mass-media in Asia. Firemen, cops, detectives, businessmen (not affiliated with the yakuza or some gang), etc. I'm sure that there are representations of gay/lesbian Asians in mass-media in Asia, too (as the previous blog entry cheerfully notes).Great. Wonderful. I'm happy that all types of Asians in all kinds of roles are depicted in Asia. Whoopee... (No, really, I'm happy for that.)BUT -- the point being made is that there are NO representations of strong, STRAIGHT Asian men in American media (and this is, Hyphen Magazine, not Lee & Kim's Asian Film Review where "two chops up" can make or break a film's success).I mean, even imported celluloid Asian men are comically unreal or from fantasy island -- two-gun-toting or possessing of mystical aerial acrobatic powers.I mean, how did Chow Yan Fat -- after coming to Hollywood -- end up playing a bulletproof "monk" and a bald-headed "king" and become a master of Chinese martial arts (he's so "honorable" that he doesn't even want to get it on with Michelle Yeoh or Ziyi Zhang -- another fine example of a sex-less, impotent straight Asian man).Or our own native Jason Scott Lee! How did he end up, after portraying Bruce Lee (The Last strong-straight -Asian Man Standing in America) star in "Rapa Nui" and "The Jungle Book"?Apparently, if there are to be straight Asian men in America, they must be pirouetting in the air or pulling coconuts off trees...(Did I forget the baseball great Hideki Matsui? Oh, I'm so sorry -- most of America only know him as Godzilla!)To elucidate: Assuming that gays and lesbians are perceived as second-class citizens in America (right or wrong is not the issue, the perception is) -- what does it mean when Asian males in American media are more often than not portrayed as gay or "weak" or like Harry Kim on Star Trek Voyager (a mama's boy)???Emasculated. Emasculated. Emasculated has nothing to do with sexual orientation or queerness? Uh... Duh. Who said it was? (Re-read the sentence, please.) I guess someone -- other than this author -- apparently thinks so!Also, thanks for the brief and uninformative middle-school history lesson in the emasculation of Asian men. Yawn. I'm more concerned about the present, and the present attitude AGAINST straight and strong Asian men in America (and how it is currently being promulgated in the media).Well, I guess this dire condition is no surprise when considering that a straight and strong Asian man can't proffer his opinion without having to read a pedestrian prattle about someone's need to watch "flaming, butch, femme...Asian films."*Sigh*How many straight Asians know about Asian LGBT issues? Well, notwithstanding the fact that I asked a question first (I asked you first, nanny-nanny-nah-nah!) and although it went unanswered (no answer, I guess) I've been to PLENTY of Asian associations/meetings where I've been "made aware" of gay/lesbian Asian members' concerns, so it is not THIS author, but someone else, who apparently thinks that straight Asians don't know anything about Asian LGBT issues.But then again, some people can't stand to give credit to a straight and strong Asian male.Some are too self-important to ever see any other point of view...Straight and Strong Asian Men of America -- Unite!!!

To understand the present, you need to understand the past. I found JM's comments informative and reasoned.True, the films referenced are foreign. And I'd agree with Takahashi that there are not portrayals of strong Asian men in American mass media. But, Takahashi, being a strong straight Asian man does not mean acting like an ass. Your tone of voice is arrogant. It really doesn't help get your point across when you're trying to put everyone else down.

In many ways I agree with you Takahashi - I was furious when I saw that lame Hollywood martial arts remake of Romeo and Juliet back in the 90s - "Romeo Must Die" starring Jet Li and Aaliyah. I mean, Jet Li is supposed to be the Romeo character and they didn't even develop him into the intense, passionate lover that Romeo is supposed to be. The relationship between him and Aaliyah, the black Juliet counterpart of the star-crossed lovers, was completely asexual and passionless, as if this incredibly strong and courageous hero couldn't have a sexual and romantic relationship with the beautiful Aaliyah because American audiences and movie producers can't portray Asian men this way. So I am in total agreement with you.However, what I don't understand is why you are attacking queer Asians, especially gay Asian men, in making your argument? Especially on a thread that originally addressed participants for a GLBT survey? Frankly, I hope not to see many more "straight and strong Asian men of America" like you spouting your vitriol in mass media. You and your kind sound like the same guys in the "Bitter Asian Men" thread who always complain about how white women - or Asian or any other women, for that matter - don't give them no nookie.

The phrase is, “Those who control the past, control the present. Those who control the present, control the future.” I’m interested in controlling the present, not merely rehashing the past. Okay?Also, since we’re trying to sound wise and sage with quips, my mama also mentioned something about, “sticks and stones breaking bones but calling names…”, etc.Lastly, who’s “everyone”? While I don’t think I’m putting anyone down, if I am – I’m certainly not putting down strong Asian men, am I? But if you insist that I am, indeed, putting “everyone” down, I guess YOUR definition of everyone doesn’t include strong Asian men. Oh, well – no surprise, since strong Asian men apparently don’t exist, have no voice, and can’t have an opinion, I guess they’re not included in “everyone.”That is, according to “some” people…Moving on…Romeo is a punk. Jet Li is a punk. All popular protagonists of Bill Shakespeare’s overwrought soap operas are punks – Hamlet, Macbeth, King Lear, etc. -- a bunch of weak-minded, waffling, dithering buffoons who emote and rant (or do both), until they inevitably destroy themselves. (Just like John Lone in the movie “The Year of the Dragon” who kills himself when confronted with Mr. White. Now what was that all about?) Jet Li is a punk for doing “kung fu Shakespeare” and Chow Yan Fat is getting punked for preparing for his role as a martial-art-pirate in Pirates of the Caribbean III (for release in 2007).And yes, Ashton Kutcher IS a punk.But I digress…Anyway, the systematic denigration of strong and straight Asian men is not just in American movies – it is embedded in American society itself. It is also in Asian-American movies – and in Asian-American society.Films, television shows, film makers (Ang Lee shamelessly making “Crouching Tiger…”), news, books, magazines, catalogs, commercials, authors, comedians (Margaret Cho resorting to relentless “cultural humor” without an ounce of any non-ethnic comedic ability), sports, politics, military, etc.There are NO strong and straight Asian males depicted in ANY media or medium.Oh, and with respect to the accusation that this author is “attacking” queer Asians. My, my…Where and when did I attack queer Asians? Prithee, pray tell.Is someone upset because I pointed out that queer Asians can be “self-centered, aggressive…and whining” (made only in response to a dribbling diatribe against straight and strong Asian men)?I'm so-sorry, but I’m not a fan of the “holier than thou” attitude coming from queers, queer Asians, liberals, neo-cons, Republicans, Christians, or anyone else.And the “hope” that strong and straight Asian men be silenced sounds exactly the kind of “open-mindedness” that right-wing fanatics engage in, or communist China enforces.Oh, so-sorry, I guess it’s different when oppression comes from pseudo-liberals.Besides, getting back to the point (really getting back to the point) -- this is about PERCEPTIONS.The initial comment in regard to why the last thing we need are more stats on gay Asian men have to do with how American society and American media construe notions of strength/status/power in terms of masculinity (as PERCEIVED by society). Gays/lesbians are second-class citizens in America (right/wrong is NOT the issue) and when there is a lack of Asian men being represented as “first-class citizens” but only in terms of “second-class” citizens, the question is WHY?Why does American society so eagerly promote, highlight, depict – and RESEARCH – Asian males when they are only portrayed as a member of “second-class” citizenry?Is it okay when there are countless statistical studies on the number of incarcerated black men that are then repeatedly broadcast to the public like some mantra?Is it okay when the immigration debate is ensnared only with images of Mexicans but no Eastern Europeans?How about some stats on how many Asian men are in America who are depicted as non-weak, non-asexual, non-mystical/mythical?Furthermore, do you think a survey is objective just because it is a “survey”?Do you think research is benign just because it is called “research”?Can you spell S-U-C-K-E-R?American mass media’s systematic study and representation of “weak” Asian males promote only one thing – the continued degradation and destruction of “strong” Asian males.I would prefer that there were NO representations of Asian males in American media if all we see – over and over – are Asian males who are either “mystical” (supernatural aerial martial arts acrobatics or two-gun-toting-never-run-out-of-bullets, a combination of both, or John Lone playing the “Ice Man” or Jason Scott Lee being the “Jungle Boy”), “mythical” (supernatural aerial martial arts acrobatics – the difference is only that it is set in ancient China), “measly and weak” (comedic, soft-spoken, asexual, or gay).The inconvenient truth is that many Asians, themselves, have accepted this as the norm, and therefore, it is of NO surprise that when a strong and straight Asian male speaks up and illustrates that only “weak” Asians (as perceived) are promulgated in American society – including, yes, a reference to queer Asians – he is considered as “attacking queer Asians,” “arrogant,” and an “ass” -- instead of how Asian men truly are: Articulate, Assertive, Audacious, and if an ass – a Bad-Ass.Puh-lease, Asian.Wake up and smell the green tea…

"everyone" is just something that came out of my fingers while I was typing my responce, perhaps too quickly, to your post. Apologies. Let me clarify. I mean it doesn't help for you to put down other people who are also posting on this thread. You may not think you're putting people down, but you sure are coming across that way.Let's see. Why do I think you're putting people down? Oh, I don't know. Maybe it's because you say things like this:"Great. All will need is more stats on gay Asian men. Isn't it bad enough that Asian men are already portrayed in the media as weak and whining? "It's "bad enough" that Asian men are portrayed as whining, and thus it's worse that someone is doing a survey of queer Asian Americans?Why does queer asian = weak asian man to you? That seems to be your assumption, and I find that assumption to be ridiculous.Nobody is saying that we don't need surveys about all kinds of Asian Americans including the straight male ones. Why do you see having a survey on one segment of the population as an attack on straight asian men?Takahashi, you've been all over this site complaining that when straight asian men speak up, they get attacked. Has it occured to you that maybe it's not all strong asian straight men who are getting attacked? Maybe it's just you.

I don't disagree with the argument that Asian men (straight or gay) are largely invisible in mainstream American media, and the few images that are out there are pretty f-ed up.What I find troubling is this us vs. them mentality coming from our own community. When Details magazine came out with their gay or asian? feature a couple years ago, gay asians were forced to get involved and take leadership in the campaign because the response to Details was more problematic than the piece itself. We had all these asian groups resorting to homophobia in combating the racism! We (GAPIMNY and other groups) stepped in and saw the campaign as an opportunity to educate our straight asian brothers and sisters that we do exist, and we're real people that can't be distilled down to a few patronizing, idiotic caricatures.So, yeah, I was there when over 200 of us (representing a broad coalition of API, LGBT, and API LGBT groups)protested outside Details' offices in Manhattan. And yes, I was in the room when we confronted Daniel Perez (EIC), Fairchild Publications, and Ken Sunshine Consultants (the group they hired to deal with the PR 'problem'), and they do 'get it.' But it's a business, and the bottom line speaks volumes.So LGBT APIs are on the front lines fighting stereotypes about Asian men because we know all too well the power of images and role-models.Anyway, this is turning into more of a rant but just a few points (as author of the above mentioned survey):1) Media representations, hate violence, and immigration are top concerns of LGBT APIs2) LGBT APIs feel more comfortable working in predominantly white LGBT spaces than they do in predominantly straight API spaces3) 90% of LGBT APIs feel homophobia is a problem in the API community4) To begin to address some of these issues, a group I work with began a street outreach project (in Chinese and Korean) where we pass out postcards and engage our communities and tell them about our lives at queer APIs. We're doing this in Flushing, Jackson Heights, Chinatown, Koreatown in NYC.5) Media is just one tool, but more important is building the political power of our communities from the ground up. We must work not only in coalition, but also as allies to 'other' communities, because we all know we can't win without help. LGBT people are taking a stand for immigrants rights, for renewing the voting rights act, and other issues. Will the API community stand with us when our families are being attacked, degraded, and declared second-class? Cuz the important thing to remember is that we're not gay OR asian, we are gay AND asian, and damn proud of it!

"Forced to take leadership role...", "educate our straight Asian brothers and sisters...", "in the front lines...".Huh.Isn't Bush taking a leadership role in spreading democracy and educating those silly Muslims by sending those clueless 18 year olds to the front lines? Yeah, he's one proud President, for sure.I think my mama told me once that moralizing can be blinding, and those who moralize always fail to see. (It could've been my old man who said that...)PS to li: Hey li. Take some courses in rhetoric and composition. Read some classics -- Socrates, Aristotle. Read Ann Couter, if you must (though not advised). Pick up Mishima Yukio's plays. Join a theatre group. Join a debate team (although that would be pretty lame). And one more thing, li...I'm Asian. I'm straight. Get used to it.

Takahashi, Why don't you go take some classes in manners and etiquette?You still haven't answered any of my questions.So what if you're Asian and straight? I am too. I just don't go around putting down gay people in order to proclaim my straightness.

Dude, I stand corrected. I didn't know that you were Asian, straight, and Special Ed. No wonder the dribbling diatribe...