Wanting to be seen and heard is common for those of us circumscribed by "silent Asian" stereotypes. Though, between you and me, I find this stereotype boring.

"Why are people still talking about this?" I think to myself. And then I remember. I was that college kid who walked the library with copies of Lucille Clifton and Gwendolyn Brooks tucked under my arm, wondering "Where are the women poets who scream for me? Where are the Asian American women who yell 'See me! Hear me!'"

So I get off my "This is so boring" high-horse and deal with the fact that this was an issue for me, and still is.

In short, I'm attending RAMS' (Richmond Area Multi-Services, Inc.) 35th Anniversary Gala on May 12, 2010. Why?

First, it's a good cause. RAMS has been serving San Francisco with a focus on the API community since 1974. Secondly, it's at the Hotel Kabuki, and there's food.

But mostly, Leland Y. Yee, PhD Psychologist and Senator, is hosting a panel of Asian American reality TV stars, including Chloe Dao (Project Runway), Hung Hyunh (Top Chef), Victor Jih (Amazing Race), and Pamela Ling ( Real World). In terms of a forum for discussing visibility and how this affects our youth (read: me, growing up), I'm excited.

Come. The party starts at 5:30 and ends at 9:30. The panel starts at 7PM. We'll talk about being silent and Asian and how people on TV who look like us help us out. At least, it makes the conversation less boring.

For more information about the event, click here.