Tet Parade in San Jose, 2/20 Sunday 11 am

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 15, 2011

Press Release Contact:

Duc Le (Song-That Radio Program) (408) 314-9539dongsongthat@yahoo.com

Gina Masequesmay (Ô-Môi) 818-450-5954 masequesmay.gina@yahoo.com

Thanh Do (Gay Vietnamese Alliance) (408) 718 – 7647 thanhis@yahoo.com

Partnership of Vietnamese-American Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Organizations to march in Tet Spring Festival to increase community Awareness about our happy existence as well as our struggles for rights and acceptance in a free society and to pave the ways for the next generation of LGBTs so that they can live openly, happily, without fear, and discrimination or suffering depression that can lead to thoughts of suicide.

San Jose, CA – Press Release

On Sunday, February 20, 2011, from 11 am to 1 pm, the Partnership of Vietnamese-American Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Organizations including Song That Radio, O-Moi and Gay Vietnamese Alliance will be marching in the 2011 Vietnamese Spring Festival & Parade in downtown San Jose to increase community awareness about our happy existence as well as our struggles for rights and acceptance in a free society. By marching at the 2011 Vietnamese Spring Festival & Parade, we also want to present a positive image of Vietnamese-American LGBT in the community which will hopefully help parents to accept and support their LGBT children more, opening the closet door for Vietnamese-American LGBT in the Community and paving the ways for the next generation of LGBTs so that they can live openly, happily, without fear, and discrimination or suffering depression that can lead to thoughts of suicide.

This march is also to demonstrate that there is a thriving Vietnamese-American LGBT community in the San Jose Bay Area and beyond.

About the Vietnamese LGBT groups:

Song That Radio is a grass-roots Vietnamese community organization, working to increase LGBT visibility and inclusivity in the community. Song That hosts a weekly Vietnamese-language radio program, focusing on enhancing community awareness of LGBT issues. Song That also organizes social and political events that aim to advocate for, support, and empower the Vietnamese-American LGBT community. Song That is based in San Jose.

O-moi is a support group for lesbians, bisexual women, and transgenders of Vietnamese descent. Our goal is to provide a support and resource space for queer, female Vietnamese to come out and network. O-Moi is based in Southern California.

Gay Vietnamese Alliance provides a safe and supportive environment for gay, bisexual, and transgendered men of Vietnamese descent from all over the world to network, voice issues, promote wellness and foster leadership. GVA is based in Northern California.

In our ongoing efforts to strengthen partnerships with the mainstream Vietnamese and American society, we welcome dialog with the media and other community partners. To join us in the march, we will be meeting at:

WHEN: Sunday, February 20, 2011; The Parade starts at 11:00 AM, but Organizers want all units must arrive at Victory Parking Lot by 8:00 AM or at least before 9:00 AM

WHERE: Victory Parking Lot on Market Street, between E. Santa Clara and St. John (next to GumboJumbo Restaurant)

*Look for our banners: Sống Thật Radio, Ô-Môi and Gay Vietnamese Alliance in the parking lot or at the starting point on Market street.

**There are many parking spaces on St. John Street and many parking spaces nearby.

THEME: UNITED IN LOVE

For more information about our organizations, please visit the following websites:

Sống Thật Radio http://www.songthat.com/

Gay Vietnamese Alliance http://www.gvalliance.org/