Lao New Queer (LNQ) is a virtual art exhibition & showcase for LGBTQIA+ Southeast Asians across the world. This year, LNQ will be hosted in a metaverse Hmong Museum constructed by Dimensional Playgrounds (Chee Thao + Crispin Vang) and built in Simulacra.io. There will be two components: Art Exhibition + Performance Showcase.
The Art Exhibition features 2D artwork displayed throughout the museum and playgrounds.
The Performance Showcase features performances and music: bit.ly/LNQ23performances.
Values Statement:
(HUMILITY)
Change and transition is an inevitable part of existence, especially within communities like our own. This means that we are all constantly having to (un)learn about the changing world. For that reason, we strive to be in right relationship with one another, respecting each other’s learning journey, while acknowledging and addressing privilege and power we may hold over one another (whether it’s social economic class, education level, sexual/gender orientation, ethnic identity, etc). We believe that everyone's individual perspectives are valuable, and we recognize that our diverse lived experiences are what make those insights important.
(HONESTY & INTEGRITY)
We understand the queer/trans and Southeast Asian experience is different for everyone, and that not all experiences are visible or safe. Generalizing our experiences can be harmful and further erase our identities, so we speak only on and from our own experiences. True learning comes from active listening, building non-transactional relationships with one another and honoring consent. This means we acknowledge that learning about and from each other does not mean demanding labor. We hold gratitude for any knowledge that individuals are willing to share, and we respect others’ choices not to share.
(ACCOUNTABILITY)
We value everyone’s opinions in this space, but do not tolerate bigotry. We understand that bigotry is not the same as opinion - opinions are not violent towards individual(s)/groups of people and do not call into question their basic human rights. We believe in creating genuine connections and community by acknowledging that we each belong to multiple communities, and that our experiences with white supremacy and cis-hetero patriarchy are interconnected. Depending on the groups that we belong to, we may encounter these experiences at varying degrees, and therefore each have a different understanding of oppression. Through this understanding, we acknowledge that we are ourselves capable of perpetuating lateral oppression, and know that it isn’t always possible to create or maintain a safe space for everybody, but are deeply committed to accountability, and the process of repair, learning, & change, as well as centering the most vulnerable/marginalized in our space.
Community Agreements:
By participating in this event, we agree to hold ourselves accountable for any harm caused regardless of our intentions. Please review the following group agreements crafted by the LNQ team to help us build and maintain an affinity space, as well as to hold each of us accountable to one another. If any of the community guidelines listed below are violated, we encourage active listening to those we have harmed, self-reflection, and learning from the experience. Any individuals who continue to cause harm will be asked to leave the space and/or will be banned.
Humility
Honor & hold one another in our multitudes
Listen to understand rather than to respond
Make Space, Take Space
Be mindful of both not speaking enough and monopolizing the conversation; challenge yourself to share or to give others the opportunity to share
Honesty & Integrity
Share your truth responsibly
Share from the I perspective
Stories stay, lessons go
We can share what we’ve learned from each other’s stories, but will keep personal information shared within the group confidential.
Honor boundaries, expect nonclosure.
Accountability
We do not tolerate
Fatphobia
Transphobia
Homophobia
Racism
Anti-blackness
Colorism
Bigotry
Cultural appropriation
*We use the names and pronouns as individuals request (no exceptions) - ask if you are unsure*
Timothy is a Lao American artist from Central Ohio. Across various media, Timothy likes to explore his Lao roots while also contorting the real and imagined borders that separate people from resources - and each other.
His visual work has been shown with organizations like Brand New: Ohio and the Asia Pasifika Arts Collective, while his written works have been featured in publications like Bewildering Stories and Asian Americana.
You can find it all on his website Singhasonh.com.
Tori Ntxoo Hong is a Hmong, Korean, and queer freelance illustrator based in San Francisco, CA. Through art, Tori shares affirmations for a more just and inclusive world.
Since 2017, Tori has been internationally published in LGBTQ German-language magazine, Mannschaft Magazin; developed a K-12 Asian arts curriculum with the Minneapolis Institute of Art; and worked with local, national, and international movements for democracy.
This fall, Tori will pursue their MFA in Illustration at the Rhode Island School of Design.
Jae Saechao aka Nyingv Jae, is a fat nonbinary Iu Mien + Khmu interdisciplinary artist, community educator and culture worker. They were born and raised in the East Bay Area as the first child of refugees from the U.S. Secret War, and currently based in Sacramento, CA.
Their art/work centers around belonging, culture-keeping + culture-shaping, ancestral healing, and community liberation with emphasis on fat, queer, Indigenous Southeast Asian femme and gender-expansive issues.
Jae was named an Emerging Artist Fellow (2021) by the California Arts Council and a recipient of the Hidden Gems Award III (2022) from the Lao Iu Mien Culture Association.
Asia is Indigenous Khmu & Iu Mien born and raised on unceded Huichin territory, (East Bay, CA). They’re a queer self-taught & emerging artist, and cultural worker that uses visual and literary art to reflect on their relationship to place, belonging, and spiritual inheritance as a displaced and landless Indigenous person.
Asia’s journey into cultural work began in the environmental nonprofit sector creating culturally relevant environmental education for BIPOC youth. In 2021, they worked with Iu Mien farmers in Sacramento, Yolo, & Solano Counties as a community educator, reimagining & creating tools for accessible sustainable agriculture education.
Guided by their work in environmental justice, Asia’s art often draws from lessons offered by nature’s interdependent relationships and centers place/land and nonhuman relatives as their own autonomous subjects.
Chee Thao is a talented architectural designer with a passion for creativity and innovation. His artistic background has enabled him to bring a unique perspective to his work, and he is constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible in his field.
With a degree in Architecture from Dunwoody College of Technology and an associate's in Architectural Drafting & Construction Technology from Waukesha County Technical College, Chee has the knowledge and expertise to tackle a wide range of projects. He has worked on everything from hospital renovations and equipment planning to site developments of telecommunication towers. However, his true joy comes from providing design for residents in the housing sector, whether it's single or multifamily.
Chee's dedication to his craft and his commitment to providing professional and quality services to all of his clients make him a valuable asset to any team.