Joanne Chen, a queer Singaporean and center manager of Proud Spaces, aims to create inclusive Lunar New Year celebrations for queer individuals in Singapore. This response stems from her past experiences with family during the holiday, which often involved judgment and discomfort. The upcoming event encourages participation in traditional activities like dumpling making and hotpot, fostering an alternative family atmosphere. As similar events emerge across Asia, the LGBTQ+ community seeks to balance tradition with acceptance, finding comfort in chosen families and shared experiences, especially during typically family-centric festivities.
It's about family, we want people to come with their chosen family. We want people to come and make new friends, and maybe they will become chosen family.
Despite the conservative backdrop, queer communities in Asia are finding new ways to embrace Lunar New Year through events that focus on friendship and belonging.
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