The original Asian Pacific-Islander PFLAG (API PFLAG) group was born out of a community response to Prop 8 that opposed marriage equality in 2008. A group of API parents, LGBTQ+ individuals, and API straight allies banded together to bring about awareness, inter-generational and inter-faith dialogue within the API community. They wanted to provide support in safe spaces to express concerns, put forth clarifying questions, and to access resources. Key people who began this movement were Harold and Ellen Kameya, Beverly Toyama, and Andre Ting, and subsequently, Marsha and Tad Aizumi, John and Minsook Brady.

Marsha Aizumi discovered that there was a large population of young Asian Pacific-Islander (API) LGBTQ+s who have not "come out." In addition, she observed that some LGBTQ+ children of Asian immigrants faced language barriers with their parents. Even children of parents born in the U.S. still faced cultural problems, including the issue of Asian shame. API parents typically avoid talking about their LGBTQ+ children and are hesitant or uncomfortable to speak out in support of their LGBTQ+ children.

By February 2012, Marsha Aizumi, Andre Ting, Harold and Ellen Kameya, John and Minsook Brady, Terrenz Vong, and Tran Le, spearheaded the formation of this new support group, that would be known as the San Gabriel Valley Asian and Pacific Islander PFLAG (SGV API PFLAG). The San Gabriel Valley API PFLAG began meeting in April 2012.

From April 2012 through March 2013, the meeting venue was in a private office at Ting's building in Monterey Park. We appreciate Mr. Andre Ting for enabling SGV API PFLAG to meet for free at his building. On April 28, 2013, the meeting venue moved temporarily to the Aizumi building in Montebello. Our current meeting venue is at the Sage Granada Park United Methodist Church in Alhambra.

In March 2013, we officially applied to become an independent PFLAG Chapter and became a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization.

2013 OFFICERS:
President:  Carol Mannion
First Vice President:  Marsha Aizumi
Second Vice President:  Harold Kameya
Secretary:  Eric Arimoto
Treasurers:  Minsook & John Brady