10 Transformative Books Featuring AANHPI Queer Experiences

While Asian American history can be documented back to the 1500s with a long timeline of diverse immigration, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) heritage became more prominently recognized in the 1970s when Chinese American congress member, Jeanie Jew, first proposed Asian-Pacific Heritage Week. May was chosen in recognition of Nakahama Manjirō who was the first Japanese immigrant to arrive in the U.S. in 1843 and when the first transcontinental railroad was built in 1860 by Chinese laborers. Since then, the celebration has evolved from a week to a month. These titles celebrate the intersection of AANHPI heritage and queer experiences and the stories of members of both communities. The voices featured here remind us that there is no single LGBTQIA+ experience and no single AANHPI experience. Each story offers a unique perspective on navigating identity and finding connection.