LGBTQ+ Celebs & Allies Talk the Magic of Being Queer & Asian at Gold Gala 2023

In the words of the great Sandra Oh, "It's an honor just to be Asian."

Kicking off Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Gold House held their second annual Gold Gala in downtown Los Angeles in early May, and it was a star-studded event that hosted some of the biggest and brightest names when it comes to Asian-American talent in Hollywood and beyond.

With AAPI Heritage Month in May and Pride Month immediately following in June, this time of year is a unique time for LGBTQ+ Asians to reflect on how far we've come and how much work we still have to do when it comes to equal representation, and Out got the chance to speak to some of our favorite queer Asian celebs on the Gold Gala gold carpet — like Tan France, Bobby Berk, Eugene Lee Yang, Geena Rocero, Kim Chi, Lea Salonga, Liza Soberano, Patrick Starrr, Ronnie C. Woo, and Sherry Cola — about this special time of year.

"I was always proud to be Asian and queer," Queer Eye cast member and fashion icon Tan France told Out. "It's just nice that the rest of the world woke up and was like, 'Oh yeah, they exist.'"

"The last day of May and the first day of June, it's for the queer Asians," content creator and Nimona actor Eugene Lee Yang said. "We're at the height of our power."

"The queerness and the Asianess has never oozed out of my pores more," Joy Ride and Good Trouble star Sherry Cola said. "It's a celebration. At the end of the day, it's important to embrace who we are, feel comfortable in our own skin, and amplify voices. Queer voices. Asian voices. Simultaneously. We're layered. The crossover is real."

Watch all of Out's gold carpet interviews at the 2023 Gold Gala in the video below.