During the organization’s values realignment from 2022-2024, we found that the name API Equality-LA no longer reflected our organization or the values we hoped to embody. API Equality-LA was founded in 2005 in response to conservative Chinese churches organizing against marriage equality (to learn more about our story, click here).

Since then, we have moved our work to go beyond equality and survival to ensure that our community has what it needs to thrive. We sought a new name that would represent the shift into our new identity and values. We honor the work API Equality-LA did in the past for our community, and we are excited to reintroduce ourselves as Moonbow.

A moonbow is an evening rainbow, rendered by moonlight instead of sunlight. When moonlight meets water droplets in the night air, it creates an ethereal arc that transforms the familiar into the remarkable.

We chose "Moonbow" because it embodies our community's purpose: creating meaningful connections in unexpected ways. In the same way that a moonbow spans the night sky, each of us brings our own story, our own perspective, to a larger intertwined narrative.

The moon carries deep significance in Asian cultures, representing cycles of change, transformation, and renewal. This resonates with our understanding that personal growth and healing aren't linear journeys – they have their own rhythm of progress and reflection.

Our name mirrors what we do: bringing different experiences together in a shared understanding, building connections between diverse perspectives, and fostering a sense of belonging for everyone in our community.

We acknowledge a difficult truth that, historically, this organization has not adequately addressed the needs of Pacific Islanders (PIs) or centered Pacific Islander leadership as part of our staff, Board, or volunteer committees. In listening to the concerns of Pacific Islander organizations and community members, we decided to remove “PI” from our name to stop perpetuating the invisibilization of Pacific Islanders within the AAPI/API acronym. It was past time for us to make this change.

Does this mean you do not provide support to Pacific Islander and Native Hawaiian communities?

Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (NHPIs) are always welcome in our space and we recognize that NHPIs can hold multiple identities under the Asian American umbrella and may find resonance in our queer and trans Asian offerings and resources. However, as we are a queer and trans Asian-led organization, we believe there are other organizations that are better positioned to meet the needs of NHPIs. We are committed to partnering with them and connecting folks with NHPI-specific support.

Moonbow is still based in Los Angeles along with many of our members and partners. However, since the pandemic in 2020, we have expanded our reach to include the region of Southern California and our events and offerings are open to all queer and trans Asians regardless of where they live. We are also working to expand our network and connect queer and trans Asians outside of Southern California to the resources and care they need.

No, Moonbow does not operate within the traditional service provision model. We do not have therapists or counselors on staff.

We believe that healing is a holistic endeavor that can be supported by other healing modalities in addition to therapy. Within our spaces, folks are able to explore different mental health resources, self-regulation and care practices, and connection. This approach allows us and the community we serve more flexibility and alternatives to the standards and requirements of the Medical Industrial Complex (e.g., we are not mandated reporters).

Community-based support centers the needs of the community and is cultivated by that same community. We use this term to honor the legacy of our queer and trans ancestors who always found a way to care for one another when governments and institutions fail to meet our needs.

Community-based support can fill in the gaps left by a capitalized medical industrial complex that emphasizes individuality, scarcity, and pathology. It is a means of support that is built upon mutual relationships, relies on the strength in our community, and trusts in the wisdom and lived experience of community members to know what is best for us.

We do not have a physical office or location. If you would like to send us letters or donations checks, you can mail them to our P.O. Box.

Moonbow has been operating remotely since March 2020. All our volunteer opportunities and offerings currently take place virtually. Our organization remains focused on connecting with our community and have found that online spaces increase accessibility for those who may not otherwise be able to participate in person (i.e., people who are disabled and/or immunocompromised or caretaking for vulnerable loved ones, people not in the immediate Los Angeles area but still want to be in community, people who do no have access to transportation, childcare, etc.). We hope to be able to host some in-person events in the future, but these will adhere to COVID safety guidelines.

Yes! When hosting an event, Moonbow will take into consideration the access needs listed below and do our best to communicate in advance what accommodations will be provided. We will also provide space during the event registration for folks to name access needs and request specific accommodations. Though we cannot guarantee that all requests will be met, we are committed to being transparent on what is possible based on our capacity and resources.

Please also check out our COVID Safety Guide for COVID-related practices.

Virtual Events

Closed captioning
Translation and interpretation
Bio breaks
Inclusive of various forms of participation: (i.e., being on camera or off camera, engaging with the chat, Q&A, and emoji functions, etc.)

In-person

Bathroom (e.g., number of stalls, gender neutral)
Seating (e.g., reserved for hard of hearing, reserved for folks who cannot stand during program)
Hybrid Option (e.g., livestream information, closed captions)
Translation and Interpretation (i.e., what languages, consecutive or simultaneous)
Mobility (e.g., wheelchair accessibility, loading zone for drop off/pick up)
Food and Drink (e.g., possible gluten-free, vegan, allergen-free, halal, and/or low sugar food and beverage options; events may be alcohol-free)
Sensory (e.g., low scent/no scent)
Parking and Public Transit Options (e.g., information on the cost of parking, closest bus or metro stops, visual map of parking, connections to community carpool)

Thank you for your interest in working with us! Before reaching out to us, please read our Statement Regarding Our Community Partnerships here.

As a small organization with a staff of three people, we often need to decline opportunities for projects and partnerships. Our priority is to sustain a manageable workload for our team to mitigate burnout and we love to work with those who are aligned and supportive of this approach.

If you are interested in co-creating a project or partnership that moves away from urgency and centers the capacity of those involved, you can connect with us via our Contact Form or email info@moonbow.org. We’d love to hear from you!

Moonbow is committed to practicing COVID safety not just with our own work and events, but also in how we show up in community with others. This is grounded in the principles of Disability Justice and ensures accessibility, protection, and care to the most vulnerable among us.

We ask that any invitation to an in-person event includes COVID precautions that will be in place so that we can assess our risk and safety in attending. More information can be found on our COVID Safety Practices blog, which also includes Moonbow’s own practices to create safe in-person spaces that protect our community from airborne viruses and illnesses.

Resource: Sins Invalid’s 10 Principles of Disability Justice

Frequently Asked Questions