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What does pride mean to you? How do you define pride both personally and collectively? When do you feel most prideful? And how are you engaged in the LGBTQ+ rights movement? Pride is about self-discovery and acceptance, but it’s also about community, resilience, and visibility. What’s your story of pride?

MOCA Queer StoryJAM returns for another heartfelt gathering! This storytelling program fosters understanding and strengthens connections across diverse communities by amplifying the voices of queer Asian Americans. This time, we’re exploring PRIDE—whether it’s about self-acceptance, a prideful moment in your journey, or activism that has shaped your path.

LGBTQ+ Asian American storytellers Sunny Liu, Dennis Yueh-Yeh Li, Alphonse Tam, Lucky Tupaki, and M Apisak Vithyanond (“M”) will share their personal narratives, offering unique perspectives on what pride means to them. After their presentations, we’ll open the floor for guests to share their own stories. Join us for an evening of powerful storytelling, reflection, and connection!

Join us for an evening of powerful storytelling, reflection, and connection. We look forward to hearing your story!

ABOUT STORYTELLERS

Sunny Liu

Sunny Liu is an award-winning filmmaker, pianist/composer, and animator based in New York, known for emotionally resonant storytelling that amplifies marginalized voices. A graduate of Emerson College, The New School, and the School of Visual Arts, her work has been showcased at prestigious festivals like Tribeca, the Atlanta Film Festival, and DOC NYC, and has reached global audiences through Amazon Prime and PBS.

With a classical piano background, Sunny infuses her films with a rhythmic sensibility, crafting narratives that resonate emotionally while maintaining dynamic pacing. This blend of artistic training and technical expertise allows her to seamlessly take on multiple roles—director, producer, cinematographer, editor, and sound mixer—approaching each project with precision and a deeply personal touch.

Sunny’s work highlights often-overlooked communities, including individuals with disabilities, those facing mental illness, food insecurity, undocumented immigrants, and the wrongfully incarcerated. Through storytelling, she sparks critical conversations that inspire action, whether by raising awareness, mobilizing communities, or influencing policy. As an active member of Film Fatales, Women in Film, and the Asian American Documentary Network, Sunny champions ethical representation, ensuring underrepresented voices are heard and valued.

Looking ahead, Sunny is collaborating on two impactful PBS documentaries and a Hulu film with Emmy-winning filmmakers Luchina Fisher and Elan Bogarin, alongside Emmy-winning journalist Karishma Vyas. Committed to storytelling that drives change, she creates films that move audiences emotionally and empower them to take action. Through mentoring emerging directors, Sunny fosters a new generation of socially conscious storytellers, ensuring that every voice finds its place in the shared tapestry of humanity.

Dennis Yueh-Yeh Li

Originally from Taiwan, Dennis Yueh-Yeh Li is a director and playwright, currently serving as the Director of Performance, Storytelling, and Community at the Museum of Chinese in America. His work explores themes of sexuality, power structures, and diaspora, often culminating in devised, immersive, and participatory theatre that invites audiences to not just witness, but experience the stories being told. Beyond his dedication to theatre and performance, Dennis is deeply passionate about community organizing, with a focus on amplifying Queer AAPI voices. He’s also a proud cinephile — and never misses a chance to dance the night away.

Alphonse Tam

Alphonse is Cantonese-American and a native of Philadelphia, PA, who has lived in Astoria, Queens since 2013. He is an urban planner by trade and has worked with various non-profits in NYC focused on community development and advocacy for underrepresented communities. He has also served on committees with queer- and justice-oriented groups including GAPIMNY, BK Rot, and Open Architecture NY. In his spare time, he enjoys caring for his two cats, good cold brews, historical fiction novels, and challenging himself with a CrossFit workout.

Lucky Tupaki

Lucky Tupaki, born from the Jobu Tupaki universe of Everything Everywhere All At Once, and swimming as a seed in a microplastic filled sperm pool, wants to unlock your mind and imagination with literature. Jumping through the multiverse, there’s no single look they embody, and will mostly perform in drag for storyhours and can sometimes be found singing karaoke in this Universe.

M Apisak Vithyanond

M Apisak Vithyanond (“M”) (she/they) is a trans woman, New York-based photographer, director, and multimedia artist of Thai descent with extensive experience in editorial and commercial photography. Drawing on a background in film, photojournalism, and fashion, M collaborates with queer and trans communities to co-create imagery and portraits that reveal deeper layers of identity. Her clients include Harper’s Bazaar Thailand, Madame Figaro, and Nivea. Their work has been exhibited internationally, including at the 24th International AIDS Conference, where Chosen Family highlighted the resilience of individuals affected by HIV.

She recently established her own photo studio in Bushwick, dedicated specifically to serving and uplifting the queer community. Learn more, support her work, commission a project, or rent the space at www.m-apisak.com.