Monday, November 15, 2010
Mr. Hyphen, a signature event of Hyphen magazine, celebrates Asian-American men who are committed to strengthening their communities through a contest structured like a beauty pageant. The prize is a $1000 donation to the winner's nonprofit organization. Host Michel Martin speaks with winner Kyle Chu, a self-proclaimed "queer Chinese-American and San Francisco native," to learn why he chose to compete, how gender and racial stereotypes have affected him personally, and what social changes he strives to accomplish for the Asian-American community [...]
Welcome and congratulations.
Mr. KYLE CHU (Winner, Mr. Hyphen 2010): Thank you so much. It's a pleasure to be here today.
MARTIN: How are you describing the contest? I mean, I didn't feel right about beauty contest, but I didn't know what else to say, 'cause beauty is part of it - or handsomeness. How did you describe it, and why did you want to participate?
Mr. CHU: The reason I applied is I can actually attribute it to a really positive internship experience with the Center for Asian-American Media, which is the organization I represented. I wanted to show my appreciation for them in proportions larger than a fruitcake, I guess.
(Soundbite of laughter)
MARTIN: Okay.
Mr. CHU: And so I feel like Hyphen was a great fit for that because Hyphen magazine and the Center for Asian-American Media have parallel mission statements in that they both want to attest to that diversity of the Asian-American experience.
Listen to it in full
down at NPR.
