Many who move to Seattle from out of state come here with a sense of awe but a feeling of being shut out from the LGBTQIA+ milieu, and for people of color, finding that sense of belonging can be all the more challenging. Author Mike Curato's upcoming graphic novel, Gaysians, dives into the importance of finding community as a Gay Asian man: the experiences of feeling lost but leaning into your authentic self by surrounding yourself with others who have similar lived experiences, racism from Gays and hets, and discovering an abundantly colorful love for life after parental rejection.

With vibrant hues of dark blue and pink, Gaysians is inspired by Curato's own experience of moving to Seattle from the East Coast and finding belonging among other Gay Asian men, or "Gaysians." The novel, which takes place in Seattle in 2003, follows AJ, the back of whose head is pictured in the first scene, as he stands next to a poster of two men kissing and the words "SATURDAY AT THE PLACE." Further in the background beam warm pink lights from The Place itself.

While undergoing an ID check from a bouncer, AJ gets called out for being a first-timer, and after the security guard stamps AJ's wrist, he says, "You just keep an eye out for those chicken hawks!" and slaps AJ's ass as he passes, confused by the remark, through doors.

The first few chapters follow several characters, including John, a gamer; Steven, who uses casual sex as a Band-Aid for heartbreak; and K, who tries to tap into different club scenes as a drag queen. At one point, K is in a rush to leave a show, having removed her makeup and tucked herself into a black sweatshirt and baseball cap; AJ bumps into her on the dance floor, spilling his drink on her. To make amends, AJ carries K's belongings outside for her and bashfully admits this was his first Gay bar experience.

"So...I'm assuming you've never been to a drag show before either," K says, followed by a small shot of AJ looking confused. The next graphic shows car doors slamming shut and the vehicle speeds off. K and AJ are in the car with John, who's driving them to K's next venue, where they link up with Steven,
John's roommate. Shortly after learning that AJ is from upstate New York, K becomes the star of the next few pages.

Seattle's Gay roots
"Sakura Usagi" is throwing petals in the air while wearing a pink wig and a short, slit dress, contrasting with her previous black outfit. The queen asks for donations for the Chicken Soup Brigade, which, as she explains, provides healthy meals and groceries to "brothers and sisters" living with HIV/AIDS, as well as those with various other needs.

The Chicken Soup Brigade still operates in Seattle as Lifelong's Food & Nutrition program. It dates back to 1983, when community members raised $42 for people living with HIV/AIDS – all in a soup can passed around Volunteer Park.

After that stark reminder of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Seattle and the importance of mutual aid, Curato depicts AJ raving to K after the show about her performance. AJ eventually accepts a ride home, as he bussed in to Capitol Hill from Bitter Lake, at the end of which K invites him to attend a dim sum outing with some of her friends the following day.

A thought bubble bursts from the page, with AJ's checking account and expenses filling the white space and a concerned look on his face. He agrees to go. Before leaving, K notes how her friend at Le Gay Café may have a job for him, since he's new to town.

The novel cuts to AJ doing the monotonous bed routine many can relate to: brushing his teeth, decompressing in bed after a big day. But he grabs a picture of three cherished ones from his nightstand and turns off the lamp, queuing a midnight-blue hue in the following scene.

New bonds
Excited orders of har gow and pork buns are shown at the dim sum meetup. AJ notes that he'll eat anything, but then asks about costs. One character tells him to not worry and to just eat. In the intimate dining area, AJ exposes more about his background, like how he's trying to save money to attend classes at the Seattle School of Design, and how he's half Filipino.

The group fills him in on the Gay lingo and warns of "RQs," or rice queens. A disturbing reality that rings true in the LGBTQIA+ community and beyond is the fetishization of Asian people. The friends add that most Gays avoid Asians, though.

"But for the ones who are specifically into Asians, you have to understand the power dynamics involved," says one. In a close of shot of his face, rectangular glasses accentuating the shadows of his eyes, he adds, "The gay community is very white centric. You ever notice how some clubs have Black or Latin nights? It's because those communities are trying to carve out space for themselves. And in the ranking of Gay men, some could argue that Asians are included at the bottom of the list."

Another chimes in about the stereotype that all Asian Gays are submissive bottoms. As for Asians who are into other Asians? "Sticky rice," the characters call it: stuck on their own kind. AJ asks the group if there are any Asian nights, and they say that he's looking at it – because the unfortunate reality is that the default is white spaces. There's chatter about setting up an Asian Gay night at the venue AJ visited the previous night. They then invite him to Pride the following weekend.

Flash-forward to Pride, and the beloved Dykes on Bikes are depicted in a primarily blue graphic. On one of the bikes flies a Pride flag, ever so brightly colored and standing out from the muted background. AJ spots a Filipino dance troupe, and an overwhelming sense of community and connection washes over him.

And that's just the first half, if even.

Curato's book will be published during Pride Month, on June 3, which follows Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Although he set the book in 2003, much of it still rings true today. Moving to Seattle and facing "the Seattle freeze" can be daunting, but it isn't nearly as gruesome as the casual and microaggressive racism that exists within and outside the Gay community.

Art is advocacy, and Curato's graphic novel does just that. The first step to dismantling harm is through education – of others and oneself. So order a copy here.