Now in its 22nd year, the Unforgettable Gala has hosted yet another magnificent night of celebration of outstanding Asian and Pacific Islander influencers and leaders in media, entertainment, and culture. With cross-generational attendance of longtime trailblazers and young talent breaking into the scene to carry the torch, it was moving to see so many stages of evolution in API representation in one room. For almost a quarter-century, the gala has created a space for our community, and it has seen its own fair share of evolution, too, and has now made its way to broadcast television, inspiring young AAPI people across the nation like us. 

Religion can often be a source of comfort and community, a place where people find connection, purpose, and a sense of belonging. But for me, religion became a source of conflict and disunity when the beliefs that shaped the way we interact with one another, particularly within my family, did not align with my own identity.