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Honoring the Banyan Tree's Meaning on May 19, 2006
LOS ANGELES-On May 19, 2006 The Asian Pacific AIDS Intervention Team (APAIT) and the Asian Pacific Islander Pride Council (APIPC) will honor the meaning of the Banyan Tree, a symbol of significance to both the Asian and gay communities.
The Banyan Tree with branches that continually shoot out new roots into the
ground, symbolizes anchorage and building community. It is also the tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment. The Asian Pacific AIDS Intervention Team, Southern California's largest provide of HIV/AIDS services to Asians and Pacific Islanders, is part of the Banyan Tree Project (BTP), a program designed to fight HIV-related stigma and discrimination in Asian & Pacific Islander (A&PI) communities across the nation and the globe. BTP will have events across the country in its five year effort to raise HIV awareness. BTP is currently in its second year.
The Banyan Tree also calls to mind this 16th-century tale from China about two male lovers, Pan Zhang and Wang Zhongxian, who were honored in death by a burial on Mount Luo Fu by families and friends. Later, the community was surprised to see a tree growing from the lovers' common grave. This tree had intertwining branches and roots, becoming known as the "shared pillow tree," or more popularly, the Banyan Tree. The Asian Pacific Islander Pride Council, a federation of queer gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender (GLBT) organizations, wish to remember Pan and Wang, along with other fine Asian Pacific gays and lesbians in history.
On May 19, APAIT and APIPC will co-sponsor an open house and educational program highlighting the dual meaning of the Banyan Tree, a symbol used to eradicate HIV stigma and honor Asian gays and lesbians.
The open house will start at 10am and end by 2pm. A press conference is scheduled for 11am. It will be held at APAIT's office located on 605 West Olympic Blvd., Suite 610, 90015 in Downtown Los Angeles. Contact Noel Alumit at 213-553-1899 for more information.
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