As a gay Pacific Islander (or Pasifika) person living in the United States, I’m keenly aware of the ways in which my identity’s many intersections are both visible and invisible in mainstream media.
Quite often, you’ll come across Asian Pacific Islander organizations, events, celebrations, and roundups that don’t include a single Pasifika face. This holds true even during May, when we celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month — and it happens despite the remarkable range of the Pasifika gender expressions and sexualities, which include the Mahu of Hawai’i, the Vakasalewalewa of Fiji, Palopa of Papua New Guinea, the Fa’afafine of Samoa, the Akava’ine of The Cook Islands, the Fakafifine of Niue, and the Fakaleiti or Leiti of Tonga.
Often shortened to MVPFAFF+, an acronym coined by activist Phylesha Brown-Acton, these indigenous terms capture a diversity of gender expression, identity and sexuality within our societies that has existed since the beginning of time. Our queer folk were openly accepted and even held in high regard in our societies. Their roles were special, often tied to spiritual and healing powers. When you think of that power, it should come as no surprise that colonizers tried to stamp it out as hard as they did, often using religion and legislation as cudgels to transform queerness into an object of fear and hatred.
That’s why we’re only now seeing more representation of Pasifika lives. Fortunately, there’s been an emergence of Pasifika filmmakers and creatives casting off colonial narratives, and reconnecting viewers to values, practices, and perspectives that are truer depictions of our most natural selves. As creators continue to tell Pasifika stories, I’m hopeful that AAPI month will no longer shy away from shining a spotlight on Pasifika storytellers and MVPFAFF+ communities. Below, I’ve gathered seven films and TV shows that are helping to usher in that future.
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May 11, 2023 at 02:32AM
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Pasifika Pride: 7 Films and TV Shows Featuring LGBTQ+ Pacific Islanders - Them
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