our portraits, our families – breaking the lgbtq glass ceiling

Breaking the LGBTQ Glass Ceiling
Presenting: Anito Lo, DB Kim, Peter Som, Marcus Teo

The sentiment of wishing for a child’s success in the world is one shared by many immigrant parents.

Fashion photographer and creative director Chiun-Kai Shih left Taiwan as a teenager and now heads his own New York studio, working for major Asia-Pacific magazine titles including Conde Nast China, GQ Taiwan, VOGUE Taiwan, August Man, Jessica Malaysia and J Men.

For this exhibition, Asian Pride Project invited him to photograph leaders in creative industries — an effort to demonstrate how one’s sexual identity does not inhibit professional fulfillment.

望子成龍，望女成鳳
Long for son to become a dragon, and daughter to become a Phoenix.

Images by Chiun-Kai Shih

Anita Lo, Chef

Lesbian, Chinese-American, b. Detroit, Michigan

“Honesty with oneself and with others is liberating, and coming out is integral to personal happiness. But on top of it, we owe it to our communities to be visible.”

Anita Lo is one of the most respected chefs in the country. Her inventive contemporary American cuisine reflects her multicultural upbringing and classic French training at Ecole Ritz-Escoffier in Paris. Her first kitchen job was as gardemanger at Bouley. She later interned under Guy Savoy and Michel Rostang in Paris, worked her way through all the stations at David Waltuck’s Chanterelle in NYC, and developed her culinary style at Mirezi. Anita opened Annisa in 2000. The New York Times recently gave the restaurant a three-star review, Food & Wine magazine named her one of ten “Best New Chefs in America,” and the Village Voice proclaimed her “Best New Restaurant Chef.” She has made her mark in popular culture through appearances on Iron Chef America and Top Chef Masters battling her contemporaries while forging new ground for female chefs. Her first cookbook, Cooking Without Borders, was released in 2011.

DB Kim, Interior Designer and Architect

Gay, South Korean, b. South Korea

“My parents experienced turbulence through the wars, which reminded them of how important it is to love, and celebrate our lives and each other.” 

With a 25-plus-year career as one of the hospitality industry’s most revolutionizing minds, D.B. has had a deft hand in creating what we know today as the quintessential luxury hotel experience, characterized by modern simplicity and Eastern influences. His work spans hospitality, architecture, interiors, and product design. After training under renowned architects, Peter Zumthor and Holly Hunt, D.B.’s breakout moment was at Starwood Hotels and Resorts in 2001. After Starwood, he worked in Paris for the iconic Pierre-Yves Rochon, Inc., a global luxury hospitality design firm where he worked on projects for the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, The Ritz-Carlton, and Sofitel Luxury Hotels. He is currently a VP, Hospitality Design at The Wanda Group in China, and was formerly a Principal at Daroff Design. D.B. holds a bachelor’s degree from Minnesota College of Art and a Masters in Architecture from Southern California Institute of Architecture.

Peter Som, Designer

Gay, Chinese American, b. San Francisco, California

“The closet is a dark place—you don’t want to be in there too long or else it will cast a shadow on everything you do in life.”

Peter began drawing at a young age — inspired by his architect parents and the laidback elegance of hippie-era San Francisco. He was a recipient of the Isaac Mizrahi Gold Thimble Award at Parsons The New School of Design before the 2001 Bryant Park debut of his namesake collection. Twice-nominated for the CFDA Perry Ellis Award for Emerging Talent, Peter was a semi finalist in the prestigious 2004 Vogue/CFDA Fashion Fund initiative. In 2006 Peter was a finalist for the Cooper Hewitt National Design Award for Fashion Design. Currently Peter consults for Tommy Hilfiger and designs a line of luxury home linens and bedding with Sferra. The Peter Som collection is regularly featured in fashion publications including Vogue, W Magazine, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar and InStyle, and carried in luxury stores worldwide such as Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, and Neiman Marcus.

Marcus Teo, Creative Director & Fashion Editor

Gay, Malaysian American, b. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

“My mom has the same concerns with my relationships as with my straight brother’s. Sexuality is not a concern. Longevity in marriage and monogamy are more important to her.”

For over 20 years, Marcus has dedicated his creative vision to the worlds of fashion, arts, media & entertainment. An early stint at Mirabella Magazine captured his attention while studying film at NYU. As fashion director of W Magazine’s Men’s Portfolio, Marcus cultivated excellent relationships with photography and fashion’s creative forces. Marcus then started TeoCreative Inc., a creative company that believes in the power of effective communication through visual design and photography. As a freelance editor and stylist, Marcus has worked with Calvin Klein, Brooks Brothers, Hickey Freeman, Bloomingdales, Kenneth Cole, Coach, Mont Blanc and Nautica. He is a Contributing Sittings Editor to Vogue, and has also contributed to W Magazine, British GQ, GQ Italy, GQ Japan, Glamour, Black Book Esquire, L’uomo Vogue and Arena.