30 Under 30: Mia Mingus
By Guest Contributor Angry Asian Man, originally published at Angry Asian Man
Mia Mingus
Age: 28
Co-Executive Director, SPARK Reproductive Justice Now
Why she’s influential: Because she’s an agent of real-world change in the reproductive justice movement. Mia Mingus is a queer, physically disabled Korean American transracial/ transnational adoptee, living and organizing in the Southeast. She currently serves as one of the Co-Directors of SPARK Reproductive Justice Now in Atlanta and believes that reproductive justice is crucial in the struggle for social change and the fight to end oppression.
Mia is an activist, organizer, thinker, writer, artist and speaker who’s not only in the middle of it all, but connecting it all together. Through her work on disability, race, gender, reproductive justice, sexuality, transracial and transnational adoption, and intersectional identities/politics, she recognizes the urgency and barriers for oppressed communities to work together and build alliances for liberation.
If you’re at all involved with the queer, API, and/or disability social justice movements, you know that Mia is a transformative figure. Maybe you saw her speak at the US Social Forum Plenary on Gender and Sexuality or attended her workshop on Reproductive Justice at NAASCON 08. Perhaps you heard her speak as the keynote of the Western Regional Queer Conference 09 or receiving the Creating Change Award from the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.
Though her activism changes and evolves, her roots remain firmly planted in ending sexual violence. On top of all that, everyone I spoke to about Mia describes her as a warm, thoughtful, accessible, and incredibly nice.
I’ll leave you with a quote from Steph Lee, one of several people who nominated Mia: “The fierce leadership of a young, queer, disabled, transracially/ transnationally adopted Korean woman should be recognized so that we can continue to more lovingly and effectively connect, break shit down, and keep building shit up.”
See the rest of the 30 Most Influential Asian Americans Under 30 here.
Carmen Van Kerckhove is co-founder and president of
Deaf Indian Muslim Anarchist! wrote:
what an inspiring woman. thanks for sharing.
Posted 27 May 2009 at 12:14 pm ¶
Minotaar wrote:
Is the word “queer” really okay to use in such a descriptive context? Is it considered reappropriated now? I am really really uncomfortable with it.
Posted 27 May 2009 at 8:03 pm ¶
Samia wrote:
Mia is amazing, no doubt. Inspiring, warm and a wonderful speaker. Glad to see she’s getting props from AA and Racialicious.
Posted 27 May 2009 at 11:30 pm ¶
Chris Diaz wrote:
Props to Mia. Special props for standing strong publicly in Atlanta……not many Asian-Americans and a place with its share of rednecks.
Posted 28 May 2009 at 12:56 am ¶
Ray wrote:
@Minotaar
On the “about SPARK” page (http://sparkrj.org/content/?page_id=21), if you scroll down to see the other men and women involved, queer is often used in describing them as well.
My feeling is that, in this context, “queer” represents the whole LGBT(Q) community without leaving any group out, much like how the term PoC (People of Color) works.
Posted 28 May 2009 at 7:16 am ¶
fireeyed wrote:
thanks for posting this, she sounds like an amazing organizer.
Posted 28 May 2009 at 3:36 pm ¶
Marisa wrote:
My sister has always been devoted to her cause. Although at times I do not always agree with her choices I am proud that she is making a difference in this world and is apparently very influential to others.
-also she’s educated my husband and I in the fact that the word “queer” enbodies all types of people and is ok
Posted 22 Oct 2009 at 5:16 pm ¶