Sean Ang, Author at Underscore

Life, Love, and the Pursuit of Gay Dinners

23Nov

By Sean AngNo Comments

Essays, Food + Drink, Queerness

Life, Love, and the Pursuit of Gay Dinners

Even in San Francisco — the queer mecca of the world — gathering around with like-minded kin to break bread can be hard; I want to change that. For me, the absolute best part of eating is the communal aspect of it. It still feels like one of the few activities that can bring people together — it’s how you catch up with friends, makes business deals, falls in love. Human history is filled with important moments centered around a communal meal. In an oversaturated society, one marked by a growing number of short attention spans, taking the time to linger over the meal feels is a way to be present that doesn’t require bumping into strangers in the dark. This should mean that the end-of-year holidays are an exciting time for me; it hasn’t been. Every queer person’s journey with self-a...

On Love, Queerness, and Transphobia While Vacationing in Rome

My partner Anthony is unapologetically trans. They're always quietly — yet firmly, hold space in a room, unwavering and generally unbothered by the risk that comes from existing as a trans individual. That risk is sometimes as simple as wearing a dress or skirt on a body people like to quickly gender a certain way. One of the worst fears you can have as a partner is when harm comes your loved one’s way — are you going to be able to protect them at that moment? As the weeks turned into days before our trip to Italy, I got very nervous. Anthony is not the kind of *diva* to go undercover or hide. The reactions and possibly actions of Romans as they come face to face with the beauty of Anthony were a worry of mine, especially considering the environment we live our lives in. San ...

Finding Her Operatic Voice: Angela Yam

Angel Yam's carrer is a 'very expensive hobby,' but it's paid off in magnitudes In the most self-assured way, Angela flashed a mischievous smile my way and proclaimed, “Oh, I am a very bright person.” Out of all my friends and acquaintances, there has never been a truer statement. Her kind smile and warmth generally radiate bright energy, but her wit and thoughtfulness become readily apparent as you begin to talk to her. Angela Yam and I met in college and navigated a tricky college music program where it felt like performers were never the priority. I watched in awe and admiration as she pivoted from piano to violin before stumbling upon voice, and immediately began excelling. She then moved on to a graduate degree from Sacramento State and recently completed a graduate diplo...