Club Provides Social Outlet For Gay Asians, Friends
Local chapter of Long Yang Club holds monthly events

By Chris Leeds, Dallas Voice Staff Reporter

The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step, says the ancient Chinese proverb. That's the case for Craig Williams, whose journey to America meant the first steps for Dallas' Long Yang Club.

When Williams arrived in the States from the Netherlands, he said he missed the circle of friends he'd shared with his Asian lover, who stayed behind. Both were active in the Long Yang Club, an international organization that serves social and support functions for gay Asians and their friends.

"I lived in Amsterdam before moving to Dallas, and my boyfriend was active in the Long Yang Club there. So, I went and had a great time," Williams said. "When I moved to Dallas, I checked the international web site, and they had a listing for anyone interested in starting a club in Dallas to contact them."

Williams recognized the worth of the club, and since he missed the friendships he'd developed while in Europe, he initiated the process to build a chapter in Dallas.

"I contacted the London organization, and they hooked me up with about three other people here in Dallas that were also interested," he said. "In October of '98, we held the first planning meeting, and we agreed to throw a monthly happy hour. Our first one was in December 1998."

Since then, monthly happy hours have attracted several dozen participants, and Williams said the numbers are growing. Until this month the Club had been meeting at various locations, but in an agreement this week, future happy hours will take place at Moby Dick, 4011 Cedar Springs.

"We're trying to make the happy hour the mainstay event," Williams said. "It's going to be the third Saturday of each month, and as of this week, we got an agreement with Moby's to meet upstairs."

However, Williams notes that the term "meet" is a misnomer and that the gatherings are "more of a social party." The club's organizers intentionally chose to serve primarily a social function, unlike a similar group, Dragonflies of Dallas, which meets to discuss issues relating to gay Asians.

"We didn't want to conflict with [Dragonflies], although other cities' clubs offer that as well," said Williams, referring to some of the 33 chapters around the world.

"We've been averaging 30 to 50 people at every event, and it's about a 50/50 mix of Asians and Caucasians or other races," he said. "It's not an Asian-only club. It's open to everyone."

In place of some of their monthly happy hours, the Club has held cookouts and pool parties. And the group looks forward to doing more events such as bar night, outings and nights where guest learn how to prepare authentic Asian meals.

"We've just gotten bowling lined up, where we're going to bowl every other Wednesday for the rest of the summer," Williams said. "It's not competitive, but it's more about having fun, giving people something to do rather than just going to the bars by themselves."

The Club's leaders believe that their organization gives people who wouldn't ordinarily patronize the bars and clubs in Oak Lawn a reason. Plus there is presently no official membership or dues, another nicety Williams says.

"Many live out in Arlington or Irv-ing, and this gives them an opportunity to come and hang out with their friends, kind of a place to call their own," Williams said. "It's all about mixing cultures and East meets West." 

For more information call 214-521-5342 x428 or visit http://www.longyangclub.org/dallas/ or email: lyc_dfw_tx@hotmail.com.

Dallas Voice: June 25, 1999.

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