About Me & Other Stuff

Andy's Webpage

I started up my website (somewhere in the middle of 2001) as a way to promote my books, but it's also been a good way to share my travels and travails with friends and family, and to show off photos of my niece and nephew! Thanks to Tim Mansfield for hosting me (and giving me lots of good tech advice!) The rather amazing Kenny Campbell was the person who provided the original design and layout for this website, and taught me how to get it online!

Bio

I've had requests from journalists and others to put up some biographical notes, so I hope these will do. 

I was born in Vancouver, B.C. on 7 July 1969, a Cancer by Western Astrology and a Cock by Chinese. I'm third-generation Chinese-Canadian through my father's family (who settled in Vancouver) and fifth-generation Chinese-American through my mother's family (who settled in Hawaii) and am recently (2007) Australian. 

I lived in Vancouver until 16, when I won a scholarship to attend the United World College, Pearson College, in Victoria from 1986-88. I did a bachelor's degree in International Studies at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario from 1988-1993, taking time off in between each year to do the Ontario/Ecuador exchange program of Canada World Youth in 89-90 and attend the International People's College in Elsinore, Denmark in the fall of 1991, before I travelled Europe for the first time and then worked at Expo'92 in Seville, Spain. On completing my first degree, I did a master's degree in political science at York University in 93-94, focusing on international political economy, lesbian and gay studies, and feminist politics.

My professional career began as the coordinator of the International Lesbian and Gay Assocation in Brussels, Belgium from 94-96 where I travelled extensively including to Brazil, Japan, Russia and throughout Western and Eastern Europe. I moved to London at the start of 1997 and worked as the project manager of Rubberstuffers (RS Health Ltd), a gay men's education agency which provided condoms and lube packs to gay men in London. I have lived in Australia since the start of 1999 and currently work as the International Policy Officer for the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations. As of 2006, I have been working as the project manager for Asia for the Collaborative Fund for HIV Treatment Preparedness.

You'll find information on my writing pursuits elsewhere on the site. Much of my work deals with themes of identity and belonging: what does it mean to be gay? Asian? Gay and Asian? Happy? Sexual?

I'm also a singer and songwriter and have produced 7 tapes and 2 CDs. I've performed in a number of cabarets, and have sung with gay and lesbian choirs in London, Vancouver, Sydney and at Gay Games 5 in Amsterdam. I attended and participated in 4 Gay Games (Vancouver, New York, Amsterdam and Sydney) and went to the Outgames in Montreal as well.

I took up a fair bit of sport in Sydney, people in this city are really active! I had a great time learning to play touch footy (touch rugby) with some great men from the Proud Out Open Footballers Touch Association, did some freestyle wrestling with Harbour City Wrestling, did a mini-biathlon (which I don't think I could do any more), ran with the sydney frontrunners, and most consistently, go the the gym and cycle!

From 2001-02, I was a board member of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, an organisation that has run the best party in the world, an amazing parade and some fantastic cultural events. It's been a global beacon for freedom, acceptance and celebration of diversity and sexuality. It's been through ups and downs but the 30th anniversary in 2008 will be/was the largest party in many years. Congrats to the organisers, New Mardi Gras. After Mardi Gras, I was on the board of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Community Publishing Ltd which publishes the Sydney Star Observer - Sydney's Gay and Lesbian Community paper for about two years.

I'm interested in the esoteric world. I do reiki (and have done level 3 - for spiritual growth rather than teaching) and hang out with the International House of Reiki in Sydney. I have found the enneagram a very useful tool for understanding myself (I'm a fairly healthy type 4 - the romantic-artist). I am the youngest of 3 boys, and am a proud uncle of a gorgeous nephew and a gorgeous niece. Apparently, I am a benevolent director!

Thanks for reading this far. Anything else? Just ask.

Last updated - Feb 08.

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