amazin lethi | Athlete & Activist
“I suffered a tremendous amount of discrimination and bullying as a child and into my teenage years, I’ve experienced homelessness, poverty and depression that lead to contemplating suicide. I understand what it feels like to be marginalized and what many rainbow (LGBTQ) youth are going through because I have experienced it myself. I don’t want anyone else to go through what I went through so by sharing my story I want to inspire young people and help them achieve their full potential in life.’
“When I think of Act To Change and the issue of bullying in the Asian community, talking about coming out is not enough. We need to talk about the intersection as well because it’s so much about our culture, who we are as a person, how the media portrays Asian people, and how people see us.”
“The Asian community is very unique. We’re seen as this invisible model minority race. We only make 1% of leading roles in film. In television, there are very few out public figures. And we are bullied the most out of all ethnic groups. We are a conformist community. The bar is set so high in that you’re pushed into going into medical or legal professions to look after our families. Shame is used.”
“The reason why Asian people often don’t come out because social issues aren’t discussed. A lot of Asian LGBTI people just suffer in silence and don’t come out.But there is hope, and there is a growing call for more representation of Asian voices in the media.”
Amazin LêThi was born in Saigon where she was left in an orphanage by her mother. As a young adult, she was homeless for a period of time and it was at this lowest point, contemplating suicide, Amazin realized her passion and love for sport could help her survive. Gaining physical and mental strength and confidence, from her personal journey of homelessness and against all the odds she has overcome enormous barriers to become a leading global rainbow (LGBTQI) sports activist and thought leader. She is also a former competitive natural bodybuilder, TV/Film star, entertainment executive and Vietnam’s first internationally published health and fitness author.
During the Obama administration, Amazin organized the first 'Spirit Day' collaboration with GLAAD and White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders 'Act to Change' in October 2016 and her story was part of the first public White House Initiative ‘Act to Change’ an awareness campaign that addresses bullying within the Asian American Pacific Islander community.
ARTICLE: FIGHTING FOR ASIAN INCLUSION IN SPORTS
ARTICLE: The Power of Sharing Asian LGBTQ Anti-Bullying Stories
ARTICLE: Coming out
