Marsha Aizumi
Marsha Aizumi is an American author, educator, and LGBTQ+ activist. She co-founded the first PFLAG chapter for Asian-Pacific Islanders. Activism. Aizumi was motivated to improve schools for LGBTQ youth after seeing the harassment her transgender son faced. She founded the first PFLAG chapter for Asian-Pacific Islanders. The chapter began hosting events for specific ethnic groups, with Aizumi leading projects for the Japanese community such as the 2014 and 2016 Okaeri conferences. With the Los Angeles LGBT Center, Aizumi created the Courageous Conversations initiative to educate school district officials on LGBT youth issues and bullying. In  2012, she co-authored a book with her son. Awards and honors. In 2015, Aizumi received a VH1 Trailblazer Honor for her allyship to the transgender community. Personal life. Aizumi and her husband adopted Ishinomaki-born Aiden Aizumi as a baby. Her child first identified as a lesbian before transitioning from female to male.