Viet Rainbow of Orange County

Viet Rainbow of Orange County’s (VROC) story began in 2013 when five Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Vietnamese American groups applied and were rejected to be a part of the annual Tet (Lunar New Year) Parade. The organizers of the parade, the Federation of Southern California Vietnamese said “LGBT is not part of Vietnamese culture.”  

In response to the Tet parade exclusion, over 250 LGBTQ Vietnamese community members, Vietnamese mothers of LGBTQ children, and allies fought back and organized for a year, roaring with pride and resistance. Through labor, love, and community organizing, our community was able to march in the Tet parade the next year and has been ever since.

Today, VROC remains the only LGBTQ Vietnamese 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the United States. We are based in Orange County, California that builds community and mobilizes intergenerationally. We are grounded in values of equity, healing, joy, and social justice. 

We primarily work with LGBTQ+ Vietnamese Americans and their loved ones through research, education, and advocacy, while also strengthening collective power alongside other communities working towards liberation. 

We strive to create a world where everyone has the resources and agency to thrive with dignity.