“As a partner working in not-for-profit, education, and health care industries, I support clients who are working toward equity in education and access to healthcare. There are many synergies between my social values and the organizations I represent at work and in my free time,” Kinman said.
Kinman’s personal experiences inspire his enthusiasm for intersectionality. He immigrated from Malaysia to the United States in 1999 to continue his education, but he’d already felt the pressure of balancing his role as the first-born male in a conservative, religious Chinese family.
“Culturally, there’s a lack of LGBTQ+ acceptance in Malaysia,” Kinman said. “Who I am and what I stand for has been a major part of my journey to accept myself, and having people around me who support and welcome me has been key.”
Courageous Revolution
Finding a welcoming community hasn’t always been easy. Kinman remembers the office party that inspired his passion for belonging, where he and his partner Patrick were mocked for being themselves. The two of them were enjoying the holiday event with Kinman’s colleagues when Patrick pulled him aside to say he didn’t want to dance anymore.