Marsha Aizumi
Marsha is an author, speaker, educator, and advocate for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) community, a cause she embraced due to the heartbreaking experiences her son faced.
She began her journey, because she loved her son, and fell in love with the LGBTQ+ community as she began to speak at events, share her book, Two Spirits, One Heart, with others, and support individuals and families around the country.
One day she woke up and realized that she was not just a mother who loved her son, but an advocate who wanted to make a difference in the LGBTQ+ community.. She began to use her new found voice for the Asian Pacific Islander (API), transgender, and faith communities. Today she shares that this work has filled her with purpose and connections to people, knowledge, and awareness that have created a life of deep meaning, gratitude and love.
She began her journey, because she loved her son, and fell in love with the LGBTQ+ community as she began to speak at events, share her book, Two Spirits, One Heart, with others, and support individuals and families around the country.
One day she woke up and realized that she was not just a mother who loved her son, but an advocate who wanted to make a difference in the LGBTQ+ community.. She began to use her new found voice for the Asian Pacific Islander (API), transgender, and faith communities. Today she shares that this work has filled her with purpose and connections to people, knowledge, and awareness that have created a life of deep meaning, gratitude and love.
MARSHA AIZUMI
BIOGRAPHY
Marsha was born in Cleveland, Ohio and her family moved to Southern California at an early age. She earned her BA from California State University at Los Angeles, majoring in American Studies and minoring in English. She went on to receive her secondary teaching life credential.
Marsha has worked in human resources and was president of a family insurance business. She has held various director positions at a charter school and continues to consult for their various companies as an advisor on LGBTQ+ issues for their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, as well as a consultant for experiential learning programs, team buildings, and management retreats.
Her areas of focus as an advocate are staff trainings, bringing greater visibility and support to the Asian Pacific Islander (API) LGBTQ+ community, as well as to the transgender and the faith communities. Marsha continues to bring resources and support to educators and has organized symposiums for district superintendents and their cabinet called “Courageous Conversations.”
Marsha’s API and transgender work has taken her around the United States and overseas to Asia as she shares how her shame, grief, and fear moved into unconditional love and acceptance for her son, Aiden. Marsha and Aiden have written a book, Two Spirits, One Heart, which was published in 2013 by Magnus Books and in 2021 was re-issued as a 2nd edition. Together or individually Aiden and Marsha have spoken to over 250 organizations, universities, or corporations around the country and in Asia, including Goldman Sachs, Subaru of America, Liberty Mutual Insurance, UCLA, USC, and Waseda University in Tokyo.
Marsha has been serving on the PFLAG National Board of Directors since 2011 and was co-chair of PFLAG’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee. In 2012, she co-founded PFLAG San Gabriel Valley API, served as chapter president and continues to sit on their Executive Board. Later, in 2014 she founded Okaeri, which means welcome home in Japanese. Okaeri is a Nikkei LGBTQ+ community which holds a biennial conference, drawing participation from all of the US, Canada, and Japan. In 2020, she co-founded Okaeri Connects!, a support group for the Nikkei LGBTQ+ community. Today, Okaeri offers regular monthly programming as well as a biennial conference to engage the Nikkei LGBTQ+ individuals, families, and allies in the US and in Asia.
Her faith work includes organizing a symposium called Creating Safe Faith Communities in 2017 and Walking in Love in 2019. The goal of both events was to bring faith leaders together to work on LGBTQ+ individuals and families feeling accepted and seen in their churches and temples. Aiden and Marsha have spoken to Christian, Buddhist and Mormon communities, hoping that their story of rejection from a Christian church will provide a motivation for churches and temples to find ways to be more open, compassionate, and inclusive.
Marsha has been honored with a number of awards for her work. Congresswoman Judy Chu named her Community Activist in 2014. She has been given honors from Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, the National Queer API Alliance, the Asian Pacific AIDS Intervention Team, and was named 2015 Trailblazing Parent by LOGO TV.
She has a regular column for the Pacific Citizen called “A Mother’s Take” and has had articles published on Huffington Post, as well as being a guest speaker on Huff Post Live. She has appeared on Diane Sawyer’s 20/20 Transgender Special and Dr. Jill Biden’s LGBTQ Social Hour.. Marsha was appointed in 2017 to the LGBTQ Equality Advisory Council for The Biden Foundation which suspended operations in April, 2019 when Biden announced his candidacy for President.
Marsha has worked in human resources and was president of a family insurance business. She has held various director positions at a charter school and continues to consult for their various companies as an advisor on LGBTQ+ issues for their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, as well as a consultant for experiential learning programs, team buildings, and management retreats.
Her areas of focus as an advocate are staff trainings, bringing greater visibility and support to the Asian Pacific Islander (API) LGBTQ+ community, as well as to the transgender and the faith communities. Marsha continues to bring resources and support to educators and has organized symposiums for district superintendents and their cabinet called “Courageous Conversations.”
Marsha’s API and transgender work has taken her around the United States and overseas to Asia as she shares how her shame, grief, and fear moved into unconditional love and acceptance for her son, Aiden. Marsha and Aiden have written a book, Two Spirits, One Heart, which was published in 2013 by Magnus Books and in 2021 was re-issued as a 2nd edition. Together or individually Aiden and Marsha have spoken to over 250 organizations, universities, or corporations around the country and in Asia, including Goldman Sachs, Subaru of America, Liberty Mutual Insurance, UCLA, USC, and Waseda University in Tokyo.
Marsha has been serving on the PFLAG National Board of Directors since 2011 and was co-chair of PFLAG’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee. In 2012, she co-founded PFLAG San Gabriel Valley API, served as chapter president and continues to sit on their Executive Board. Later, in 2014 she founded Okaeri, which means welcome home in Japanese. Okaeri is a Nikkei LGBTQ+ community which holds a biennial conference, drawing participation from all of the US, Canada, and Japan. In 2020, she co-founded Okaeri Connects!, a support group for the Nikkei LGBTQ+ community. Today, Okaeri offers regular monthly programming as well as a biennial conference to engage the Nikkei LGBTQ+ individuals, families, and allies in the US and in Asia.
Her faith work includes organizing a symposium called Creating Safe Faith Communities in 2017 and Walking in Love in 2019. The goal of both events was to bring faith leaders together to work on LGBTQ+ individuals and families feeling accepted and seen in their churches and temples. Aiden and Marsha have spoken to Christian, Buddhist and Mormon communities, hoping that their story of rejection from a Christian church will provide a motivation for churches and temples to find ways to be more open, compassionate, and inclusive.
Marsha has been honored with a number of awards for her work. Congresswoman Judy Chu named her Community Activist in 2014. She has been given honors from Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, the National Queer API Alliance, the Asian Pacific AIDS Intervention Team, and was named 2015 Trailblazing Parent by LOGO TV.
She has a regular column for the Pacific Citizen called “A Mother’s Take” and has had articles published on Huffington Post, as well as being a guest speaker on Huff Post Live. She has appeared on Diane Sawyer’s 20/20 Transgender Special and Dr. Jill Biden’s LGBTQ Social Hour.. Marsha was appointed in 2017 to the LGBTQ Equality Advisory Council for The Biden Foundation which suspended operations in April, 2019 when Biden announced his candidacy for President.
About Aiden
Aiden Takeo Aizumi was born in Japan and assigned female at birth. For the first twenty years of his life, Aiden struggled with his gender identity. He attended Arcadia High School, played varsity golf and was awarded MVP all four years. Coming out as a lesbian during his sophomore year, he experienced bullying and harassment daily in high school and was diagnosed with agoraphobia with panic attacks. Unable to attend school as a result of his agoraphobia, Aiden barely finished high school, but did receive his diploma in 2006.
In 2008, Aiden came out as transgender and shared that he wished to transition from female to male. Since that day, his life has taken an upward turn. His focus for academic achievement returned. He is currently working as a Compliance Coordinator & Regional Sports Advisor for Opportunities for Learning Public Charter Schools – San Gabriel Valley. Aiden is actively involved in the LGBTQ+ community. He is currently the President of PFLAG Pasadena where he also facilitates the youth group. Aiden has spoken over 175 times around the country to broaden the awareness of LGBTQ+ issues.
Earlier in 2010, Aiden was honored with the Paul A. Anderson Youth Leader Award from the National LGBTQ Task Force in Dallas, Texas. He hopes to share his journey with others and bring hope and empowerment to youth who need support.
In May of 2015, Aiden graduated from the University of La Verne with his Bachelors in Liberal Studies, Magna Cum Laude and with Departmental Honors. In 2017, at the University of La Verne’s 125th Anniversary Gala, Aiden was selected as one of the “125 Most Influential” people in the university’s history.. Aiden decided to continue his education and finished with a Masters in Education in May 2018.
Aiden currently lives in Los Angeles, CA with his wife, Mary, and their furbaby, Kuma. In his spare time, he loves music, Disneyland, traveling, and photography.
You can find out more about what Aiden is doing by visiting his website at www.aidenaizumi.com
In 2008, Aiden came out as transgender and shared that he wished to transition from female to male. Since that day, his life has taken an upward turn. His focus for academic achievement returned. He is currently working as a Compliance Coordinator & Regional Sports Advisor for Opportunities for Learning Public Charter Schools – San Gabriel Valley. Aiden is actively involved in the LGBTQ+ community. He is currently the President of PFLAG Pasadena where he also facilitates the youth group. Aiden has spoken over 175 times around the country to broaden the awareness of LGBTQ+ issues.
Earlier in 2010, Aiden was honored with the Paul A. Anderson Youth Leader Award from the National LGBTQ Task Force in Dallas, Texas. He hopes to share his journey with others and bring hope and empowerment to youth who need support.
In May of 2015, Aiden graduated from the University of La Verne with his Bachelors in Liberal Studies, Magna Cum Laude and with Departmental Honors. In 2017, at the University of La Verne’s 125th Anniversary Gala, Aiden was selected as one of the “125 Most Influential” people in the university’s history.. Aiden decided to continue his education and finished with a Masters in Education in May 2018.
Aiden currently lives in Los Angeles, CA with his wife, Mary, and their furbaby, Kuma. In his spare time, he loves music, Disneyland, traveling, and photography.
You can find out more about what Aiden is doing by visiting his website at www.aidenaizumi.com