A Seattle city councilmember has come under fire after introducing a proclamation that used an extended acronym for the LGBTQIA+ and AAPI communities, only to be called out for omitting two letters representing Native Hawaiians.
Councilmember Foster's Proclamation
During a city council meeting on Monday, Councilmember Dionne Foster presented a proclamation for 'Pride Asia day,' which she described as a celebration of intersectional identity. She stated, 'Pride Asia gives us the opportunity to ensure that LGBTQIA+AAPI residents are celebrated.' Foster, who identifies as a 'Queer woman of color,' emphasized the importance of creating spaces for LGBTQ Asian and Pacific Islander communities.
Reddit User's Criticism
A clip of Foster's remarks was posted on Reddit, where a user pointed out that she had forgotten to include the letters 'NH,' which stand for Native Hawaiians. The poster wrote, 'Note: she forgot NH (Native Hawaiians).' It remains unclear whether the comment was serious or sarcastic, but it drew a range of reactions from other users.
Online Reactions
Some commenters expressed confusion over the ever-expanding acronym. One person remarked, 'Identity gymnastics is so tiring. May is already AAPI heritage month. June is already Pride month. So anyone who identifies with or as LGBTQAIAAPI can already choose to celebrate and be recognized in May, June or both months.' Another user wrote, 'Celebrating what? How do you even read that?' A third commenter stated, 'I post LGBT. That's good enough. More than that is silliness in my opinion.' Others suggested using 'LGBTQ+' as a simpler alternative, with one person saying, 'Yeah, I just do LGBTQ+, cause I feel like the Q and the + represent everyone else not explicitly mentioned.'
Foster's Background and Priorities
Foster joined the Seattle City Council in January 2026 after defeating incumbent Council President Sara Nelson. According to her government profile, she has spent the past 15 years improving access and outcomes for vulnerable Seattleites. A July 2025 article in Seattle Gay News described her as 'a Queer woman of color' who understands the complex issues facing the queer community in Seattle. She has pledged to focus on housing issues in the liberal city, which has struggled with high crime rates, open-air drug use, and soaring living costs.
Mayor's Affordable Housing Push
Foster's commitments align with those of Seattle's new mayor, Katie Wilson, who has advocated for affordable housing and proposed a 9.9 percent 'millionaire's tax' on the wealthy. Foster expressed support for the mayor's stance, stating, 'Listening to Mayor Wilson talk about, not only do people deserve bread, but they deserve roses, and rest, and space to live their lives. There’s a lot that we agree on, right? I think we agree on the need for new revenue. I think we agree on focusing the agenda on housing. I’m so excited to collaborate with the new mayor on expanding the shelter capacity.'
The Daily Mail has contacted Foster's office for comment.
