--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I first ran for Congress in the…" description: "\"When I first ran for Congress in the 1990s, my background as an openly gay Asian was one of the focal points of the campaign, and, in fact, my opponent..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77c/mark-takano-34553_asian_when-i-first-ran-for-congress-in-the-199_3195636.jpg" --- # When I first ran for Congress in the 1990s, my background… ![“When I first ran for Congress in the 1990s, my background as an openly gay Asian was one of the focal points of the campaign, and, in fact, my opponent attacked me for it.” quote by Mark Takano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77c/mark-takano-34553_asian_when-i-first-ran-for-congress-in-the-199_3195636.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77c/mark-takano-34553_asian_when-i-first-ran-for-congress-in-the-199_3195636.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77c/mark-takano-34553_asian_when-i-first-ran-for-congress-in-the-199_3195636.jpg) > “When I first ran for Congress in the 1990s, my background as an openly gay Asian was one of the focal points of the campaign, and, in fact, my opponent attacked me for it.” [Mark Takano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-takano/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The candidate acknowledges that his identity as an openly gay Asian was highlighted and weaponized during his political campaign. **In simple terms:** His sexuality and ethnicity were used against him. Key Takeaway Embrace authenticity despite opposition. Themes politics identity discrimination Mood determined reflective Type political inspirational When to use this quote - running for office - advocating for LGBTQ+ rights - addressing bias in media - building inclusive platforms Key Concepts intersectionality representation campaign strategy Questions to Reflect On - How can candidates turn identity challenges into strengths? - What strategies combat identity-based attacks? A Different Perspective Opponents may exploit identity for political gain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asian/) [Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress/) [Focal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focal/) [Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) ## Related quotes > [Holding those two identities of being gay and Asian have, I guess, made my skin a little thicker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bowen-yang/holding-those-two-identities-of-being-gay-and-asian-have-i-guess-made/) [Bowen Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bowen-yang/) > [The characters are always the focal point of a book for me, whether I'm writing or reading. I may enjoy a book that has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-camp/the-characters-are-always-the-focal-point-of-a-book-for-me-whether-i/) [Candace Camp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-camp/) > [Autism is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by social withdrawal, by repetitive behaviors and by some kind of focal attention in its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-v-fineberg/autism-is-a-severe-neurodevelopmental-disorder-that-is-characterized/) [Harvey V. Fineberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-v-fineberg/) > [I miss being the focal point of the team - the guy everyone looks to for decisions. And guidance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-cook/i-miss-being-the-focal-point-of-the-team-the-guy-everyone-looks-to/) [Alastair Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-cook/) > [I'm not being irresponsible or anything like that when it comes to AEW because AEW is my number one focal point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darby-allin/i-m-not-being-irresponsible-or-anything-like-that-when-it-comes-to/) [Darby Allin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darby-allin/) > [In Ethiopia, food is often looked at through a strong spiritual lens, stronger than anywhere else I know. It's the focal point of weddings,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-samuelsson/in-ethiopia-food-is-often-looked-at-through-a-strong-spiritual-lens/) [Marcus Samuelsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-samuelsson/) > [And the mile once again becomes the focal point where it's always been](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-pickering/and-the-mile-once-again-becomes-the-focal-point-where-it-s-always-been/) [Ron Pickering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-pickering/) > [“When nothing becomes the vocal Then nothing becomes the focal And nothing’s becoming at all”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-kaiser/when-nothing-becomes-the-vocal-then-nothing-becomes-the-focal-and/) Kate Kaiser > [At home I have a copy of the April 21, 1986, issue of 'Sports Illustrated.' 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Doing Tom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ronson/djing-is-an-art-that-i-have-the-utmost-respect-for-and-i-ve-been/) [Mark Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ronson/) > [President Obama has made a minimum wage increase a focal point of his economic agenda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-perez/president-obama-has-made-a-minimum-wage-increase-a-focal-point-of-his/) [Thomas Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-perez/) > [Growing up in college, in high school, I was the focal point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harden/growing-up-in-college-in-high-school-i-was-the-focal-point/) [James Harden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-harden/) > [I was glad that I could be used as a focal point to possibly bandy around some ideas, and maybe people would open their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-wurzelbacher/i-was-glad-that-i-could-be-used-as-a-focal-point-to-possibly-bandy/) [Joe Wurzelbacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-wurzelbacher/) > [The main problem that we have in Lebanon, and in the region, is we don't have a real peace process and I think this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saad-hariri/the-main-problem-that-we-have-in-lebanon-and-in-the-region-is-we-don/) [Saad Hariri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saad-hariri/) > [Landon Donovan has always been about being the focal point of the team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nicol/landon-donovan-has-always-been-about-being-the-focal-point-of-the-team/) [Steve Nicol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nicol/) ## More by Mark Takano > [The fact that, for so many generations, ordinary, everyday Americans came out of the closet and told their family and friends about who they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-takano/the-fact-that-for-so-many-generations-ordinary-everyday-americans/) [Mark Takano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-takano/) > [I hope that by just being a competent member and expressing informed views on issues that aren't related to issues of LGBT equality, Republicans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-takano/i-hope-that-by-just-being-a-competent-member-and-expressing-informed/) [Mark Takano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-takano/) > [I taught high school English for 24 years. I always teach my students to appreciate the beauty of language and to write poetically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-takano/i-taught-high-school-english-for-24-years-i-always-teach-my-students/) [Mark Takano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-takano/) > [Those life experiences that helped shaped my political beliefs are with me in every position I take and every vote that I cast -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-takano/those-life-experiences-that-helped-shaped-my-political-beliefs-are/) [Mark Takano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-takano/) > [Every member of Congress is sent to Washington to represent all of their constituents, regardless of their age, race, social standing, or sexual orientation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-takano/every-member-of-congress-is-sent-to-washington-to-represent-all-of/) [Mark Takano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-takano/) > [As someone who is both an ethnic minority and openly gay, I often talk about how simply being who I am has given me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-takano/as-someone-who-is-both-an-ethnic-minority-and-openly-gay-i-often-talk/) [Mark Takano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-takano/) > [It's common sense to be for middle-class tax cuts and tax cuts on small businesses, to be for not allowing Medicare to be turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-takano/it-s-common-sense-to-be-for-middle-class-tax-cuts-and-tax-cuts-on/) [Mark Takano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-takano/) > [You cant not be changed by the experience of seeing extreme poverty. 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I imagine that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-takano/interracial-marriages-were-basically-legalized-but-nevertheless-there/) [Mark Takano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-takano/) > [The model that I'd always seen as a little boy, as a teenager, as I watched other political careers, I saw people who'd start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-takano/the-model-that-i-d-always-seen-as-a-little-boy-as-a-teenager-as-i/) [Mark Takano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-takano/) > [We, as Americans, do our level best to avoid being cruel to one another; we're led out of a diverse nation to come together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-takano/we-as-americans-do-our-level-best-to-avoid-being-cruel-to-one-another/) [Mark Takano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-takano/) > [I think it is important for someone like me to not run away from who I am but embrace it. LGBT people across the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-takano/i-think-it-is-important-for-someone-like-me-to-not-run-away-from-who/) [Mark Takano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-takano/) > [I think most polling shows that most Americans agree that when it comes to employment that, you know, people should be really judged by,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-takano/i-think-most-polling-shows-that-most-americans-agree-that-when-it/) [Mark Takano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-takano/) [Explore all 14 Mark Takano quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-takano/) ## More Asian quotes > [I think I am against stereotype. Generally, Asian guys are more quiet - they study and have a good work ethic. Generally, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lee/i-think-i-am-against-stereotype-generally-asian-guys-are-more-quiet/) [Bobby Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lee/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [If you do a black character or a female character or an Asian character, then they aren't just that character. They represent that race…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-mcduffie/if-you-do-a-black-character-or-a-female-character-or-an-asian/) [Dwayne McDuffie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-mcduffie/) > [When I made it, I still didn't wave the flag and say, Yeah go Asian people. I do want people to know that about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-hugo/when-i-made-it-i-still-didn-t-wave-the-flag-and-say-yeah-go-asian/) [Chad Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-hugo/) > [I felt pretty good growing up. I didnt feel a lot of prejudice or racism. 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We don't want to be saved, especially by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-chung/the-narrative-needs-to-change-asian-american-actresses-don-t-want-to/) [Jamie Chung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-chung/) > [It's always fun to see faces that are either familiar or resemble yours. I was fascinated by movies like 'Big Trouble in Little China'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ng-chin-han/it-s-always-fun-to-see-faces-that-are-either-familiar-or-resemble/) [Ng Chin Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ng-chin-han/) > [In view of China's growing military strength and intentions, the best way to safeguard Asia's permanent peace and prosperity is to have all Asian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-costa/in-view-of-china-s-growing-military-strength-and-intentions-the-best/) [Jim Costa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-costa/) > [I think Li Na and some other Chinese ladies have done so many amazing things for Asian tennis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kei-nishikori/i-think-li-na-and-some-other-chinese-ladies-have-done-so-many-amazing/) [Kei Nishikori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kei-nishikori/) > [I don't want to have people brought in simply because they are black or Asian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-phillips/i-don-t-want-to-have-people-brought-in-simply-because-they-are-black/) [Trevor Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-phillips/) > [We grew up in rural Arkansas without any Koreans close by, and when I go to Korea feel out of place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-isaac-chung/we-grew-up-in-rural-arkansas-without-any-koreans-close-by-and-when-i/) [Lee Isaac Chung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-isaac-chung/) > [I've been lucky to come up when there's such a huge explosion of women, and especially Asian women, in music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-zauner/i-ve-been-lucky-to-come-up-when-there-s-such-a-huge-explosion-of/) [Michelle Zauner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-zauner/) > [I knew I was half Chinese, but Iceland is so homogenous that I wasn't able to identify with the Asian part of myself. 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