442: The legacy of Michiyo Fukaya, queer poet and feminist
She wrote about the parts of herself society tried to erase—and in doing so, became one of the most important early voices in queer Asian American literature
Michiyo Fukaya was a mixed-race lesbian poet and feminist activist
Illustration by Vivian Lai
Words by Aleenah Ansari
The 442: A JoySauce column named after the military unit, designed to school you (in all the best ways) on accomplished Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders of the past. Asians have been shaping American history, culture, food, politics, identity, and more for centuries—it’s time we acknowledge what’s been left out of most textbooks.
Have a historical tidbit you’d like to share? Let us know!
Born Margaret Cornell before changing her name to reclaim her heritage and her mother’s maiden name, Michiyo Fukaya (1953-87) was a mixed-race lesbian poet and feminist activist who wrote and spoke openly about racism in the LGBTQ+ community and her intersecting identities as a queer woman of color.
Born in Japan to a Japanese mother and white father who was a soldier stationed in the country after World War II, Fukaya and her family moved to a predominantly white suburb in Vermont when she was 3 years old, where her mother died of cancer only two years later. Fukaya wrote about feeling isolated, especially in an environment where there were few other Asian Americans. Her father was an alcoholic and she experienced sexual abuse at the hands of her family, another topic she wrote about in her prose and poetry.
Fukaya eventually left Vermont behind and earned a degree in English literature at the University of Massachusetts, where she was able to connect with other Asian American writers. After graduating, she struggled to find stable housing and employment, often being discriminated against as a lesbian and Asian American woman. Fukaya later relocated to Burlington, Vermont and lived in the Elizabeth Lund Home for Unwed Mothers, a shelter for pregnant women and girls, where she ultimately gave birth to her daughter, Mayumi. It was a time of economic instability for Fukaya, especially as a single mother, and she relied on welfare benefits to take care of herself and her daughter. Fukaya eventually gave guardianship of her daughter to neighbors and members in her community of white lesbian feminists, though she visited often. Fukaya eventually checked herself in for a two-month stay at the Medical Center Hospital of Vermont, and she was diagnosed with schizophrenia.
Fukaya’s self-published Lesbian Lyrics (1981), a 22-page collection of poetry that explores her identity as “a lesbian poet, victim and survivor of America’s most vicious sickness which is racism.” She also contributed to and edited Commonwoman, a socialist-leaning lesbian feminist newspaper in Vermont, and publications such as Azalea: A Magazine by Third World Lesbians. During this time in the late 1970s and 1980s, she was one of a few published Asian American lesbian writers. A lot of her writing explored topics including sexual violence, marginalization, and racism, and some were addressed to her mother to explain some of the things she endured. Fukaya became involved in rallies, where she spoke about the intersections of racism, classism, and sexism she experienced as a poor and lesbian woman of color. Fukaya also critiqued the homophobia and racism prevalent in the Asian American community as well as among white queer people, which often excluded queer women of color.
In 1979, Fukaya gave a speech titled, “Living in Asian America: An Asian American Lesbian's Address Before the Washington Monument,” at the First National Third World Lesbian and Gay Conference, which led to national visibility of her work. Drawing from her own experience as an Asian American woman, mother, and lesbian, Fukaya addressed the racism that shows up in LGBTQ+ communities, saying, “I have a 3-year-old daughter and any risk that I must take to build a free future for myself and my daughter is worth it. It is as concrete and as abstract as that.” This speech is still available in the Pacifica Radio archives. Her work continues to critique the way that queer people of color have often been excluded from white lesbian and Asian American spaces, a perspective she shared at open mic events and marches. Fukaya also worked with a small organizing group to petition the Burlington Board of Aldermen to declare June 25, 1983 as the city’s first Lesbian and Gay Pride Day. Their efforts were successful, leading to the board proclaiming June 25 as Lesbian and Gay Pride Day.
Fukaya died by suicide on July 9, 1987. Her final resting place is on Huntington Open Women’s Land in Huntington, Vermont. You can continue to read Fukaya’s work in a posthumously published anthology, A Fire Is Burning It Is in Me: The Life and Writings of Michiyo Fukaya, which includes poetry, prose, speeches, and essays. Fukaya’s work continues to be an important part of the archive of queer Asian American voices.
Published on July 9, 2026
Words by Aleenah Ansari
Aleenah Ansari (she/her) is equal parts storyteller, creative problem solver, and journalist at heart who's rooted in the stories of people behind products, companies, and initiatives. She’s written about travel, entrepreneurship, mental health and wellness, and representation in media for Insider, CNBC, The Seattle Times, Kulfi, and more. You can usually find her searching for murals in Seattle and beyond, reading a book by a BIPOC author, and planning her next trip to New York. Learn more at www.aleenahansari.com.
Art by Vivian Lai
Vivian Lai is an experienced L.A.-based graphic and UI designer with a proven track record of problem-solving for diverse clients across industries. She is highly skilled in design thinking, user experience, and visual communication and is committed to staying up-to-date with the latest design trends and techniques. Vivian has been recognized for her exceptional work with numerous industry awards.