Shapes of Caregiving | Sammy Kim | Legacy Project Queer Joy

Sammy Kim (they/them) is a multifaceted individual: a queer artist, writer, healer, sex worker, community organizer, caregiver, and friend. From a young age, Sammy took on a caregiving role when their mother was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, moving in with relatives as her condition progressed. Seeing their mother struggle with her health, Sammy naturally came into a role of caregiving, grounding themselves in gratitude while extending empathy towards their family. By their pre-teen years, Sammy knew they were queer but felt compelled to hide it due to their Christian upbringing, even trying to "ungay" themselves to avoid eternal damnation. Operating out of fear, Sammy didn't come out to their parents until their mother approached them about it, by which time they had been living openly for three years. Although their mother struggled to accept this part of Sammy, she affirmed her love, signaling a need for more time to understand.
Through sex work, what began as a caregiving role to provide for men seeking to feel wanted eventually evolved into a way for Sammy to heal from their early childhood trauma of sexual abuse. Their work became a way for them to deeply question their relationship to the sexualization tied to their identities. As Sammy continues to unravel the many intersections of their experiences, they choose with intention to feel alive in the present, living in the joy that stems from simply being themselves without distraction.
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CREDITS
Directed by Deborah Baik & Kimberly Young Sun
Interviewer: Deborah Baik
Editor: Kimberly Young Sun @kimberlyyoungsun
Camera: AJ Valente @ajyval, Janice Chung @janicekaramchung
Gaffer: Jason Chew @chewchomp
Sound: HJ Lee
Prop Stylist: Celine Son @clnsn
Production Coordinators: Yoon Perera Lee, Celine Son
On-site Therapist: Kim Konopka
KoreanAmericanStory.org is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to create and preserve the stories of the Korean American experience.

[@shermann6]

An honest observer, who absorbed a lot in a short period of time and processed all of what happened, which turned him into a beautiful listener, which makes him an enthralling storyteller. Nice to see someone so balanced and self- aware. Keep doing what you are doing. And thank you for sharing your story.

[@h.k.6681]

brave and deep-hearted.

[@minnahong3715]

You are enough! I am a 60 yr old Korean American, a mother of grown kids and a grandmother of 8. You are loved. Just turn down the noise and follow your truth.

[@KimberlyRadish]

you are so strong and beautiful and inspiring. don’t ever stop loving yourself. it is so rare to see such a strong queer korean person and i love your existence. 🫶🏼✨💖

[@TransVangal]

He's so handsome

[@joshuaallen7826]

Sammy stan club!!!

[@elizabethrhee8534]

So brave and strong! You are valued and loved by God ❤ Please take care of yourself.

[@frankierepalda]

Interesting story

[@brad_choe13]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@embreis2257]

from reading the description for this video it is difficult to discern whether Sammy has any siblings or is an only child. is it just me or is the wording not clear enough? 🤔

[@TransVangal]

Who do religious people say sex working is a sin