(character names have been changed to protect the innocent)

Yong Z. Ming is a Taiwanese immigrant from Taipei. Yong is a licensed Chinese medical doctor who came to the U.S. under a temporary tourist visa for 6 months. During this time he became involved in school as an international student and has been on the look out for possible employers willing to sponsor his permanent stay in this country. This 41-year-old professional has now illegally overstayed his visa for many reasons including the freedom of an openly gay life and his devotion to treating HIV patients.

“When I first came to the lake area, I felt like I was in a different planet. Still now it’s kind of strange seeing gay people out in the open. You would never see anything like that in Asia, specially if you’re Chinese.”

Because of the stricter immigration laws suddenly applied to all foreigners after the attacks of the Twin Towers, Yong fears going back to Taipei, risking his ability to renew his visa and return. He is now caught up in a paranoid circle, a cat and mouse scenario.