Cheng Yu emigrated from China, where he suffered discrimination from being a double minority: deaf and gay. After being forced to undergo conversion therapy for his sexual orientation, Cheng decided to create a new life for himself abroad. Despite the challenges of learning spoken English, he relocated to the U.S. and graduated from the University of Oregon with a bachelor’s in psychology.​​

Cheng is currently a graduate student in social psychology at San Francisco State University, where he maintains a 4.0 GPA and serves as a graduate student researcher in the Social Perception, Attitudes, Mental Simulation Lab.​​

​​A first-generation college student, Cheng wants to earn a doctorate. He dreams of becoming a university professor to conduct research and share knowledge about gender discrimination and racial diversity. He has volunteered with nonprofits supporting LGBTQ communities in the U.S. and China and wants to establish an organization to support gay rights internationally.​