Hazel Edwards
Hazel Edwards is an artist, community advocate and educator. She holds multiple positions, all with the goal of working towards racial and trans liberation.
Hazel is the T.I.N.G.S. Program Manager, which stands for Transgender, Intersex, Non Binary and Gender Non Conforming Services, at Galaei: QTBIPOC Radical Social Justice Organization. Hazel has been working in the organizing field in different capacities for the past 10 years in Philadelphia. She has created, led and presented workshops and training across the country for thousands of service providers and youth on gender, sexuality, racism, and anti-oppression.
In 2016, Hazel was instrumental in co-authoring the School District of Philadelphia’s Policy 252, which created protections for transgender and gender nonconforming students. She then went on and worked as a Research Assistant at The University of Pennsylvania, in which she analyzed data collected through interviewing transgender students in the Philadelphia public school system. The findings of this work have been published in an academic journal titled ‘Risk, Resilience, Resistance and Situated Agency of Trans High School Students” on September 23, 2019 with the university.
Hazel is also a Philadelphia based nightlife performer and she produces a monthly show, “Luna’s Nightcap”, that will actually celebrate its 4 year anniversary in May 2024. All bodies should be celebrated and her show’s mission is to center POC performers, sex workers and phreaks alike. She cultivated this brave space for performers from her own sexual trauma and history with survival sex work. Luna’s Nightcap is where she reclaims her power, reminds folks of their sexual agency and uplift the folks who are doing sexual liberation work in the community.
She also facilitates a variety of groups that support in prioritizing Transgender, Intersex, Non-Binary and Gender Non Conforming Individuals and providing access to the resources available through Galaei’s different programs POP, SPLAT and TINGS who offers different services in order to pursue our mission of serving the QTBIPOC Community.
These groups consist of the following:
From Top To Bottom: Keeping Track of Your Anal Health” is a group that encompasses a mixture of lecture and discussions. Facilitated by the TINGS Program manager Hazel Edwards. The goal is to provide a BRAVE space for everyone who is sexually active, specifically bottoms, to talk about anatomy, Self exams, STI and HIV risks, safe(r) play and pleasure. This group is for everyone, EVEN TOPS!
Yes Means Yes:is a group that is specifically tailored to the age group of the audience. It is a role-playing and discussion group to examine what consent means. Enthusiastic consent is looking for the presence of a “yes” rather than the absence of a “no. This group focuses on a positive expression of consent and will leave with a broader understanding of how consent can be given and taken back.
All About The T: “All ABout the T: Trans and Non-Binary Support Group” is about providing a healing circle for the Trans and Non-Binary communities to share experiences, hopes and ambitions and cultivate a space of encouragement, love and support.
Contact Info:
Hazel Edwards hazel@galaeiqtbipoc.org