Hazem G. (he/him) serves as a Senior Policy Research Officer, bringing a wealth of experience in human rights advocacy and policy research. With roots in Palestine, Hazem has been a leading voice in LGBTQ+ advocacy across the Middle East and North Africa. Until 2023, he led Rainbow Street as its Director, launching impactful initiatives aimed at bettering the lives of queer individuals facing forced displacement. Among his notable achievements, Hazem led a campaign on access to HIV treatments for non-nationals and fought to repeal deportation laws affecting people living with HIV.
Hazem’s dedication to LGBTQ+ rights is also evident in his pursuit of research on resettlement access for people in transit countries. His contributions to the field have earned him memberships in several institutions such as the Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen (IFA), the Swedish Institute, and AMENDS at Stanford University.
In his current role at Rainbow Railroad, Hazem is developing the Queer Forced Displacement Initiative, which seeks to promote South-to-South collaboration through a series of roundtable and bolster connections among grassroots LGBTQ+ organizations in the Global South.
Hazem earned his BSc. in Medical Sciences from the University of Jordan. Beyond his professional life, he is deeply committed to writing, often penning reflections and observations with the hope of someday publishing a book. His dream project is to tell the heartfelt stories of queer Palestinians as they navigate the challenges of displacement over 75 years, combining his twin passions of storytelling and advocacy.
