Wei ‘Krystal’ Zhang

Research & LGBTQ+ Support

North Carolina Team: Wei ‘Krystal’ Zhang

Wei ‘Krystal’ Zhang is a researcher, who is passionate about global health disparities. She has received academic training in anthropology and African studies. Her primary research areas include LGBTQ+ rights, sexual and mental health, health equity, and transnational migration. She held multiple positions and collaborated with various institutions include UNC Project-China, the University of Leeds, Hong Kong Baptist University, and the University of Minnesota. She aims to facilitate more equitable and accessible healthcare services for marginalized communities utilizing social science and humanities approaches, reduce stigmatization of sexual minorities and immigrants, and enhance their overall well-being. In addition to research, she has been rooted in community work for an extended period. She has collaborated with numerous LGBTQ+ organizations in China, providing not only academic consultation but also social services such as HIV counseling and testing, outreach, advocacy and capacity building etc. She participated in the UN Women CGF (China Gender Fund) program and advocated for comprehensive sexuality education in Guangzhou. Prior to immigrating to the United States, she was the director trainer and provided operator services for the National LGBTQ+ Hotline. Apart from her career as a researcher and community advocate, she is an enthusiast of Cantonese language and culture. She also has a keen interest in cooking and food, music, street dance, and basketball.

张维（Krystal）是一个关注全球医疗资源不平等的研究员，有着人类学与非洲研究的专业培训，她的主要研究领域有LGBTQ+权利、性健康与心理健康、健康公平性、以及跨国移民。她曾在UNC Project-China，University of Leeds, Hong Kong Baptist University, University of Minnesota任职并参与多项研究项目。她希望通过社会人文科学的的研究方法以及视角，让医疗专业人士为性少数群体提供可及且平等的医疗服务，减少大众对社会边缘群体的污名化，提高社会边缘群体的福祉。除了研究工作外，她长期参与社群工作，曾与国内多个LGBT机构深度合作，不止提供学术咨询，更有社会服务如HIV咨询与检测、外展、倡导、能力建设等。她曾参与联合国妇女署GRF项目，在广州市倡导全面性教育。在移民美国前，她在全国同志热线担任接线员以及培训项目负责人。科研与社群活动外，她也积极倡导广府语言与文化，她热爱烹饪与美食，也享受音乐、街舞以及篮球。.