Emil Hawk Brandon

Emil Sparrowhawk Brandon, also known as “Hawk”, has been a member of the Seattle area leather community and Sex Positive Community and a volunteer advocate for over a decade. Hawk has been out and proud as Queer since the late 70’s, and has been actively engaging with the Queer and Leather communities for decades. An educator, he has given his “Transgender 101” workshop, “where people can ask all the un-PC questions,” He has presented in many diverse areas: from the Leather and Sex-Positive community to church.

For over four years, Hawk has also been working with the University of Washington to provide education to students on how to make public health programs more accessible to transgender clients. Hawk is also the youngest of nine children, and has been a hospice care provider for multiple family members over the course of his life.

As an advocate for disability access, Hawk brings an intersectional lens to his education efforts. ASL is his second language, and his passion lies particularly in ensuring access for Deaf and hard-of-hearing members of the LGBQTIA+ community. Hawk is a constant advocate for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing members of the leather community at workshops and events, and has been for many years. In Hawk’s words: “without unity, we do not have community.”