About me
Dr. Basel Touchan is a Middle Eastern gay immigrant who transitioned from a career in medicine to focus on human rights advocacy and systems change after seeking refuge in the U.S. during the Syrian civil war. Currently, he serves as a Learning and Development Consultant with History UnErased, a nonprofit providing the first comprehensive LGBTQ-inclusive K-12 social studies curriculum to over 2,000 schools across 18 states. He is also a founding member of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Office at Kentucky’s second-largest school district, which supports over 50,000 students and employees.
A dedicated advocate for systemically disempowered communities, Dr. Touchan sits on the board of the ACLU of Kentucky and serves as Co-Chair of the LGBTQ+ & Allies Special Interest Community at the National Council for the Social Studies. Additionally, he is Vice-Chair of the Mayor’s International Affairs Advisory Commission and serves on the board of the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department and the New Americans Initiative.
An internationally accredited mediator and workplace conflict resolution trainer, Dr. Touchan frequently speaks at state, national, and international conferences, leading workshops and seminars for governmental agencies, nonprofits, and corporations. His writings and research have been featured in publications such as the Journal of Endocrinology, TIME Magazine, and Washington Blade.
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