~Chris Chamars
June marks the beginning of Pride Month; a month dedicated to elevating LGBTQ+ voices and stories. At Gryt Health we know what it means to feel alone, to be scared, and lose our identity. While we do not know your experience, we know that everyone’s experience matters, and there is power in numbers.
Navigating the healthcare system already sucks, having to overcome systemic barriers to receive care as an LGBTQ+ patient can make life even harder. This Pride Month, instead of adding to the existing voices, we want to intentionally elevate LGBTQIA+ organizations and resources that already are doing the important work.
Everyone deserves to be treated with respect, compassion, and kindness.
Here are some cancer organizations that are LGBTQIA+ founded:
- Mission: Our mission is to provide a sense of Escape for LGBTQIA+ Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Patients, Survivors, and Caregivers. Our vision is to cultivate a space for adolescent and young adult cancer patients to feel represented and to highlight LGBTQIA+ voices.
- Location: Based in the US
Cancer Patient Project
- Mission: The main goal for this project will always be to support and provide community for fellow transgender cancer patients. We also seek to create and collaborate on community-led sources of education and activism in order to de-stigmatize patient experiences and de-gender healthcare at large. On this website you can find trusted resources and groups, events we are attending, projects we’re working on, trans cancer patient related fundraisers to share and donate to, and zines!
- Mission: To transform cancer care for the LGBTQ2+ community by improving research, resources, and support for patients, families, caregivers, and healthcare professionals.
- Location: Based in Canada
- Mission: Malecare improves the lives of people diagnosed with cancer, their families and communities by making health services safe, available, understandable and sustainable. We provide technical assistance, training, and information, with a focus on practical solutions that improve services where resources are scarce. We believe that individuals have the right to make informed decisions about their health and to receive care that meets their needs. We focus on helping under-served communities such as African American men, LGBT people and Latino men.
- Location: Based in the US
- Mission: The National LGBT Cancer Network works to improve the lives of LGBT cancer survivors and those at risk by:
- educating the LGBT community about our increased cancer risks and the importance of screening and early detection;
- training health care providers to offer more culturally-competent, safe and welcoming care; and
- advocating for LGBT survivors in mainstream cancer organizations, the media and research.
- Location: Based in the US
- Mission: The Will Munro Fund for Queer and Trans People Living with Cancer is dedicated to providing emergency financial assistance to LGBTTIAQQ2S people of all ages who are currently living with cancer in Ontario.
- Location: Ontario, Canada
Here are some cancer organizations with LGBTQIA+ focused resources:
- Mission: Our mission is to support young adults living with, through, and beyond cancer. To be the connection to peers, a bridge out of isolation, and a source of inspiration. Every cancer, every stage, YACC’s got your back.
- Location: Based in Canada
- Mission: YASU has the largest community in Western PA for young adult cancer survivors and their co-survivors (with virtual programming outreached on a national level), providing them with the ability to cope and thrive from emotional, social, and financial support under professional guidance and with peers who understand and can relate.
- Location: Based in the US
- Mission: The first all-inclusive nonprofit organization that creates community for survivors, previvors, thrivers, and carevivors, impacted by breast and gynecological cancers. we’re on a mission to empower through connection, free events, and trusted resources, and to fund research for metastatic breast cancer.
- Location: Based in the US
- Mission: To provide comfort and understanding for all cancer fighters, survivors, previvors and caregivers through a personalized, one-on-one connection with someone who has been there. We envision a world where cancer is not a solitary experience.
- Location: Based in the US
- Mission: The leading UK national charity funding research and raising awareness into the five gynecological cancers – womb, ovarian, cervical, vulval and vaginal.
- Special Note: A nonbinary and transgender inclusive nurse line
- Location: Based in the UK
- Mission: The Together, Equitable, Accessible, Meaningful (TEAM) Cancer Care for Sexual and Gender Minority (SGM) Patients Training aims to support equitable, accessible and patient-centered cancer care for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) patients.
- Location: Based in the US
- Mission: We provide exceptional health services to those least served in a caring and non-judgmental environment.
- Location: Based in the US
Here are some general LGBTQ+ resources:
- Mission: To promote evidence-based care, education, research, public policy, and respect in transgender health.
- Mission: Trillium Health is a Community Health Center that provides extraordinary care for all, including LGBTQ+ health, ensuring equitable, judgment-free, and affordable care.
- Mission: Fenway Health advocates for and delivers innovative, equitable, accessible health care, supportive services, and transformative research and education. We center LGBTQIA+ people, BIPOC individuals, and other underserved communities to enable our local, national, and global neighbors to flourish.
- Mission: TransHealthCare is the largest and most comprehensive database of Gender Surgeons. Online since 2011, TransHealthCare has helped thousands of transgender and non-binary people from around the world find a surgeon.
- Mission: To coordinate sexual and gender minority (SGM)–related research and activities by working directly with the NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices.
Finally, here are some Gryt Health resources that might be of interest:
- Health Equity: Reinventing Treatment through the Lens of Gender
- The Power of Advocacy: Lessons Learned from HIV Advocates
- Gryt Health’s Monthly Meetups
- Gryt Health’s Calendar of Events
From Gryt Health to each of our community members, we wish you all a Happy Pride Month!
🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
We hear you, we see you and we support you – now and throughout the rest of the year!
