Celebrating Pride through prevention and power

At Exact Sciences, we understand the challenges patients and communities face. That's why we support initiatives that help build stronger communities and improve health outcomes for all.  

Pride Month presents an opportunity to reflect on the health and well-being of the LGBTQ+ community. It highlights the importance of visibility, equality, and access to inclusive, high-quality health care for all. Preventative care, including colorectal cancer (CRC) screening, plays a vital role in supporting healthier futures and earlier detection. 

Cheeky Charity takes a fresh, fearless approach to CRC awareness. The nonprofit works to increase understanding and expand access to potentially life-changing screenings while actively breaking down stigma and encouraging more open, inclusive conversations around colon health. During Pride Month, their mission becomes even more important as they focus on reaching and supporting the LGBTQ+ community. 

“At Cheeky Charity, we use levity to let people’s guards down, spark conversation, and ultimately influence action,” shares founder and executive director David Russo. “Most folks aren’t jumping into a conversation with ‘Let’s talk about CRC,’ but they will lean in when they see a cheeky volunteer dancing around with a prosthetic buttock. We give people a better way to start the dialogue – that’s where awareness begins.” 

Cheeky Charity recently received an advocacy grant from Exact Sciences to launch the LGBTQ+ Cancer Community Needs Survey. The survey aims to understand better the unique health disparities faced by the LGBTQ+ community, particularly around CRC and anal cancer screenings.  

Key goals include identifying three significant barriers and three key motivators influencing screening behaviors and partnering with at least 10 Federally Qualified Healthcare Centers (FQHCs) and LGBTQ+ clinics to distribute the survey and promote participation. The inclusive survey will seek responses from rural residents, BIPOC communities, and those with limited access to care. 

According to Russo, “This survey is an opportunity to listen to LGBTQ+ voices and truly understand the barriers they face in accessing timely screening. These insights will help guide real solutions--from creating affirming care environments to targeted educational outreach--that meet people where they are.” 

Cheeky Charity meets these challenges with creativity and compassion. They make CRC awareness approachable and engaging using humor, inclusive messaging, and community-driven campaigns. Their work during Pride Month is especially important, reaching LGBTQ+ individuals at festivals, online, and through trusted community voices. 

Despite advances in health care, LGBTQ+ individuals are less likely to receive preventive care, including cancer screenings. Contributing factors include: 

• Medical mistrust rooted in historical discrimination and bias in health care settings¹ 
• A shortage of inclusive providers familiar with the specific needs of LGBTQ+ patients^2,3 
• Limited access to insurance or affirming care, particularly for transgender and nonbinary individuals⁴ 
• Social stigma that makes discussing sexual and colorectal health more difficult⁵

Together, these challenges lead to delayed diagnosis, poorer health outcomes, and missed opportunities for early detection. 

Cheeky Charity’s “cheeky” approach breaks down stigma and fosters honest conversations about screening. Whether hosting pop-up booths at Pride parades or sharing real stories from LGBTQ+ survivors, Cheeky Charity ensures everyone feels seen and supported. 

References

1. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2020). Understanding the well-being of LGBTQI+ populations. The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/25877 
2. Obedin-Maliver, J., Goldsmith, E. S., Stewart, L., White, W., Tran, E., Brenman, S., Wells, M., Fetterman, D. M., Garcia, G., & Lunn, M. R. (2011). Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender–related content in undergraduate medical education. JAMA, 306(9), 971–977. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2011.1255 
3. Lambda Legal. (2010). When health care isn’t caring: Lambda Legal’s survey on discrimination against LGBT people and people with HIV. https://www.lambdalegal.org/publications/when-health-care-isnt-caring 
4. James, S. E., Herman, J. L., Rankin, S., Keisling, M., Mottet, L., & Anafi, M. (2016). The report of the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey. National Center for Transgender Equality. https://transequality.org/sites/default/files/docs/usts/USTS-Full-Report-Dec17.pdf 
5. Durso, L. E., & Meyer, I. H. (2013). Patterns and predictors of disclosure of sexual orientation to healthcare providers among lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals. Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 10(1), 35–42. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-012-0105-2