ENBY BC - 03 - Awareness
October is Breast Cancer awareness month
It’s a designated time globally where we discuss and fundraise for Breast Cancer. Did I care about this month before I had cancer? No, not really— it was Halloween month!
Halloween is queer Christmas, for me I love all the motifs as well as the opportunity to dress up. It’s a time of many drag shows as well. I’ve gotten complacent in my love for the month so the upheavel to Breast Cancer Awareness Month was more upsetting than I anticipated it’d be.
The gendered nature of Breast Cancer is already something I’m aware of. But the outpour of gendered messaging during Breast Cancer Awareness Month wasn’t something I was prepared for. Yes I am here, but I’m not a woman! I ran through this again and again as my friends all excitedly shared their plans for October. This paired with the fact that I am preparing and then healing from my double mastectomy all October contributed to my tearfulness the first couple days of October.
Pinkwashing
In my ongoing search for parallels in the queer and breast cancer experience I did find one (or more accurately, it appeared as Breast Cancer Awareness Month began). Pinkwashing.
Pinkwashing is the commercialization of an identity.
Queer Pinkwashing is when entities like banks, politicians, and corporations present themselves as queer allies through ad campaigns, rainbow merch, and a surface-level presence in the queer community — often during Pride Month. The end goal is profit and positive public perception rather than radical change, with many of these entities still oppressing, exploiting, or disregarding queer people otherwise. To illustrate this point here are a couple examples:
A bank that runs an ad campaign with queer representation. This bank is a massive billon-dollar enterprise that funnels much of it’s profits upwards while exploiting the poor and working class (queer people included).
A company selling rainbow merchandise. This company retains all profits and does not distibute them to the queer community.
A politician walking in a Pride Parade. This politician has stayed silent on queer issues, received funding from anti-queer donors, and/or created policy that has actively harmed queer people.
If you want to dive deeper into the definition and implication of queer pinkwashing inequality.org created this informative article.
Breast Cancer Pinkwashing is when commercial organizations utilizes the branded identity of Breast Cancer for profit. Even worse, these companies may manufacture branded items that are linked to causing Breast Cancer. Examples:
The Susan G. Komen Foundation ‘fundraising’ for breast cancer. This organization makes hundreds of millions in donations yearly, yet less than a quarter of this is dedicated to breast cancer. There are also many problematic things they do to protect their brand and promote their morals outlined in this article by the Appalacian.
A company producing branded items with processes that have been linked to causing breast cancer, or other cancers in general.
This term was coined by Breast Cancer Action - I’d recommend checking out what they have to say about pinkwashing and what they are currently doing about it.
WHAT I NEED RIGHT NOW
A note on talking about cancer with me: I've been feeling mentally and emotionally exhausted from both existing with cancer as well as having to talk to people about it. Something that would make things lighter for me is asking if I want to talk about my cancer before jumping into questions about it. Really, this is a great way to approach anyone experiencing grief, disability or illness — a conversation may be highlight in the day for you, but this is a 24-hour lifestyle for those experiencing it.
What I need right now, from most involved to least involved:
Prepare a meal for me. I’ve set up a MealTrain for this.
Donate to my gofundme
Check in on me and my partner, Bryce (if she knows you). Let us know you are thinking of us. Please be patient with my response time — I’m busy and overwhelmed often.
Send positive energy: cast a spell, send a prayer, perform a ritual. All good energy helps!
Have me and my partner in your thoughts
UPCOMING APPOINTMENTS
Genetic Testing - October 10th: Getting my genetic makeup checked out to inform my treatment
Bilateral mastectomy - October 17th: Full removal of my breasts as well as some lymph nodes
Pre-surgery - October 16th
UPCOMING Events
Tata to Tatas: A Cancer Fundraiser Drag Show - October 12th
Mike (Mx Jendr) is bidding tata to thier tatas in style, and in good company! We're sending off their boobs with one final celebration, with a stacked drag and burlesque lineup. All proceeds to Mike.
For my family - I prefer you do not attend this event, this is a space that I’d like to share with my community. I’d love to see you at the November 9th event <3
Face & Titties: A Fundraiser Drag Show - November 9th
A fundraiser for Mike and Bryce. More info TBD.
