Sanford Gaylord was diagnosed with HIV 36 years ago. He’s all too familiar with watching his chosen family “wither away.” But thanks to antiretroviral therapy, he’s lived to tell their stories.
An acclaimed actor, writer, and longtime LGBTQ+- and HIV/AIDS- activist, Gaylord co-founded A Real Read, an African American LGBTQ+ performance ensemble inducted into the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame in 2007, and has worked in theater, film and journalism to amplify queer voices of color. His decades of advocacy include directing HIV education projects, serving on national research groups and leading prevention programs for at-risk communities. Gaylord was inducted into the Hall of Fame as an individual in 2012.
He has recently been raising awareness about a health crisis that, like HIV in the ‘80s, too often goes undiscussed: anal and colorectal cancer.
“There’s so much stigma when we talk about the butt,” Gaylord said, mentioning that he doesn’t think health professionals want to talk about it either.
The call to action is close to home. In 2016, he lost his chosen brother, Juan Solomon to anal cancer at just 36 years old. Solomon, battled with the disease alongside HIV before dying—with Gaylord as his caregiver for a year.
Two years after Solomon’s death, the FDA approved Gardisil, the vaccine that protects against several strains of HPV, a major cause of anal and colorectal cancers—for his age group.
Imagine there being a vaccine available instead of seeing someone die in a painful way, he said.
Gaylord is turning his grief into action, working with Cheeky Charity, a group working to empower LGBTQ+ individuals facing colorectal and anal cancers.
“The best thing to do anytime that you want to make a change is to collect data,” said David Russo, the executive director of Cheeky Charity and the principal investigator behind two surveys focused on cancer care for the LGBTQ+ community.
Russo and Gaylord are urging community members to take part in the surveys, focusing on gathering data about the experiences of cancer screenings and being treated for cancer as LGBTQ+ members.
Russo had his own health scare when he discovered he had precancerous polyps, only after advocating for himself in a dismissive healthcare environment.
“Data is what’s really going to empower people to stand up and to have something to back,” he said, mentioning that it can show what areas of healthcare need better support, specifically when thinking about the LGBTQ+ community.
A study published Aug. 4 in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that colorectal cancer screenings remain low—with just 20% of adults aged 45 and older getting screened. The research also found that colorectal cancer rates have been rising among people under 50 since the mid-‘90s.
Certain groups are more at risk for these cancers—colorectal cancer being the third leading for men—according to a 2025 report from the American Cancer Society. Behavioral factors like smoking can also increase the likelihood of these cancers.
For Gaylord, the work is also a tribute to Solomon—and to Lady Ally Alexis Solomon-Gaylord, the beloved dog they adopted together, who passed away recently.
“Ally is now back in her daddy’s arms,” he said.
Gaylord hopes that speaking out can honor his loved one because even if it was too late for Juan, he can still save others.
“It’s a part of who I am at this point,” he said. “To try to make it better for those generations that follow me.”
Resources
2SLGBTQ+ Cancer Screening Survey:
https://cheekycharity.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6DsrllGO2MuRpKS
2SLGBTQ+ Cancer Care Experience Survey:
https://cheekycharity.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b7w6iB7hv6rIKoK
Cheeky Charity website page with the Surveys and Community Partners: