27 FEBRUARY 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMMUNITY FRONTS NEW CAMPAIGN TO RAISE AWARENESS OF
BREAST CANCER RISK AND SCREENING OPTIONS AMONG LGBTQ PEOPLE
A bold new breast cancer awareness campaign targeting LGBTQ people has been released today by ACON.
Our United Front aims to raise awareness of breast cancer and increase breast screening rates among LGBTQ people in NSW. Featuring many sporting and social groups within LGBTQ communities in NSW, the campaign adopts an inclusive approach to ensure people of diverse sexualities and gender identities are aware of breast cancer risks and recommended breast screening options.
ACON Deputy CEO Karen Price said the campaign responds to the ongoing need to address breast cancer risk and increase screening rates among LGBTQ people.
"Many LGBTQ people will either have personal experience of breast cancer or know someone who has been impacted by it. Our United Front aims to bring our diverse communities together, raise awareness around the risks of breast cancer, encourage conversations with each other and inspire people to take action," Ms Price said.
The campaign, which builds on ACON's 2016 breast cancer awareness initiative Talk Touch Test, has been funded by a grant through Cancer Institute NSW.
In developing Our United Front ACON has engaged over 100 LGBTQ community members to be involved across the campaign's creation – from the branding, creative design, voiceover, soundtrack, graphic design, campaign execution, as well as being the feature of the campaign.
"The campaign is authentic and represents a diverse range of LGBTQ people," Price said. "Our United Front is unique in its inclusive messaging and visibility of LGBTQ community members, including trans and gender diverse people. The campaign features cis women, trans women, non-binary and trans masculine members of our community. The sound track is a collaboration between Gabrielle Journey Jones and her drumming group, as well as well-known community DJ's Sveta and Estèe Louder (the production duo Laplustre).
"Our passionate and committed social, sporting and community groups are also featured in the campaign, including the Flying Bats Football Club, Sydney Women's Baseball League, Dykes on Bikes Sydney, Bentstix Hockey Club, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir, the Sydney Frontrunners and others. They are the stars of this campaign and our hope is that all community groups will engage with the campaign messages and help spread the word.
"Our United Front celebrates the many diverse LGBTQ community groups in Sydney that provide safe and inclusive spaces for people in our communities to come together and support each other. We thank them all for getting behind this important campaign."
Price added "Our United Front is part of broader engagement work that sees ACON promoting breast screening among LGBTQ people in rural and regional NSW".
"Since 2016, we have held ten community events across NSW, raising awareness about breast cancer and at half of these events, we have had the BreastScreen NSW van conduct screening services."
Our United Front features a video and social media messages that are available on line, with outdoor posters and billboards to appear around the Inner West and at key transport hubs such as Sydenham, Newtown and Marrickville.
"ACON is grateful to the NSW Cancer Institute for the funding of this work, as well as BreastScreen NSW and Local Health Districts that help our communities access this life-saving health service. Of course, we are also deeply grateful to the community members and groups for joining the campaign," Price said.
"Our United Front aims to celebrate the diversity of our communities, and encourages everyone to unite in the fight against breast cancer by having conversations, encouraging each other to improve our understanding of breast cancer risks, and
