KB, is a non-binary queer activist, artist, musician, & writer. They were diagnosed with Stage Two, HER negative, triple estrogen positive breast cancer in April 2022 at the age of 31.

As a result of their experience KB formed Cancer Queers, a US resource beyond the gender binary for LGBTQ+ people. It’s a space to share art & stories to form a new kind of support network for the queer cancer community. They offer and encourage  art and poetry well as online resources (e.g. their Instagram account). They also hold in-person support groups in Portland, Oregon.

On the website KB talks about their struggle as a trans person with a gendered form of cancer, art as resistance, and the sacredness of being queer.

When I started my cancer treatment, one of the first things I did was Google “queer cancer.” I was looking for resources. And I also was just looking for people’s stories – people like me – who are queer and people who are trans who have gone through similar experiences. And I was left with very little. And it made me really, really sad. And it also made me really, really angry… I definitely was getting frustrated that there were less resources. By the time I was finishing my treatment and finishing my art project, I decided that it would be amazing to create a resource for queer and trans people. For us to be able to share our art and our stories. Because our stories are important. Our stories are sacred. And like my stories are important. And my story is sacred. Being able to connect with other queer people who have experienced cancer, it makes it feel like the experience is less isolating. And yeah, I’m hoping to provide some sort of solace to other people like me going through what I went through.

For more – you can also read KB’s interview with Pink Lemonade.