Sanford E. Gaylord is a professional actor and writer based in Chicago, Illinois. He is a co-founding member of A Real Read performance ensemble and has contributed both on stage and behind the scenes for most of ensemble's local and national tours. Sanford has directed several HIV education performances in the Chicago area including the Chicago Public School System and the Chicago Department of Public Health's World AIDS Day Ceremony. He is a contributing writer for Windy City Media Group's Blacklines and Windy City Times periodicals and has been awarded the Chicago Association of Black Journalists ' 1998 Award of Excellence in Commentary. Sanford is also the recipient of the Greater Chicago Committee's 1999 Black Kettle Award for Arts and Journalism. His commentary has appeared in Buti Voxx, Malebox, and Positively Aware. Sanford is featured in The Faces of AIDS, a photo essay exhibit that is currently touring the US. He was featured in the documentary Living with Pride: Ruth Ellis @ 100 and in the made-for-television pilot, Kevin's Room. In 2002 he starred in the Jeff-nominated (Best New Work) Being Beautiful and was the recipient of Derrick Henderson Award for Outstanding Community Service presented by Windy City Black LGBT Pride. Sanford received his BA degree from Columbia College in Chicago, Illinois.