< Back to School Policy Hub Sappho of Lesbos Sappho's Life Poetry Loss of Sappho's Work Sappho in Queer Culture Painting of Sappho by John William Godward (Public Domain) For over 2,000 years, Sappho’s life and work have been the subject of great controversy. Although Sappho was a famous lyrical poet in her lifetime and beyond, very little of her work has survived, and the poems that do survive mostly exist in fragments. Many accounts of her personal life were written long after her death, and much of her life remains a mystery. This has left many scholars to speculate about the meaning of her work and her sexuality. Sappho’s Life The Island of Lesbos, the largest of those in red, off the coast of Turkey (Souce: Wikimedia Commons) Sappho was born around 620 BCE on the Greek island of Lesbos, which is located in the Aegean Sea, near the coast of modern-day Turkey. The modern word "lesbian” is a reference to Sappho’s birthplace. While little is known about her personal life, it is believed that Sappho lived in a community of women on Lesbos, where she formed deep emotional bonds and wrote poems exploring love, desire, and the complexities of human relationships. Sappho’s family and her lineage remain a mystery. In 2012, one of her poems, now called the “Brothers Poem,” was discovered on scraps of papyrus. The poem names three of her brothers, and she is thought to have had a daughter named Cleis, but translators disagree about her exact relation to Cleis. The year and circumstances of Sappho’s death are unknown, but according to legend, she was so heartbroken by her love for a man that she leaped from a cliff. This legend is regarded by some scholars as an attempt to portray Sappho as a straight woman. Poetry “Sappho Kissing her Lyre” (Source: Jules-Élie Delaunay) Sappho is best known for her poems, often referred to as "lyrics" because they were written to be sung accompanied by a lyre. Her words are passionate, emotional, and filled with vivid descriptions of love and longing. Her work primarily focused on the relationships between women, depicting their beauty and allure. Sappho's poems were often written in the first person, which has led readers to speculate that some of her works might have been autobiographical. Many scholars have debated the translations of Sappho’s works, in part because she wrote her poems in a specific dialect. Take this passage, for instance: “Sweet mother, I cannot weave – slender Aphrodite has overcome me with longing for a girl.” Some scholars interpret this fragment as a confirmation that Sappho was writing about a relationship between two women, or perhaps her own feelings for a woman. Other interpretations insist that the original text uses a genderless word to refer to the narrator’s “beloved.” Loss of Sappho’s Work In the centuries after Sappho lived, she was regarded as one of the greatest writers of antiquity. She became the only woman to be enshrined as a lyric genius by the scholars at the ancient Library of Alexandria. Tragically, most of Sappho's poetry has been lost to time. Due to various factors, including the passage of time and the suppression of LGBTQ+ themes and feminine eroticism in later eras, many of her poems have disappeared. What remains today are fragments, small snippets of her once-prolific output. Despite the fragments, Sappho's words remain potent and evocative, and her influence endures. Want to read Sappho's works? You can find collections of her writing online at the Poetry Foundation . Sappho in Queer Culture Sappho's legacy in queer culture is profound. Her work has been rediscovered and celebrated by LGBTQ+ individuals and scholars alike. Her name, which has come to symbolize love between women, is not only synonymous with lesbian identity but has become an emblem of love, acceptance, and self-discovery. Sappho and Erinna in a Garden at Mytilene (Source: Simeon Solomon, 1864) Although it will never be clear whether Sappho’s sexual identity would fit under the modern umbrella of Sapphic attraction, her poems have served as a source of inspiration and empowerment for generations of queer individuals. They have helped foster a sense of belonging and self-acceptance, reminding those who identify as LGBTQ+ that love is universal and transcends time and societal norms. References The Digital sappho. The Digital Sappho. (n.d.). https://digitalsappho.org/fragments/fr102 Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (n.d.). Sappho. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sappho-Greek-poet Mendelsohn, D. (2015, March 9). How gay was Sappho?. The New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/03/16/girl-interrupted Poetry Foundation. (n.d.). Sappho. Poetry Foundation. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/sappho

< Return to Open Positions Event Photographer We recommend reading more about our task forces before starting your application. Please select the following option below: Event Photographer Position Title Please select the requested option Want to apply for a different position? Click here to browse what's available. Have a question about open positions? Contact us at: careers@prismfl.org Photographers work on both static shoots and at events to capture the finest moments within our organization. Candidates local to Broward, Miami-Dade, or Palm Beach are strongly preferred. Pay : PRISM pays a specified amount for each gig, which may vary from project to project. Responsibilities : Photograph events, meetings, staff, and products Adhere to all privacy policies and consent requirements Communicate with Visual Designers and other Content Creation Task Force staff and volunteers to consistently meet deadlines Qualifications : Experience with photography and be able to provide a portfolio of prior work. Experience with Photoshop and/or Lightroom is preferred Access to professional-grade gear is preferred. However, PRISM can provide gear to those who need it. PRISM is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We will consider applicants for this position without regard to race, color, religion, creed, ethnicity, national origin, sex, age, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, HIV and/or STI status, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status or condition protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Women, people of color, LGBTQ+ people, young people, and members of other historically disenfranchised populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Next

< Back to School Policy Hub Bayard Rustin Who was Bayard Rustin? Early Life Advisor to Dr. King Struggles with Sexuality Death and Legacy Who was Bayard Rustin? Bayard Rustin played a pivotal advising role in the Civil Rights Movement (Image Source: Library of Congress) Bayard Rustin was an American civil rights activist who fought alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. throughout the mid-1960s. Rustin committed himself to a life of non-violence and projected these values when fighting for rights. Bayard Rustin organized and initiated the Freedom Rides and the March on Washington, where he stood beside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as he gave his influential "I Have a Dream" speech. Rustin fought for the rights of others while battling discrimination of his own as he was a Black gay male. Early Life Bayard Rustin was raised into a non-violent lifestyle (Image Source: Library of Congress) Bayard Rustin was born in Pennsylvania in 1912 and raised by his two grandparents alongside his 11 other siblings. Rustin’s grandmother was a part of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), exposing Rustin to many prominent Black leaders at the time, such as W.E.B Dubois. Rustin’s grandparents raised the children in a Quaker household, which influenced his nonviolent ways into adulthood. Rustin attended the City College of New York, where he was involved in many racial justice organizations, such as the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE). It was during his time at this college that he was chosen as a youth organizer for the March on Washington. Advisor to Dr. King Civil rights organizer Bayard Rustin, left, with Martin Luther King Jr. Rustin was arrested on a “morals charge” in Pasadena in 1953.(Images: Courtesy of the estate of Bayard Rustin/Monroe Frederick) Rustin first started his relationship with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Having formed a mutual respect, Rustin began teaching Dr. King his nonviolent ways. He used his knowledge from studying the Gandhian lifestyle to educate Dr. King on the value of nonviolent approaches and tactics. Bayard played a large role in bringing Black leaders from the South together to become a united group through the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLS), and he was also instrumental in drafting “Stride Toward Freedom,” the name of Dr.King's memoir. Struggles with Sexuality In 1953, when homosexuality was still rampantly criminalized throughout the United States, Bayard Rustin was arrested for committing a homosexual act. His sexuality was outed to the public as a crime, leading some of his fellow Civil Rights leaders to criticize his identity. Since Bayard's sexuality was now public knowledge, many individuals and politicians who opposed Rustin used this as a point of attack to demean his character. For this reason, Rustin often avoided public speaking or being the face of movements, instead taking an advising role to avoid such attacks. Death and Legacy Bayard Rustin, deputy director, and Cleveland Robinson, chairman of Administrative Committee, March on Washington. (Image Source: World Telegram & Sun photo. Prints and Photographs Division/Orlando Fernandez) One late night in 1987, Bayard Rustin was admitted to the hospital. He was diagnosed with peritonitis and a perforated appendix, which was giving him severe abdominal pain. He underwent surgery, but due to his history of heart issues, he went into cardiac arrest on the operating table and died shortly after. Bayard's legacy lived on by his survivors as a man who spent his life fighting for civil rights and advising many prominent leaders. It was after his death that he was given the name “Mr. March on Washington” by fellow Civil Rights leader A. Philip Randolph. References Bayard Rustin: A Gay Man in the Civil Rights Movement. (2021, February 5). Black History Month 2021. https://www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk/article/section/bhm-heroes/bayard-rustin-gay-man-in-the-civil-rights-movement/#:~:text=In%20the%20pacifist%20Fellowship%20of,racial%20segregation%20on%20interstate%20busing Bayard Rustin Is Dead at 75; Pacifist and a Rights Activist (Published 1987). (2021). The New York Times . https://www.nytimes.com/1987/08/25/obituaries/bayard-rustin-is-dead-at-75-pacifist-and-a-rights-activist.html Rustin, Bayard . (2017, May 31). The Martin Luther King, Jr., Research and Education Institute. https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/encyclopedia/rustin-bayard

< Back to School Policy Hub Slavery In The Americas Canada United States Mexico Cuba Haiti Brazil Peru Slavery is the act of forcing another person to do labor without pay, and often with horrific treatment. In the Americas, slavery and indentured servitude was used as early as the 16th century when slaves were brought to the Americas, primarily from Africa. White indentured servants were eventually freed after they paid their debt with the labor that they did. However, African slaves were treated very differently. North America Canada Two slave women doing labor under the eye of an overseer. This exact image is said to have “taken place” at the end of the 18th century. (Image Source: Canadian Museum Of History) The first major settlement in what is now known as Canada was the colony of New France. The New France colony was founded in 1534, and slavery was a common practice there. In 1834, Canada was conquered by the British Empire. In the same year, the British Empire abolished slavery in all of its territories. Historian Marcel Trudel reported that there were about 4,200 slaves in Canada between 1671 and 1834. Two-thirds of slaves were native persons and one-third of slaves were black. Six out of the 16 members of the first Parliament of the Upper Canada Legislative Assembly owned slaves or had family members who owned slaves. In 1793, Upper Canada (Ontario) passed the Anti-Slavery Act, which forbade slavery for persons over the age of 25 and made it illegal to bring enslaved persons into the country. From about the 1850s through the 1860s, Canada became a refuge for slaves fleeing from the horrors of their predicament in the southern United States. 30,000 slaves fled to Canada from the United States. However, potentially more than 100,000 black persons escaped to Canada via the Underground Railroad. The United States Of America This chart displays the slavery percentage within each of the 13 colonies. (Image Source: Wikimedia) The arrival of the first captives to become slaves in the Jamestown colony happened in 1619. Eventually, the British expanded into what was known as the 13 colonies. Every single one of the 13 colonies had slavery to a certain percent. After the 13 colonies rebelled from British rule and formed The United States Of America, there was still slavery. The USA’s original constitution (still to this day, without considering amendments) states that black persons count as 3/5ths of a white person in census counts and cannot vote or hold a political office. As the US continued to expand, the southern states became known as slave states, and the northern states became known as free states. In free states, no one could be held as a slave and had to be given some form of compensation for labor. In slave states, no compensation was needed and slavery was in full effect. Sadly, if a slave escaped from slave to free states, they could still be returned to slavery. For decades, as new states started to form, a question was asked: Would this territory be a slave or free state? The issue became so big that it sparked the American Civil War. After the election of President Abraham Lincoln, 11 southern slave states seceded from the United States and formed The Confederate States of America. The remaining states, which consisted of the 20 northern free states and 5 border slave states, formed the Union Army under President Lincoln. On January 1st of 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed slaves in the Confederacy. However, it did not free slaves in the border states or in parts of the Confederacy that had already been returned to Northern control. It also was contingent on the Union winning the war. Slavery was officially abolished in the US when the 13th amendment was issued in 1865. Mexico Native Americans in Mexico being captured and trying to flee from Spanish Conquistadors in 1595. The Spanish colonists were led by Francisco de Montejo. (Image Source: Brown University) In 1524, the Aztec Empire had already been enslaved and became the lowest class of peoples within Mexico. At this time, Mexico was a colony under the Spanish Empire. Mexico also captured many prisoners of war and made them slaves. Slaves were actually given some form of compensation. The new Viceroy set some standards of treatment for slaves. No slave could be forced to carry a load of more than 100 pounds. Government officials and priests were tasked with distributing wages to slaves to make sure they received compensation. In 1811, the Spanish Empire abolished slavery, including in all of its colonies. The Caribbean Cuba An illegal slave auction occurring in Havana, Cuba in 1837. An auctioneer is pictured letting a potential buyer take measurements of the slaves. (Image Source: Listen2Read) Even though the Spanish empire abolished slavery in all of its colonies, one of its colonies rejected the ban on slavery and continued to practice it: Cuba. The ban of slavery within the Spanish empire took place in 1811, but slavery in Cuba did not end until 1886. In Cuba, the native Taíno and Guanahatabey peoples of the island were enslaved on a very large scale. Cuba’s original native population was eventually completely destroyed due to lethal forced labor. One million African slaves were brought to Cuba. As many slaves died out due to the hard strain of labor, 100,000 Chinese indentured workers were brought in as well. In 1886, when slavery in Cuba ended, these former slaves were still treated horribly, and the improvement of their treatment did not occur until the 20th century. Haiti Slaves in Haiti being depicted harvesting and growing sugarcane. The sugarcane industry was enormous in Haiti especially with the usage of slave labor. (Image Source: LANIC) When Haiti was originally colonized in 1492, so did slavery begin within the country. The indigenous population of Haiti was dying due to abuse from slavery and disease from the Europeans, so African slaves were brought in. By 1517, the first 15,000 African slaves were imported. Slavery was very bad everywhere, but especially within Haiti. It was so bad that enslaved persons formed a revolt in 1791. The Haitian Revolution ended in 1804 and it was and still is the only successful slave revolt in human history. This led to the establishment of an independent republic. This revolution was so horrifying that it ended slavery in Saint-Domingue and in all French colonies. While slavery “officially” ended in Haiti in 1804, slavery within Haiti still exists today. According to the 2018 Global Slavery Index, Haiti still has an estimated population of 59,000 enslaved persons. South America Brazil A slave in 19th century Brazil being punished by a white overseer. This piece was made by Jean-Baptise Debret. (Art Source: Jean Baptise Debret) Slavery in Brazil under the rule of the Portuguese empire was ruthless. Starting in 1530, over 4,000,000 African slaves were sent to Brazil during the entire slave period of the nation. This was larger than any other location within the Americas or the Caribbean. Afro-Brazilians were treated horribly. Slavery in Brazil ended in 1888 when Princess Isabel of Bragança signed Imperial Law 3,353. However, the official ending of slavery did little to change the lives of former slaves. Brazil was the last country in the New World to abolish slavery. Due to “whitening”, a process to breed out the darker skin tones of Afro-Brazilians, racism was an enormous problem. The lighter skin tone you were, the easier it was for you to succeed in society. This racism was a problem within Brazilian society for a long time. Peru An image of Chinese laborers/slaves in Peru picking cotton on a field. Using Chinese slaves and/or indentured servants was a common practice alongside using African ones. (Image Source: Brown University) Peru and many other South American and Caribbean countries would enslave whomever they could. Slaves of all varieties formed the heart of Peru’s plantation labor force. The slave trade was ordered to be stopped in Peru in 1821 by José de San Martin. San Martin is referred to as the “liberator” of Peru as he went against the wishes of local plantation owners to order the stopping of the slave trade. However, slavery itself did not end in Peru until 1854. Overall Slavery has been a problem for a very long time. Sadly, slavery is still a problem that exists today within countries like Haiti in The Caribbean and Mauritania in Africa. However, the fight to end modern-day slavery still exists today. Remember that slavery can also involve various amount of other topics such as human trafficking, child labor, etc... Organizations such as Anti-Slavery International, Abolish Human Trafficking, and more are all continuously fighting to end slavery and deserve your recognition. The enslavement of other peoples is not right and needs to end.

< Back to School Policy Hub PRISM Condemns MDCPS Decision on LGBTQ+ History Month On Wednesday, September 7th, the Miami-Dade County School Board voted 8-1 against recognizing LGBTQ+ History Month, which honors the profound impacts, struggles, and contributions of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community. As a youth-led LGBTQ+ organization, PRISM is rooted in the power and impact that LGBT-inclusive education– or lack thereof– has had on our lives. We condemn the board for giving credence to the notion that US Supreme Court cases Obergefell v. Hodges and Bostock v. Clayton County, the law of the land, are too controversial or inconsequential to deserve recognition in our schools. For queer youth like us, these foundational moments in our nation's history were life-altering. LGBT history is American history because LGBT Americans are Americans. We also condemn the board for offering pleasantries and warmth to the people who wish to do us harm, who called us sinners, groomers, and terrible people because of our fight for LGBTQ+ students to feel supported and seen. This decision showed what we knew from the start: HB1557, commonly known as the "Don't Say LGBTQ" law, was specifically engineered by anti-LGBT politicians to make local school districts do the work on their behalf for fear of prosecution or forceful removal from their positions as rightfully elected leaders by Governor Ron DeSantis. It intimidates school board members into applying the law's vague wording to the fullest extent possible and erasing LGBTQ+ people from the classroom. Now, PRISM turns to what we do best: ensuring that LGBTQ+ youth feel seen, heard, and represented in their curriculum, both in and outside the classroom. We promise that LGBTQ+ History Month will be in full force in Miami-Dade schools, board vote or not. In solidarity, PRISM FL, Inc

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< Back to School Policy Hub The School To Prison Pipeline What is the School To Prison Pipeline? Historical Context The Devastating Results Case Studies Criminology Impact on Students Abuse of Power Labor Exploitation Conclusion What is the School To Prison Pipeline? The School To Prison Pipeline. It’s a charming little name hiding a deep, dark secret. Racial justice and the myriad of issues surrounding our understanding and conception of race in this country have been at the forefront of our news cycles for years now. The roots of what would eventually become known as the School To Prison Pipeline were planted in the 1970s. Image Source: Unsplash Historical Context Few students (less than four percent in 1973) were sent to out-of-school home suspension, though increasing awareness or fear of crime and violence in schools was growing. This tension applied pressure to state politicians and school districts to adopt policies that necessitated the suspension of students who had a perceived violation of proper conduct. In 1994, the Gun-Free Schools Act was passed, thus striking into law a year-long suspension out of school for any student who was caught bearing a weapon in school. It was called ‘zero-tolerance.’ The Devastating Results Zero-tolerance policies directly resulted in not only a doubling of suspensions since the 1970s, but even downright expulsion. Proponents of these policies may argue this is a good thing—we have to protect our children, right? Critics would say back, however, that these policies are broad, subject to interpretation, and disproportionately affect Black, low-income, and other minority students. Case Studies In Maryland, 2013: A seven-year-old boy was suspended after he chewed a PopTart pastry into a gun shape and aimed the pastry at a friend, apparently endangering his life by way of sugar paste. In 2014, an Ohio boy in the fifth grade was suspended after he pushed his fingers together in the shape of a gun and pretended to shoot one of his classmates. Criminology Part of the problem lies in a classic criminological theory known as ‘the broken windows theory.’ The basic idea is as follows. Neighborhoods with broken windows, loitering, prostitution, etc., are neighborhoods that are uncared for and in a state of decay. Small crimes, such as sex work, smoking marijuana, or other minor offenses, should be the focus of police work, which, in theory, will prevent larger crimes. It was meant to empower local communities, allow the public to take back their spaces, and have police officers prevent major crimes by cracking down on smaller ones. Unfortunately, theory is only ever as good as results. Impact on Students Image Source: Unsplash Though the ‘Broken Windows’ theory was designed to be applied on a larger scale to neighborhoods and communities, its basic principles were being utilized in an already strained and racially separated system: public school. Racial disparities in things like access to education, access to services, and even quality of education had been evident for all to see for decades by this time, but now the problem was compounded. Zero-tolerance policies in schools and suspensions from education disproportionately targeted lower-class and minority school systems. Child ‘offenders’ are routinely taken out of classes for minor infractions or disorderly conduct and transported by police to detention facilities. Lining the hallways of schools and even stationed in classrooms, police officers with guns on their hips observe children wearing Mario-themed backpacks or with Hello Kitty notebooks tucked under their arms as they walk by. Rather than serving as protection, these officers are here to ensure order is maintained and damned be the consequences for the children they are ostensibly there to protect. Abuse of Power In Louisiana, according to Learning for Justice, a complaint was filed with the United States Department of Justice, noting, “school officials have given armed police ‘unfettered authority to stop, frisk, detain, question, search and arrest schoolchildren on and off school grounds.’” In treating children like criminals regardless of whether they have committed an offense or not, we teach them that they are only as good as the system that tells them so. When we push children out of school for minor infractions- some as innocent as forgetting pencils- they end up in the prison system years later as actual criminals. Labor Exploitation This is profitable for states, as the private prison system has boomed in recent decades, making a tidy profit off the labor of incarcerated individuals. Not all of these hardened criminals are adults, either. A healthy number of these so-called ‘crooks’ are children. As Tracie R. Porter from the Arkansas Law Review points out, “‘...The industry of kids-for-cash became so pervasive that [d]etention center workers were told in advance how many juveniles to expect at the end of each day—even before hearings to determine their innocence or guilt.’ Children appeared before the judges following minor crimes such as mocking an assistant principal on a social media page...and stealing DVDs from Wal-Mart.” The need for cheap labor and shrinking government budgets in the face of recessions, pandemics, or even shifts in public attitude means that individuals in prison systems are being used, essentially, as slave labor for as long as their term limits apply. Students being expelled or downright arrested in school equals free labor. Once they are released from whatever minor offense they caused, it is more likely that they will re-offend and end up back in prison than not. Conclusion The Bureau of Justice’s sobering statistics states that two-thirds of released prisoners are arrested again within three years. Data from 2015, according to the Sentencing Project, shows that black students are five times more likely than white students to be incarcerated. With the ever-present tension of racism in our nation, the way we dehumanize black bodies, the way we heavily police neighborhoods and school systems with black students, is it any wonder the outcome for these kids is less than stellar? We are funneling children into a get-rich-quick scheme and pretending that it is somehow in their best interest. Broken windows may be one thing, but we are breaking people.

< Back to School Policy Hub Sex Toys 101 Introduction to Sex Toys Modern Sexy Toys Materials Safety and Hygiene Conclusion Did you know that vibrators were very popular in the early 1900s? The individual credited for the invention of vibrators, Mortimer Granville, believed that our body’s nervous system had certain levels of vibration that caused illness when thrown off balance. He claimed that the electromechanical devices he invented would help restore the balance. Vintage Ad Promoting the Electric Massager (Image Source: Wikimedia Commons) The device was not advertised explicitly for sexual pleasure but as an electrotherapeutic device. Companies marketed the device as a cure for ailments such as obesity, floating kidneys, and even spinal curvature. These claims were merely pseudoscience at best and bad marketing at worst. The rest of the medical community soon realized that Granville’s claims were wildly exaggerated, so the device was rebranded as a consumer appliance. The vibrator grew in popularity as companies continued to push its use for health reasons, using subtle imagery hinting at the vibrator being used for a more personal matter. The vibrator was marketed towards upper-class men and women who had spare capital and access to electricity. It wasn’t until much later on that feminists rebranded the vibrator as a sex toy. Fun fact: The electromechanical device was nicknamed “Granville’s Hammer.” Let’s Talk About Modern Sex Toys Since the sexual liberation movement of the 1960s and 1970s, the conversation around sexuality, interpersonal relationships, and self-pleasure has improved. However, there is still stigma around the topic. Sex toys come in all different shapes, sizes, and utilities. Some are more geared toward self-gratification while others can be used to enhance the experience of partnered sex. But, before you open up the private tab on your phone, there are some things you should know about sex toys. Materials The sex toy industry goes largely unregulated in the United States—the materials that most common sex toys are made from have been linked to various illnesses, including cancer. You should be aware of what comes into contact with your body. So, let's talk about what materials to look out for when shopping for sex toys. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is one of the most common sex toy materials. Most toys labeled “jelly” or “jelly rubber” are likely PVC, but without any federal regulation, there is no guarantee. PVC is known to break down over time and leach phthalates, a chemical known to disrupt your endocrine system and damage reproductive organs. Silicone is a material seen often in food and medical settings. There are different grades of silicone, but not all are body-safe. Medical-grade silicone is used for implants and contacts, so it is one of the safest materials used for sex toys. Silicone is also more expensive, so most low-cost sex toys use other materials. Here are some tips for spotting real silicone: Real silicone is cloudy—never see-through. It has no smell. Medical-grade silicone is non-porous, making it easier to clean and less likely to harbor harmful bacteria. Other materials like stainless steel, borosilicate glass, and polished natural stone are body-safe and non-porous. But, always research the material if you have any reservations or are unsure what the toy is made of. Safety and Hygiene Just like sex with your partner, preparation and cleanliness are very important when it comes to having a safe and enjoyable experience. Condoms are a great way to be safe when it comes to using sex toys. STIs can be transmitted between people if they share toys, so condoms can prevent the spread of infections. Click here to learn more about condoms and other barrier methods. Lube helps make the experience more comfortable. Keep in mind that like with condoms, not all lubes are compatible with all sex toys. For example, silicone-based lube is not recommended with silicone toys as it can cause the toy to break down. There are a few types of lube: silicone-based, oil-based, water-based, and some hybrid ones. They each have their own pros and cons to fit your preference. When using condoms, you should only use silicone or water-based lube. When it comes to sanitation, most toys come with their own cleaning instructions. There are also cleaners created specifically for cleaning toys. Warm soap and water will do the job for most sex toys, but always refer to the toy’s care instructions. Conclusion While sex toys can enhance the sexual experience, they can also be quite problematic when improperly cleaned, used, or stored. Be sure to read the storage and cleaning instructions. When purchasing sex toys, search reputable sites to ensure quality and safety. Many credible sites offer options that are body-safe (although they are more expensive). There are also reputable sites that cater to queer individuals—just double-check the reviews and credibility. There should be no shame around the topic of safe sex—safety should be the top priority. Remember to discuss boundaries with your partners when it comes to sex toys, and always establish informed consent. And don’t forget to have fun! References Adams, K. (2020, June 8). Vibrators had a long history as medical quackery before feminists rebranded them as sex toys. The Conversation. Retrieved April 24, 2022, from https://theconversation.com/vibrators-had-a-long-history-as-medical-quackery-before-feminists-rebranded-them-as-sex-toys-132577 Lieberman, H. (2016, March 16). Selling Sex Toys: Marketing and the Meaning of Vibrators in Early Twentieth-Century America. Cambridge University Press. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/enterprise-and-society/article/selling-sex-toys-marketing-and-the-meaning-of-vibrators-in-early-twentiethcentury-america/22E463A1B220B723BEFE776F605DB64B Mortimer, G. J. (1883). Nerve-vibration and excitation as agents in the treatment of functional disorder and organic disease. London,Churchill. https://archive.org/details/nervevibrationex00gran/page/n9/mode/2up Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) | Uses, Benefits, and Safety Facts. (n.d.). Chemical Safety Facts. Retrieved April 24, 2022, from https://www.chemicalsafetyfacts.org/polyvinyl-chloride/ White, H. (n.d.). It's time to talk about toxic chemicals in sexual health products. Made Safe. Retrieved April 24, 2022, from https://www.madesafe.org/whats-in-that/sexual-health-products/ File:White Cross Electric Vibrator ad NYT 1913.jpg. (n.d.). Wikimedia Commons. Retrieved April 24, 2022, from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:White_Cross_Electric_Vibrator_ad_NYT_1913.jpg

< Back to School Policy Hub Gonorrhea What is Gonorrhea? How It's Spread Symptoms Getting Tested Testing Positive What is Gonorrhea? Gonorrhea, sometimes called "the clap" or "the drip," is an easily curable bacterial infection. It is one of the most common STIs. When we say common, we mean REALLY common. About 1.6 MILLION people contract gonorrhea every year in America (mostly between 15 and 24 years old), making it one of the most commonly reported STIs in the US. Gonorrhea is easily treatable. Gonorrhea can be treated with antibiotics. The sooner you find out you have it, the easier it is to cure. How It's Spread Gonorrhea can be spread even if no one ejaculates. Gonorrhea is carried in semen, pre-cum, and vaginal fluids. It can infect the penis, vagina, cervix, anus, urethra, and throat. Generally, this happens through vaginal sex or anal sex. In rare cases, gonorrhea can be spread through oral sex, too. Symptoms Part of the reason gonorrhea is so common is that there usually are no symptoms . However, some signs can show up: unusual vaginal discharge yellow, white, or green discharge from the penis bleeding outside of periods pain or burning while peeing swollen or tender testicles Symptoms are more likely to show up in people with penises, and they usually are present within a week. Getting Tested Testing for gonorrhea is generally simple and painless. Often, this just means peeing in a cup. In the case of other infected areas, your doctor may take samples from your throat, vagina, cervix, urethra, or anus with a cotton swab to test for bacteria. Because symptoms for chlamydia and gonorrhea are similar, you'll often be tested for both at the same time. It's important to get tested regularly. If you're sexually active, this means at least once per year. Even if you or your partner don't show symptoms, you should follow this general rule of thumb. Seriously. If left untreated for too long, gonorrhea can cause infertility and increase your risk of getting HIV. If you're pregnant, you could also pass it to your baby or have a premature delivery. So, do you and your partner a HUGE favor and put your minds at ease. Click here to find a local testing center. Testing Positive So, your results came back positive. The first thing to remember is that this is nothing to be ashamed of. Like we said earlier, this is a very, very common infection. If you or your partner have gonorrhea, it does not necessarily mean anyone cheated. Test results may not detect the infection until well after contracting it. How do I get rid of it? Luckily, gonorrhea is easily treatable with antibiotics. There are different forms of antibiotics that are used to treat gonorrhea, so make sure to follow the instructions from your doctor. Sometimes it’s just a pill. However, some strains of gonorrhea are resistant to antibiotics, so you may receive a shot in addition to oral antibiotics. Often, your doctor may give you medicine for both you and your partner(s). It is important that BOTH of you finish your treatment and don't have sex for at least 7 days. For real, getting frisky can wait. If you don't take your antibiotics all the way through, you run the risk of re-infecting your partner or other people. Willingly risking your or your partner's sexual health isn't sexy. Peace of mind is sexy. Always make sure to listen to your doctor to effectively get rid of gonorrhea. References What is Chlamydia?: Causes of Chlamydia Infection . Planned Parenthood. (n.d.). https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/stds-hiv-safer-sex/chlamydia . Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, July 22). Detailed STD Facts - Gonorrhea . Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/std/gonorrhea/stdfact-gonorrhea-detailed.htm . Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance 2019 . U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.cdc.gov/std/statistics/2019/overview.htm#Gonorrhea

< Return to STI Clinic Search AHF Wellness Center - Biscayne Call: (786) 522-2503 Website: https://www.freestdcheck.org/locations/fl-biscayne/ Have you been tested here? Fill out our STI Clinic Vetting Survey to tell us about your experience! 2400 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, FL, USA Hours: Today (Fri): 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Sat: 10:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Sun: Closed Mon: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Tues: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Wed: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Thurs: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. CLOSED NOW Free Testing Walk-Ins Accepted Free Condoms PrEP On-Site PrEP Referral Parking type: Street Free Parking Tests Offered:

< Return to STI Clinic Search FoundCare - Boynton Beach Call: (561) 274-6400 Website: https://foundcare.org/who-we-are/locations.html#collection-item-lightbox-14892273 Have you been tested here? Fill out our STI Clinic Vetting Survey to tell us about your experience! 1901 S Congress Ave Suite 100, Boynton Beach, FL 33426, USA Hours: Today (Fri): Closed All Day Sat: Closed Sun: Closed Mon: Closed Tues: 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Wed: Closed Thurs: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. CLOSED NOW Free Testing Walk-Ins Accepted Free Condoms PrEP On-Site PrEP Referral Parking type: Lot Free Parking Tests Offered: HIV (Rapid) : Free Hepatitis C (Lab) : Free

< Back to School Policy Hub Title IX and LGBTQ+ Protections Title IX Still Protects LGBTQ+ Students, Even in Florida Title IX is one of the strongest tools students have when it comes to fighting discrimination in schools. This federal law, first passed in 1972, prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school or educational program that receives federal funding. For a long time, many LGBTQ+ students didn’t know whether that protection applied to them. Today, the legal landscape surrounding these protections remains a complex and evolving one, with the most recent development involving a federal court ruling vacating the broader protections for LGBTQ+ students that had been established by the Biden administration. In 2021, the U.S. Department of Education confirmed that Title IX covers discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, based on the legal logic of the Supreme Court's Bostock v. Clayton County ruling, which found that Title VII protections in employment applied to LGBTQ+ individuals. This interpretation was further solidified in the 2024 Title IX Regulations. However, in January 2025, a federal court ruled to vacate these 2024 regulations nationwide, effectively reinstating the 2020 Title IX rules, according to Jackson Lewis . This means that the protections for LGBTQ+ students, while still rooted in the legal principle established in Bostock v. Clayton County , are currently interpreted under the more narrow 2020 regulations. What the Law Says While the U.S. Department of Education's 2021 directive and 2024 regulations affirmed the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity within Title IX's protections, the recent federal court ruling vacating the 2024 regulations means that, as of January 2025, the 2020 Title IX regulations are now controlling nationwide. This signifies a narrowing of the scope of these protections compared to the 2024 regulations. Specifically, the 2020 regulations do not explicitly include sexual orientation or gender identity within the definition of sex discrimination under Title IX. However, the Bostock v. Clayton County ruling (Title VII context) still provides a legal basis for challenging discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity as a form of sex discrimination, and advocates continue to work towards full recognition of these protections under Title IX, according to Jackson Lewis . This means that while the specific requirements for schools to address discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity may be less explicit under the 2020 regulations, the underlying legal principle of protecting LGBTQ+ individuals from sex-based discrimination remains. Failure to address discrimination can still potentially lead to federal investigation or civil rights complaints. Florida’s Pushback Florida has continued to implement state-level rules that challenge the federal interpretation of Title IX and create challenges for LGBTQ+ students. In 2022, the Florida Department of Education, under the Parental Rights in Education Act (HB 1557), directed schools to restrict instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity. This was further expanded in 2023 to ban instruction on these topics in all grades K-12. In 2023, Florida also enacted laws that restrict bathroom access for transgender individuals in public schools, prohibit the use of preferred pronouns in schools, and limit discussions of gender identity and sexual orientation in public workplaces and educational settings. These actions have created significant confusion and, in some cases, outright opposition to federal guidance aiming to protect LGBTQ+ students, according to Central Florida Public Media . While a 2024 settlement clarified some aspects of the Parental Rights in Education Act, allowing for discussions and references to LGBTQ+ topics outside of direct instruction, the broader restrictions remain in place. The ongoing legal battles and state-level resistance underscore the continued struggle for LGBTQ+ students in Florida to fully realize the protections intended by Title IX. What You Can Do Know your rights. LGBTQ+ students are protected under Title IX. If you are denied access to a restroom, harassed based on your identity, or punished for expressing yourself, you have legal grounds to act. Report violations. Start with your school or district Title IX Coordinator. Every school is required to have one. Ask for their contact information and file a written complaint. Contact OCR. If the school fails to act, you can file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights within 180 days of the incident. You do not need a lawyer to do this. Bring a trusted adult. Students have the right to support during meetings. You can ask a parent, teacher, or advocate to attend with you. Keep records. Save emails, forms, or any responses you receive. This documentation can help if you need to escalate your complaint. Why This Matters Title IX is more than a policy. It is a promise that students cannot be denied access to education because of who they are. And while Florida’s political environment may try to blur that promise, federal law is still in effect. Students, teachers, and parents should not have to guess whether their school will follow the law. PRISM is here to provide the guidance and support you need to hold schools accountable and to make sure LGBTQ+ students are not left behind in legal gray areas. Your rights are real. Your identity matters. And Title IX still has your back.