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< Back to School Policy Hub Malcolm X Who was Malcolm X? Early Life Sexuality Civil Rights Movement Death and Legacy Who was Malcolm X? Malcolm X in 1964: (Image Source: Library of Congress) Malcolm X was an American Muslim minister who became popular during the civil rights movement in the 1960s for his “By all means necessary” approach to gaining freedom and justice for African Americans. After facing many hardships and spending years in prison, Malcolm X turned his life around upon converting to Islam and began advocating for black unity and the use of self-defense to achieve justice for African Americans once he regained his freedom. He founded the Organization of Afro-American Unity to further fight for his ideas that racism was the greatest enemy of African Americans. Early Life Malcolm X's 1944 mugshot. (Image Source: Wikimedia Commons) Malcolm X was born in 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska, an area with intense discrimination and violence against Black people during that time. He was no stranger to hardship, with his father being murdered in 1931 and his mother being institutionalized in 1939. After living with a white adoptive family and facing adversity at school due to his race, Malcolm moved in with his sister in Boston. There, he saw differing living conditions between middle-class and lower-class black people and worked as an intermediary for drugs, alcohol, and prostitution from age 16. Upon moving to New York later on, Malcolm started selling and doing drugs and betting, and was eventually arrested when he moved back to Boston. Malcolm’s life transformed in prison, starting with his conversion to Islam under the Nation of Islam, which he left a few years after joining. After being released on parole and meeting the Nation of Islam’s leader, Elijah Muhammad, he started his advocacy for black unity and militancy, for which he became famous. Sexuality Malcolm X didn’t outwardly identify as or come out as bisexual in his lifetime; the little known about his identity as a bisexual man is in his work servicing men and from third-person accounts. From age 20, Malcolm worked servicing rich white men for pay, which he is said to have bragged about and enjoyed to an extent. According to a past schoolmate, Malcolm used to experiment with other boys when he was young and boasted about these experiences, and also often spent nights with a “gay transvestite named Willie Mae.” Role in the Civil Rights Movement Malcolm X speaking to members of the African-American Students Foundation in 1959. (Image Source: Wikimedia Commons) As an important influence during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, Malcolm’s approaches to achieving justice for African Americans differed from the more common pacifist approaches proposed by others like Martin Luther King Jr. However, he fought for a common goal of ending racism and fighting for justice for African Americans. He further fought to make a difference by creating the Organization of Afro-American Unity, which called for a connection between African Americans and African heritage and promoted the self-determination of African Americans. His organization also focused greatly on education to counteract the still-present effects of slavery. Death and Legacy Malcolm X with Martin Luther King Jr. (Image Source: Marion S. Trikosko, United States Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs division) On February 21, 1965, Malcolm X was lecturing at Harlem’s Audubon Ballroom about his organization after weeks of attempts to end his life by whom he suspected were members of the Nation of Islam. While on stage, he was shot by three men whose identities have been controversial since the assassination. Although he was taken to the hospital, the dozen or so bullets caused his heart to fail several times until he was eventually declared dead. His legacy and admiration for him have grown since his assassination because of his passion for fighting oppression and willingness to fight for the freedom of African-Americans through any means necessary. Since his assassination and the release of his autobiography, he gained more respect than he had during his time alive, and his ideas are still relevant to this day. References Burnett, L. (2019, August 1). Organization of AFRO-AMERICAN unity (OAAU) 1965 . https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/organization-afro-american-unity-oaau-1965/. Malcolm X Assassinated . (2009, November 24). https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/malcolm-x-assassinated . Ott, T. (2021, January 13). The assassination of Malcolm X . https://www.biography.com/news/malcolm-x-assassination . Szymanski, M. (2015, March 1). Malcolm X's BISEXUALITY . https://bi.org/en/articles/malcolm-xs-bisexuality . Worland, J. (2015, February 20). Malcolm X assassination ANNIVERSARY: His legacy after 50 years . https://time.com/3715164/50-years-malcolm-x/ . X., M., Haley, A., Shabazz, A., Handler, M. S., & Davis, O. (2015). The Autobiography of Malcolm X . Ballantine Books.

< Back to School Policy Hub Herpes What is Herpes? How It's Spread Symptoms Getting Tested Testing Positive What is Herpes? Herpes is a virus that causes contagious sores, most often around the mouth or on the genitals. It is very common. When we say common, we mean REALLY common. There are about 572,000 cases of genital herpes every year in America. Genital herpes is so common in the US that more than 1 out 6 people are diagnosed with it between the ages of 14-49. Herpes does not have a cure. While herpes isn’t curable, your healthcare provider can give you medication to help shorten or even prevent outbreaks. One of these medications can even help you decrease the chances of spreading it to your partner. How It's Spread Genital Herpes Genital herpes can be spread through vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Unlike many common STIs, herpes can also be spread through the mouth and saliva. Luckily, herpes cannot survive on other surfaces, so you cannot contract herpes from touching an object that an infected individual has come in contact with. Oral Herpes Oral herpes is generally contracted during childhood or early adulthood from non-sexual contact with infected saliva. In rare cases, you can be born with herpes if your mother is infected. Symptoms Part of the reason herpes is so common is that there usually are no symptoms. Genital Herpes Those with genital herpes often experience very mild symptoms, if any at all. Sometimes you may not even notice these symptoms or mistake them for a skin condition. Since this happens frequently, a majority of people who have herpes don’t know. However, if you do have symptoms, these will include herpes sores around, or on, the mouth, rectum, or genitals. They can show up as a singular blister or multiple. When they break, they are extremely painful and leave sores. These can take up to a week or longer to heal. When experiencing your first outbreak, you can also have flu-like symptoms. For example, you may experience a fever, body aches, or swollen glands. People who experience an initial outbreak can probably expect to have more than one, especially when infected with HSV-2 (genital herpes). The repeat outbreaks are usually a lot shorter and less severe than the first one and sometimes might not show up as often, either. Oral Herpes Oral herpes also tends to have very mild symptoms and is often mistaken for something else (chapped lips, bug bites, or just a small crack in the skin) or not even noticed at all. The symptoms include sores in and on the mouth, the back of the throat, and the lymph nodes in the neck. Many people will experience prodromes, which are essentially warning symptoms prior to an outbreak. A prodrome is an itching, tingling, or painful sensation in the area the sores will appear. These prodromes appear a day or two before an outbreak. You should avoid close contact during this time and during the outbreak to prevent it from spreading. When and if you accidentally touch the fluid or sores, wash your hands immediately and thoroughly. If you touch your sores or the fluids from the sores, you can transfer herpes to other parts of your body. You can even spread it to your eyes. Getting Tested Testing for herpes is a little different from other viral STIs. Sometimes your healthcare provider will simply examine your symptoms and diagnose you with herpes. They also can take samples from the sore(s) and test them. However, in certain cases, you’ll undergo a blood test to look for herpes antibodies. A herpes blood test cannot tell you who you were infected by or how long ago you were infected. 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. 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 herpes, it does not necessarily mean anyone cheated. Test results may not detect the infection until well after contracting it, and herpes can be spread through non-sexual contact. How do I get rid of it? Unfortunately, herpes cannot be cured. However, you can be given anti-herpes medication to help suppress outbreaks. Some of these anti-herpes medications can even keep you from spreading to your sexual partner(s). If you are in a relationship with someone who has herpes, you can prevent yourself from getting it by making sure that they are taking their anti-herpes medication every day. You also need to avoid having any sexual contact with them while they are enduring an outbreak. For real, getting frisky can wait. Willingly risking your or your partner's sexual health isn't sexy. Peace of mind is sexy. References John Hopkins Medicine. (n.d.). Herpes: HSV-1 and HSV-2 . Retrieved from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/herpes-hsv1-and-hsv2 American Sexual Health Association. (n.d.). Oral Herpes . American Sexual Health Association. https://www.ashasexualhealth.org/oral-herpes/ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017, August 28). STD Facts - Genital Herpes . Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/std/herpes/stdfact-herpes.htm

< Return to STI Clinic Search CAN Community Health - Lake Worth Call: (561) 867-9991 Website: https://www.cancommunityhealth.org/lake-worth/ Have you been tested here? Fill out our STI Clinic Vetting Survey to tell us about your experience! 201 N Dixie Hwy, Lake Worth, FL 33460, USA Hours: Today (Fri): 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Sat: Closed Sun: Closed Mon: 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Tues: 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Wed: 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Thurs: 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 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 HIV (Lab): Free Chlamydia : Free Gonorrhea : Free Syphilis (Rapid): Free Hepatitis C (Lab): Free All treatment is $35

< Back to School Policy Hub What is Racism? What is Racism? Racism in America Against: Indigenous Tribes Asian Americans Black Americans Hispanic Americans Fighting Racism Racism can be defined in a variety of ways relating to both individual actions and societal institutions. Merriam-Webster defines racism as “a belief that race is a fundamental determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race, and the behaviors and attitudes that foster this belief.” However, these definitions refer to racism as a racial attitude. Racism can also be defined in a systemic sense. Two such examples are the excerpts following which define systemic racism as “the systemic oppression of a racial group to the social, economic, and political advantage of another” and “a political or social system founded on racism and designed to execute its principles.” As seen, the term racism does not simply fall under one definition or one circumstance. Instead, it is a multifaceted term to describe the vast experiences of minority groups facing inequality due to their racial identity. History of Racism in America Racism has been present in society from the start, and it is still deeply rooted in our society today. In 1607, white British colonizers came over to America, quickly dominated, and took over the land. From that moment, rhetoric claiming white individuals as the “superior” race spread and was used to tragically oppress others. Here are examples of the roots of racist attitudes towards minority groups, where they stem from, and how they became widespread: Indigenous Tribes The cultural genocide of indigenous tribes: Colonizers forced the children into schools where they learned about Christianity and European values. They were stripped of their tribal clothing and were only allowed to speak English. The education system greatly idolizes the relation between the Natives and Colonizers as one of friendship, however the Europeans took advantage of their power to suppress the indigenous tribes. Before the British colonized the Americas, Indigenous tribes lived peacefully on the land in harmony with their tribes and nature. Their sacred customs and beliefs were practiced and displayed. However, white colonizers saw strong Indigenous cultural identity as a threat to their own power and success and responded with violence. Colonizers stole their lands and forced Indigenous people into smaller and smaller reservation areas that were insufficient for survival and hindered the continuance of their tribal practices. Over time, they continued to whittle down the land belonging to Indigenous groups leaving them with even less land and resources. As Europeans continued to take over new land and gain power, they resorted to genocide to tragically kill an estimated 8 million Indigenous people. Many of these deaths occurred through the spread of European disease to which the Indigenous people had no immunity. Asian Americans Throughout the early 1940’s, 10 Japanese Internment Camps were opened. They were located in California, Arizona, Utah, Arkansas, Wyoming, and Colorado. Nearly 120,000 Japanese Americans, some being second or third generation, were gathered up and placed into these camps by the government as a means to prevent espionage during World War II. Throughout America’s history, Asian Americans have faced racism, especially in terms of immigration. In the 19th century, the United States promoted a “white-only” immigration policy. Asian Americans were seen as dirty and uncivilized to white Americans. Along with the promulgation of these xenophobic notions came the passing of the Chinese Exclusion Act, which prohibited the immigration of Chinese individuals. This was the first race-based act of immigration legislation to exist in the Americas. During World War II, those of Japanese descent faced mass incarceration into internment camps under Franklin Roosevelt's executive order due to unsupported suspicions of espionage for the enemy following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Racism against Asian Americans was once again highlighted in 2020 with the Covid-19 outbreak. Many faced discrimination and prejudice due to the virus having origins in China, despite the fact that AAPI individuals do not have any responsibility for the tragic illness. Black Americans In the Supreme Court case, Plessy v Ferguson, the Supreme Court determined that the practice of “separate but equal” was constitutional as segregation alone did not violate the constitution. However, later on, the case of Brown v Board of Education abolished this practice when the Supreme Court ruled that segregation in schools was unconstitutional. (Library of Congress) The history of racism towards Black individuals in America began in 1619 with the start of the slave trade. Nearly 7 million Africans were enslaved and sent to America. White colonizers took advantage of African Americans and used them as a source of free labor. They would work the slaves in horrible conditions and provide severe consequences if they stepped out of line. Like what was done to the Indigenous people, slave owners also stripped African slaves of their culture and heritage by prohibiting communication and the use of their native languages. They also kept them in captivity by prohibiting slaves from learning to read or write which made escaping nearly impossible. This serves as one of the first examples of systemic discrimination that kept oppressed groups in a subordinate position through unequal accessibility. Following the American Revolution, Black Americans still faced great discrimination and segregation as the White majority did not accept them as members of their society. Every resource, from schools to water fountains, was segregated, reinforcing the American idea that White Americans were superior to Black Americans. It was during this time the discriminatory dictum “separate but equal” was coined. Despite the inclusion of the word “equal”, resources Black individuals received were nowhere near equal to those of White individuals. For example, they received used schoolbooks and had no funding. Fast forward to present-day America and we still see racism against the Black population through police brutality and systemic oppression. Black individuals are nearly three times more likely to be killed by a police officer than white people. This is due to systematic prejudice within the police force, as well as society, that still views Black individuals as being inherently more violent without any evidence. Hispanic Americans Hispanic Americans, though not often at the forefront of conversations surrounding racism, still faced discrimination in the U.S. due to their roots. Anti-Hispanic attitudes began to take hold in the mid-to-late 1800s. Scholars often point the beginnings of these oppressive beliefs to the Mexican-American war that provided the U.S. 55% of the Mexican territory. This was a tumultuous time for many Mexican individuals whose identity was suddenly thrown into uncertainty as they were no longer considered citizens of Mexico and instead were citizens of the U.S. Pictured is Olvera street, a Mexican market popular during the early 1900s. This market served as the location for a raid in which around 400 people were arrested and deported to Mexico. (Wikimedia Commons) As time passed and political contention increased in Mexican politics, many Mexican citizens found themselves emigrating to the U.S., where attitudes regarded Mexican Americans as “lazy, stupid, and undeserving”. It’s because of these attitudes that many Americans began to have deep-rooted anti-Hispanic beliefs, and some even turned to mob violence. This outbreak of mob violence became widespread in the late 1800s and early 1900s targeting Mexican Americans from all gender and age groups. The great depression became a time of extreme anti-Hispanic beliefs. As unemployment rates increased, the belief that those of Hispanic backgrounds were “stealing jobs” became prominent. States began to pass immigration legislation targeting Hispanic individuals. One such example is Colorado, which forced anyone who spoke Spanish or even “looked” Hispanic to leave. Fighting Racism Fighting against racism is a difficult uphill battle as it is deeply rooted in our society. However, we have seen a general increase in tolerability and equality, especially with younger generations fighting for social change. Here are some important steps individuals can take to reshape how our society views other races: Education . Learning about other races and cultures and the history of their fight against racism can promote acceptance. Acceptance can also be promoted by studying and conversing about how discriminatory notions took hold and became widespread. Recognizing and accepting one's privilege and utilizing that privilege to promote the voices and ideas of oppressed populations. This doesn’t only apply to White people. Colorism is also a problem in race relations, and it’s imperative we come to understand our conceptions of skin tone and the effect they have on perceptions. Find your own implicit biases . While we may not initially realize some of the prejudices we hold, by acknowledging them rather than denying them, we can actively work to reduce them. Being antiracist through actions. Many of us are likely to come across racist statements at some point, and it’s important to not ignore these statements but to speak about them. Talk about the negative effects they have and how they proliferate into acts of extreme xenophobia. Racist statements are breeding grounds for extremism, so we must stop the problem at the root. Fighting against racism may be a new and uncomfortable topic that many are just now facing, but it is important to remember that some people have been directly facing the consequences of racism for centuries, and it will take not only personal but also great systemic changes in order to overcome racism in America. References Blakemore, E. (2017, September 27). The long history of anti‑Latino Discrimination in America . History. https://www.history.com/news/the-brutal-history-of-anti-latino-discrimination-in-america Christina Marie Noel. (2020, June 3). 4 Steps That I and Other White People Can Take to Fight Racism . Medium; B The Change. https://bthechange.com/4-steps-we-can-take-as-white-people-to-fight-racism-a582e826eb92 History.com Editors. (2018, November 16). Black History Milestones: Timeline . HISTORY; HISTORY. https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/black-history-milestones Merriam-Webster Dictionary . (2019). Merriam-Webster.com. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/racism PBS NewsHour. (2020, April 9). The long history of racism against Asian Americans in the U.S. PBS NewsHour. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/the-long-history-of-racism-against-asian-americans-in-the-u-s The Legacy of Injustices Against Native Americans - NETWORK Advocates . (2019, March 29). NETWORK Advocates. https://networkadvocates.org/recommittoracialjustice/legacy/

< Return to Open Positions Board Treasurer We recommend reading more about our task forces before starting your application. Please select the following option below: Board Treasurer 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 As a nonprofit organization, PRISM needs a Treasurer on our Board to manage the flow and distribution of funds for our charitable mission. In accordance with state law and IRS regulations, this is an unpaid position. What you get: An opportunity to make a difference in the LGBT community, improve your leadership skills, a chance to make an impact, a new experience to add to your resume. Hours: 10-15/month Responsibilities : Submit all expenditures of funds raised by the Board of Directors and by the staff of the agency. Present a complete and accurate report of the finances raised by this Board of Directors at each meeting of the members, or at any other time upon request to the Board of Directors. Assist in direct audits of the funds of the organization according to funding source guidelines and generally accepted accounting principles. In addition, the Treasurer serves as a voting member of our Board of Directors, which includes: Attending monthly board and executive committee meetings Developing the overall mission of the organization Maintaining the financial viability of the organization Ensuring the organization follows all applicable laws and regulations Creating and developing large-scale policies and budgets Overseeing the Executive Director and ensuring that they are carrying out the mission of the Board and the organization as a whole Required Qualifications: Accounting/monetary management experience Able to dedicate an average of 10-15 hours per month Preferred Qualifications: GAAP accounting experience Experience with accounting software (Quickbooks, etc) Understanding of parliamentary procedure Prior Board experience Nonprofit management experience Understanding of nonprofit law Experience in LGBTQ+ advocacy, public health, or youth services 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 Homosexuality in Ancient Europe "Homosexuality" as a Modern Term Ancient Greece Ancient Rome Introduction of Christianity Incomplete Picture of Ancient Sources “Homosexuality” as a Modern Term Map of Europe and Byzantine around 1000ACE (Image source: University of Texas Libraries: Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection) Both “homosexual” and “homosexuality” are modern terms that were created in the late nineteenth century concerning the study of abnormal psychology. The way we categorize sexualities and make distinctions now is different from ancient times. Some scholars would argue that since people in ancient Europe classified sexual behaviors or identities not by the gender of the participants but by the sexual role each played, the term “ homosexual ” doesn’t fit. However, it is the term that will be used here for simplicity and clarity. Just understand that what we usually associate with the term in modern-day doesn’t necessarily apply to ancient Europe. Homosexuality in Ancient Greece Homosexuality has existed throughout history, although differently than in the modern day. One of the most well-known examples of ancient homosexuality is in Ancient Greece. The most common and well-recorded form of homosexuality was the relationship between two upper-class males: one youth and one adult. This became an institutionalized practice in many regions of Ancient Greece called pederasty. When a boy reached the age of twelve or so, he became the erotic companion of a young man. For Spartans, this focused on the military training of the boys. For Athenians, the purpose was more for intellectual, character, and athletic training. There were also sexual aspects involved in this relationship. When the boys reached adulthood and became citizens, this relationship ended, and they took a boy of their own. When they finished training at around age thirty, the man would then marry a young woman, usually eighteen. At the time, marriage was less a romantic practice and more an institutional one. Greek Painting of a Gay Couple, 480BC (Image Source: Museum of Paestum) According to the practice, homosexual relations were supposed to end after marriage. However, this wasn’t always followed, and men often continued visiting male prostitutes and brothels or even taking a new “eromenos'' to train. Eromenos is the ancient Greek word for the young boy in this partnership. Homosexual relationships between two male citizen adults were discouraged and less recorded. This is because of social status and Greek ideals of beauty. The “passive” role in a relationship was only socially acceptable for the non-citizen: youth, slaves, and females. A similar pederasty system might have also existed for women, with the writing of Sapphos being the main source of recorded information of this. However, since mainstream society and culture placed men as most important, most of the surviving texts and arts are male-centric. Therefore, not much is known about ancient female homosexuality. Homosexuality in Ancient Rome Art of Ancient Roman martyr-saints and soldiers Maurice and Theofredus and their homosocial relationship. (Image Source: J. Paul Getty Museum) Homosexuality was different for Romans as there was no institutional practice. Like Sparta, Rome was highly militarized. At first, the concern of homosexual relations was only about status and power. Like the Greeks, homosexual relationships were only acceptable between men of different social statuses, so free men could only be with slaves, former slaves, prostitutes, or young men. However, the most common relationship was with slaves rather than with young boys. This “relationship” was often more about conquering and gaining power over a person than it was about mentorship and was often non-consensual. Introduction of Christianity to Ancient Rome The Christian takeover of the Roman Empire in the early 4th century criminalized and demonized all homosexuality. This began when the emperor Constantine used Christianity as his basis for ruling. The first enactment of the death penalty for sodomy was in 342 AD. After his death, the next emperor, Valentinian, divided Rome into East and West. In 476 AD, the West was overthrown and signaled the fall of Rome. However, Eastern Rome, or Byzantine, went on to survive for centuries after. In 533 AD, homosexuality became outlawed in Eastern Rome by the Justinian Code. The emperor, Justinian, then castrated those found guilty of homosexuality. The law was to punish those guilty by death, but that was rarely carried out. The Incomplete Picture of Ancient Sources What we know about ancient homosexuality in Europe is largely based on texts written by older, upper-class male perspectives. Therefore, we largely lack the voice of women, younger men, slaves, etc. It’s also important to remember that an ancient period text does not represent the entire period’s feelings of a given subject, but the feelings of one particular writer, shaped by things like their upbringing. We can see this in our modern-day too. So, overall what we do know about ancient European homosexuality is very broad and missing certain perspectives. People of all different sexualities and genders exist throughout all of history and in all places. References Dynes, W. R., & Donaldson, S. (1992). Homosexuality in the Ancient World . Garland. Karras, R. M. (2012). Sexuality in Medieval Europe: doing unto others . Routledge. Zive, G. A Brief History of Western Homosexuality. California State University, Stanislaus.

< Back to School Policy Hub School Board Advocacy School Board Advocacy: Why It Matters and How to Get Involved School boards have enormous influence over what happens in classrooms. From bathroom policies to club recognition, from curriculum rules to teacher training, these elected bodies decide what is allowed, what is encouraged, and what is erased. For LGBTQ+ students and families, this is where many of the most important fights are happening. While state laws set the framework, school boards often determine how those laws are interpreted and enforced. That means speaking up at a school board meeting can directly impact your school and your district. What School Boards Decide In Florida, each of the state’s 67 school districts has its own school board. These boards vote on official policies, approve instructional materials, decide whether to recognize student clubs, and adopt or repeal diversity protections. They are also responsible for enforcing state mandates like the Parental Rights in Education Act and HB 1521. But how they enforce those laws can vary. Some school boards move quickly to restrict LGBTQ+ expression. Others find ways to protect students while staying within legal limits. Broward County Public Schools is a clear example. In recent years, its board has passed public resolutions supporting LGBTQ+ History Month and affirming the existence of GSAs. These are not just symbolic. They create space for student-led visibility and signal that affirming practices are still possible. How to Speak at a Meeting Anyone can sign up to speak at a Florida school board meeting. You do not need to be 18 or have a parent’s permission. Here are the basics: Check the board website for meeting dates and speaker deadlines. Some require sign-up one or two days in advance. Look at the agenda to see if items related to LGBTQ+ rights, curriculum, or student groups are listed. Some items appear on the consent agenda, which can be passed without discussion unless someone pulls them. Prepare a short comment. Most districts allow one to three minutes. Focus on what the policy means for you or someone you care about. Be specific. Ask the board to vote yes or no on a particular item, or to make a clear change to an existing rule or practice. If you are nervous, bring a friend or speak as a group. You can also submit written comment by email if you cannot attend in person. What You Can Expect Sometimes board members will thank you. Sometimes they will ignore you. Sometimes you will be speaking in a room where people are hostile to LGBTQ+ rights. That does not mean you are doing it wrong. It means your voice is needed. Even if the policy passes, your words become part of the public record. They shape future conversations. They give others the courage to speak next time. Change is often slow. But when students and families show up consistently, it makes a difference. Why Local Action Still Matters In recent years, LGBTQ+ advocates have stopped book bans, protected GSAs, and slowed the repeal of equity policies—all by organizing around school boards. These are winnable fights. But they take coordination, courage, and presence. PRISM is here to help. We offer reminders, speaker training, talking points, and on-the-ground support for school board advocacy across Florida. Whether you are giving your first public comment or leading your entire GSA, we want to work with you. Your story can change the conversation. Your voice can shape policy. And your presence can shift power.

< 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

< 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.

< Back to School Policy Hub AIDS Crisis Initial Outbreak Transmission Health Repercussions Public Reaction Current Overview Initial Outbreak In May 1990, ACT-UP mounted a protest at NIH to bring awareness to the public the biomedical research in combating HIV-AIDS. (Source: Flickr, Public Domain) In June of 1981, the CDC began reporting on unusual cases of pneumonia and cancer in gay men in Los Angeles. The first known display of AIDS was on June 5th, 1981, when the CDC published an article discussing a rare lung infection that was found in 5 young gay men who were previously healthy. Over the next few days, there was an influx of opportunistic illnesses with no obvious origins. By the end of the year, 337 cases had been reported of the mysterious immune deficiency behind these infections, with upwards of 90% of infections found in males whose sexual identity was gay. 130, or around 40%, of patients, were dead by December 31st. This disorder, which would later be named AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), is caused by HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). Transmission The virus can be transmitted or "caught" by anyone regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic, but it is most common among gay men. HIV, the precursor to AIDS, is transmitted through blood, vaginal fluid, semen, or breast milk. Check out our comprehensive article on HIV/AIDS, which includes treatment and prevention. Due to a lack of sexual education and resources for the LGBTQ+ community at the time, many men did not use condoms or take precautionary steps, such as getting tested, before engaging in sex, which allowed the virus to spread rapidly through the community without any resistance. Because of this and its prominent effect on the LBGTQ+ community (and the generally homophobic atmosphere of the early 1980s), the public was reluctant to endorse funding and research for the epidemic, coining the term "gay cancer" within a month of the first reported case. HIV would go on to infect 8-10 million people over the next decade. Health Repercussions AIDS activists from the Gay Men's Health Crisis carry a "Stop Hate. Stop AIDS" banner (Source: Wikimedia Commons) At the start of the AIDS crisis, there were no treatments or medications available to help individuals once they contracted HIV. Left untreated, the virus would often develop into AIDS once the number of CD4 cells reached a minimum threshold, which resulted in a severe weakening of one's immune system. Because of this, many infected parties caught other opportunistic illnesses, leading them to lethal infections of pneumonia, tuberculosis, hepatitis, and many more. With AIDS, their immune system was unable to fight off these infections, ultimately leading to death for many. Public Reaction Gay men were the main driving force responding to the AIDS epidemic and working for change and answers to the novel virus. The rest of the public had virtually no response as their communities weren't being as greatly affected, and the views towards the gay community were very controversial. Michael Callen and Richard Berkowitz were two gay men who advocated for sexual education during the epidemic. They published a piece of work explaining the importance of gay men using condoms during sex to prevent the spread of HIV. At the time, people still believed that HIV was restricted to white gay men. However, this was not the case, as the virus could infect anybody. Therefore, activists began emphasizing condom use for people of color and lesbians during their later campaigns. While local communities took initiative against the virus, the federal government was not as active. At the beginning of the crisis, they provided very little funding for research about the virus or preventative measures for affected communities. Activists protesting the alleged slow pace of federal research against AIDS spent the morning of May 21 marching on the NIH campus. Eighty-two demonstrators were arrested, including 21 who broke into the office of Dr. Daniel Hoth, director of NIAID's Division of AIDS. (Source: Flickr, Public Domain) Additionally, many people felt as though the government took too broad of a stance on fighting the virus, focusing their campaigns on "all" for every member of the public rather than honing in on the communities that were being disproportionately affected. The lack of response gave the virus ample time to spread at an unprecedented pace and affect thousands of people, mostly gay men. Current Overview To date, 770,000 people have died from AIDS since 1981. In 2019, 38 million people were living with HIV worldwide—there were 1.2 million in the US alone. However, the flood of support for the LGBTQ+ community within the past two decades has allowed for major developments in HIV/AIDS research. Today, people with HIV can live long, healthy lives if they seek treatment and will likely never develop AIDS. References Content Source: HIV.govDate last updated: May 01, 2019. (2021, April 8). Other health issues of special concern for people living with HIV . HIV.gov. https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/staying-in-hiv-care/other-related-health-issues/other-health-issues-of-special-concern-for-people-living-with-hiv . Fayyad, A. (2019, July 22). The LGBTQ Health Clinic that faced a dark truth about the AIDS crisis . The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2019/07/us-aids-policy-lingering-epidemic/594445/ . Magazine, S. (2013, December 4). The confusing and at-times counterproductive 1980s response to the AIDS epidemic . Smithsonian.com. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-confusing-and-at-times-counterproductive-1980s-response-to-the-aids-epidemic-180948611/ . A timeline of HIV and AIDS . HIV.gov. (2021, September 7). https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/overview/history/hiv-and-aids-timeline .

< Back to School Policy Hub Black Lives Matter What is Black Lives Matter? Black Lives Matter march in Oakland, California in 2014 (Image Source: Annette Bernhardt, December 14th, 2014) Black Lives Matter is a movement as well as an organization with the goal of fighting against white supremacy and injustices against Black communities. The movement has also strongly supported the LGBTQ+ community, with transgender and queer members having leadership roles in the organization and leaders speaking out against sidelining Black LGBTQ+ activists. Although it had its origins in the United States, the Black Lives Matter movement has remained influential internationally, having 16 chapters in total in the United States and Canada and inspiring protests for Black lives in countries as far as Israel and South Africa. Origins Black Lives Matter rally at the Vancouver Art Gallery after the death of George Floyd (Image Source: GoToVan, May 31st, 2020) Black Lives Matter began in 2013 as a hashtag on social media protesting the acquittal of George Zimmerman, murderer of unarmed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. It was started by Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi, three Black women who wanted to fight against the injustice Black people face in the United States’s criminal justice system. The creation of the Black Lives Matter movement was also inspired by several human rights movements in the past, ranging from the 1960s Civil Rights Movement to the 2000s LGBTQ+ movement. Progression Although it did not gain much traction immediately after its creation, Black Lives Matter started taking off in August 2014 after news of the homicide of 18-year-old Michael Brown by a white police officer spread globally on social media. In protests and rallies speaking out against this injustice, the Black Lives Matter movement grew online and in the streets, with “#BlackLivesMatter” being used over 50 thousand times per day on social media. The movement gained even more traction after the jury involved in the case decided not to charge Darren Wilson, the police officer in question, with Michael Brown’s homicide. Since then, the movement has been vocal about police brutality and discrimination against Black communities on a grander scale. Resurgence Black Lives Matter signs on the empty pedestal of the statue of Edward Colston in Bristol, which was toppled by protesters for honoring a slave trader (Image Source: Caitlin Hobbs, June 7th, 2020) The Black Lives Matter movement had a resurgence on May 25, 2020, when unarmed George Floyd was murdered at the hands of Derek Chauvin, a white police officer who used a violent method of restriction to hold Floyd down after allegations emerged of him using a counterfeit $20 bill. A video of this event went viral on social media, and people all over the world became enraged and took to social media and the streets to protest against police brutality and emphasize that “Black Lives Matter.” Ever since then, the Black Lives Matter movement has been increasingly active in the form of protests against more instances of police brutality and injustice, both recent and not recent, including the deaths of Breonna Taylor, Elijah McClain, and Rayshard Brooks. References About . Black Lives Matter. (2020, October 16). https://blacklivesmatter.com/about/ . Asmelash, L. (2020, July 26). How Black Lives Matter went from a hashtag to a global rallying cry . CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/26/us/black-lives-matter-explainer-trnd/index.html . Ater, R. (2020, May 29). IN MEMORIAM: I CAN'T BREATHE . Renée Ater. https://www.reneeater.com/on-monuments-blog/tag/list+of+unarmed+black+people+killed+by+police . Herstory . Black Lives Matter. (2019, September 7). https://blacklivesmatter.com/herstory/ . Kirby, J. (2020, June 12). "Black Lives Matter" has become a global rallying cry against racism and police brutality . Vox. https://www.vox.com/2020/6/12/21285244/black-lives-matter-global-protests-george-floyd-uk-belgium . Mercado, I. (2020, August 6). The Black Lives Matter Movement: An Origin Story . Underground Railroad Education Center. https://undergroundrailroadhistory.org/the-black-lives-matter-movement-an-origin-story/ .

< Back Maxx Fenning Executive Director Maxx recently earned his degree in Business Administration from the University of Florida. A staunch advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and sexual health education, Maxx is the Executive Director of PRISM. He is also an active creator on TikTok, where he educates on many of the same topics that PRISM addresses. In his free time, Maxx enjoys singing and graphic design. < Back to Our Team