< Back to School Policy Hub Homosexuality In Ancient China Introduction China is one of the oldest countries in the world, with a history spanning more than 5,000 years. So why is it that you don’t hear much about homosexuality and queer relationships in China? Part of that has to do with the culture of ancient China and Western influences that erased the history of gay people. Similar to the rest of the world, gay people have always existed—the difference is how societies dealt with their queer history. So let’s talk about the queer history of ancient China! Records of Homosexuality "Woman Spying on Male Lovers" (Image Source: Chinese Sexual Culture Museum) Similar to homosexuality in ancient Greece, same-sex rituals and activities occurred in China between men of different socioeconomic classes. It was not looked at the same way our modern world perceives sexuality. It was part of the culture but not widely discussed. One Western chronicler, Galeote Pereira, recorded instances of prostitution in Beijing where young men were bought and taught the art of dance, music, and other skills related to being a host, similar to geishas in Japan. Due to China being very patriarchal, records were essentially all written by men for men, so records of same-sex relationships between women were scarce, if not non-existent. Factors of Same-Sex Relationships When it came to the power balance of same-sex relationships between men, the hierarchy was dictated by three different factors: gender, age, and status. Women were already seen as socially inferior to men at this time, so when relationships occurred between two men, other factors such as age and status determined the roles in both a sexual encounter and social encounter. It was not always a romantic relationship—there were instances of political marriage. What is a "Cut Sleeve?" An illustration of Dong Xian and Emperor Ai depicting the story of Passion of the cut sleeve (Image Source: Wikimedia Commons) The term “cut-sleeve,” or duàn xiù, was coined by historians based on the story of the late Emperor Ai of the Han Dynasty. The story goes that Emperor Ai had a lover named Don Xian. One afternoon, in order to not disturb the sleeping lover on his arm, Emperor Ai cut off the sleeve from his robe. Thereafter the term “cut-sleeve” was used by historians as a euphemism for men loving men. The term 斷袖之癖 (duàn xiù zhī pǐ) translates to “the passion of the cut sleeve.” Being Gay in Modern China Despite the somewhat cute story behind the term “cut-sleeve,” having one of the largest dating apps geared towards gay and bisexual men, and claiming to support same-sex rights at the UN, China is still a difficult place to live for LGBTQ individuals. While there are organizations and cities known to be LGBTQ-friendly, there is still a stigma around the topic of queer people in China. Even with the younger generation being more accepting, advocates in China still face obstacles from the government and older generations, so the fight for the queer community in China is still ongoing. But, one last reminder for everyone: there have been and always will be queer people in China, changing the world one separated sleeve at a time. References Daily JSTOR. (2020, June 10). In Han Dynasty China, Bisexuality Was the Norm . Deck, A., & Yang, W. (2021, August 27). To survive, China's biggest gay dating app became a pharmacy. Rest of World . https://restofworld.org/2021/china-bluecity-healthcare-dating-apps/ Hinsch, B. (1990). Passions of the Cut Sleeve: The Male Homosexual Tradition in China . University of California Press. https://www.amazon.com/Passions-Cut-Sleeve-Bret-Hinsch/dp/0520078691

< Return to Open Positions Survey Program Manager We recommend reading more about our task forces before starting your application. Please select the following option below: Survey Program Manager 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 PRISM relies on the dedicated contributions of volunteers to further its initiatives. The Survey Program Manager oversees the Surveying Department within our Research Task Force. Currently, this is an unpaid volunteer position. What you get : An opportunity to make a difference in the LGBT community, improve your leadership skills, a chance to make an impact, and a new experience to add to your resume. Responsibilities : Coordinate and develop community needs assessments and other surveying programs Oversee data analysis and reporting of survey data collected by PRISM Coordinate the content, formal review, distribution, promotion, analysis, and reporting of all surveying within PRISM Manage and expand the Survey Participant listserv Qualifications : Institutional review board (IRB) training (preferred) Experience conducting surveying and studies involving human beings Experience with data analysis/statistical reporting Exposure to LGBT issues, sexual health/public health, or gender and sexuality 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

< Return to Open Positions Fundraising Director We recommend reading more about our task forces before starting your application. Please select the following option below: Fundraising Director 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 PRISM requires a constant influx of funding to carry out our mission. The Fundraising Director oversees our Fundraising Task Force. Currently, this is an unpaid volunteer position. What you get : An opportunity to make a difference in the LGBT community, improve your leadership skills, a chance to make an impact, and a new experience to add to your resume. Responsibilities : Develop and plan fundraising initiatives (securing venues, coordinating outreach and promotion, organizing volunteers and tasks, etc.) Coordinate grant writing and applications Manage donor relationships and documentation Secure special gifts and endowments Coordinate community service and attendance logs with other Task Force Directors and Volunteer Managers Qualifications : Experience coordinating fundraising events Experience managing record-keeping for donations, special gifts, and endowments Experience writing grant proposals and proven success in securing grant funding Experience with GAAP accounting preferred 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 Employment Discrimination What is Employment Discrimination? Timeline (1953-2021) Legacy What is Employment Discrimination? According to the National LGBTQ Workers Center, “ 4.5% of the population identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender” meaning that this legislation has the possibility of affecting nearly 14,769,000 people nationwide. (Image Source: Drew Angerer / Getty Images) The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission states that employment discrimination involves unequal treatment, harassment, denial of a reasonable workplace change, improper questions regarding disclosure, or retaliation on the basis of “race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, disability, age (age 40 or older), or genetic information.” While it may seem like a victory that should’ve been granted years ago, it was just as recently as June 2020 that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the 1964 Civil Rights Act protects employees who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community from discrimination based on sex. The 6-3 ruling was an enormous victory for the LGBTQ community, especially in light of the presidential administration, led by President Donald Trump, siding with employers who were said to be discriminating against employees due to their identity. This win comes after a long and hard battle of employment discrimination that has affected the LGBTQ+ community for years. Historically, homosexuality, along with other sexual and gender identities, has been used as justification for firing individuals and discriminating against them in the hiring process by giving the job to another candidate instead, despite other qualifications. The list of instances where individuals were discriminated against in the workforce solely due to their LGBTQ+ identity is a long and tiring one involving a plethora of court cases and governmental acts. The LGBTQ+ community has continuously fought for years for protection in the workplace, and even in light of recent victories, the fight is far from over. Timeline April 1953 : President Dwight D. Eisenhower passed an executive order stating that gay people were banned from holding federal positions. Under this order, homosexuality was placed under the category of sexual perversion. Eisenhower’s executive order was in place for nearly 20 years. July 1975 : A bill was introduced by the federal government that would prohibit any form of discrimination based on sexual orientation. This was the first bill of its kind introduced. Unfortunately, it was never considered by the judiciary committee. However, homosexual workers were no longer instantly declined from federal positions. Don't Ask, Don't Tell was repealed in 2011 under President Barack Obama (Image Source: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) February 1994 : Clinton passed the DADT (Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell) Act, which allowed gay men and women to remain in the military as long as they kept their sexuality hidden. Despite its intentions to protect, tens of thousands lost their positions. September 2011: President Barack Obama took action to repeal DADT (Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell). While its repeal was beneficial, close to 12,000 individuals who were in the military were discharged after they decided not to suppress and hide their sexuality. March 2020 : The White House staff passed a policy prohibiting transgender individuals from serving in the U.S. Military. Their argument on the permissibility of this policy was that the treatments transgender individuals receive, such as hormone therapy, may hinder their ability to serve and impact their readiness and ability to complete their duties. June 2020: The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the 1964 Civil Rights Act protects employees who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community from discrimination based on sex. The ruling won with a 6-3 majority to protect LGBTQ+ individuals in the workplace. The ruling of Bostock v Clayton County was, therefore, a huge win as the LGBTQ+ community’s employment rights are now included in the protections of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which also protects people based on race, color, religion, sex, and ethnicity. Gerald Bostock (Source: AFP via Getty Images) Bostock was a gay man working in Clayton County. He received great reviews and evaluations as a child welfare service coordinator. After years of working for the company, Bostock became involved in a gay softball league that was looked down upon by his employees. While in a meeting, a colleague of his mentioned sexuality in front of the supervisor of the company. Shortly after, Bostock received word from the county that he had been fired for “conduct unbecoming of its employees.” Bostock filed a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Committee (EEOC), claiming that he faced discrimination from the county based on his sexual orientation. After appealing through multiple courts, his case was finally heard by the Supreme Court, which ruled in Bostock's favor. January 2021 : On the 21st of January, President Biden passed an executive order titled “Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation.” This executive order prohibits employers from discriminating against current or potential employees based on sexual or gender identity. The president explains that children should have access to bathrooms and sports regardless of identity, and adults should feel confident that they will not lose their job due to prejudice. The foundation of this orde r is based on the Constitution and backed by Bostock vs Clayton, in which “the Supreme Court held that Title VII’s prohibition on discrimination “because of . . . sex” covers discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation.” This order strengthened protections for the LGBTQ+ community in the workplace and other environments. President Biden signing executive order to strengthen protections for LGBTQ+ employees against work place discrimination. (Image Source: The Washington Post) Only a few days later, on January 25, 2021, President Biden signed an executive order ( Enabling All Qualified Americans to Serve Their Country in Uniform ), which reversed Trump’s order banning transgender individuals from serving in the military. President Biden writes, “It is my conviction as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces that gender identity should not be a bar to military service,” and emphasizes that transgender individuals hold no negative impact on the effectiveness of the U.S. armed forces. Legacy While the Supreme Court convenes inside to discuss if sexuality and gender identity are protected from employment discrimination, a rally forms outside. (Image Source: Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc / Getty Images) While this timeline comes nowhere near to documenting the vast number of individuals who have experienced employment discrimination, it highlights some major instances and decisions. Not long ago, employment discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity was prohibited and recognized by the Supreme Court. However, this does not mean the struggle is over or that these biases no longer exist. References Bostock v. Clayton County . (n.d.). Oyez . Retrieved November 16, 2021, from https://www.oyez.org/cases/2019/17-1618 Dishman, L. (2018, June 11). A brief (and depressing) history of LGBT workers’ rights . Fast Company; Fast Company. https://www.fastcompany.com/40582182/a-brief-and-depressing-history-of-lgbt-workers-rights Executive Order on Enabling All Qualified Americans to Serve Their Country in Uniform | The White House . (2021, January 25). The White House; The White House. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/25/executive-order-on-enabling-all-qualified-americans-to-serve-their-country-in-uniform/ Executive Order on Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation | The White House . (2021, January 21). The White House; The White House. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/20/executive-order-preventing-and-combating-discrimination-on-basis-of-gender-identity-or-sexual-orientation/ Supreme Court Delivers Major Victory To LGBTQ Employees . (2020, June 15). NPR.org. https://www.npr.org/2020/06/15/863498848/supreme-court-delivers-major-victory-to-lgbtq-employees What is Employment Discrimination? | U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission . (2021). Eeoc.gov. https://www.eeoc.gov/youth/what-employment-discrimination

< Back Steven Rocha Policy Director Steven is a queer trans man and a second-generation Colombian immigrant. These identities are integral to his work for social justice causes, as he strives to center the perspectives of underrepresented groups and to demonstrate the intersectionality of LGBTQ issues. In his free time, Steven enjoys western animation, gaming, and studying languages. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Classical Languages & Literatures from the University of Miami with a minor in French language. He hopes to pursue a legal career and apply those skills to the fight for LGBTQ liberation. < Back to Our Team

< Return to STI Clinic Search Care Resource Community Health Centers - Little Havana Call: (305) 576-1234 Website: https://careresource.org/testing-hours-locations/ Have you been tested here? Fill out our STI Clinic Vetting Survey to tell us about your experience! 1901 SW 1st St, Miami, FL 33135, USA Free Testing Walk-Ins Accepted Free Condoms/Contraception PrEP On-Site PrEP Referral Parking type: Lot Free Parking Tests Offered: HIV (Rapid): Free HIV (Lab): Free Chlamydia : Free Gonorrhea : Free Syphilis (Lab): Free Hepatitis C (Rapid): Free Hours: Mon 8:15 a.m. – 4:15 p.m. Tues 8:15 a.m. – 4:15 p.m. Wed 8:15 a.m. – 4:15 p.m. Thurs 8:15 a.m. – 4:15 p.m. Fri 8:15 a.m. – 4:15 p.m. Sat Closed Sun Closed

< Return to STI Clinic Search Planned Parenthood - Boca Raton Health Center Call: (561) 226-4116 Website: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-center/florida/boca-raton/33434/boca-raton-health-center-3863-90320 Have you been tested here? Fill out our STI Clinic Vetting Survey to tell us about your experience! 8177 Glades Rd, 25 Bay 25 Bay, Boca Raton, FL 33434, USA Free Testing Walk-Ins Accepted Free Condoms/Contraception PrEP On-Site PrEP Referral Parking type: Free Parking Tests Offered: HIV (Rapid) HIV (Lab) Chlamydia Gonorrhea Syphilis (Rapid) Syphilis (Lab) Hepatitis C (Rapid) Hepatitis C (Lab) Herpes Trichomoniasis Genital Warts Hours: Mon Closed Tues 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Wed 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Thurs 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Fri 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Sat Closed Sun Closed

< Return to STI Clinic Search Out of the Closet - Wilton Manors Call: (954) 358-5580 Website: https://locations.outofthecloset.org/fl-wilton-manors-18510200 Have you been tested here? Fill out our STI Clinic Vetting Survey to tell us about your experience! 2097 Wilton Dr, Wilton Manors, FL 33305, USA Free Testing Walk-Ins Accepted Free Condoms/Contraception PrEP On-Site PrEP Referral Parking type: Free Parking Tests Offered: HIV (Rapid): Free HIV (Lab): Free Hours: Mon 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Tues 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Wed 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Thurs 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Fri 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Sat Closed Sun Closed

< Return to STI Clinic Search Out of the Closet - Fort Lauderdale Call: (954) 462-9442 Website: https://locations.outofthecloset.org/fl-fort-lauderdale-18510400 Have you been tested here? Fill out our STI Clinic Vetting Survey to tell us about your experience! 1785 E Sunrise Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304, USA Free Testing Walk-Ins Accepted Free Condoms/Contraception PrEP On-Site PrEP Referral Parking type: Free Parking Tests Offered: HIV (Rapid): Free HIV (Lab): Free Hours: Mon 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Tues 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Wed 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Thurs 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Fri 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Sat Closed Sun Closed

< Return to STI Clinic Search Out of the Closet - Biscayne Call: (305) 765-3773 Website: https://locations.outofthecloset.org/fl-miami-18510300 Have you been tested here? Fill out our STI Clinic Vetting Survey to tell us about your experience! 2400 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33137, USA Free Testing Walk-Ins Accepted Free Condoms/Contraception PrEP On-Site PrEP Referral Parking type: Lot (Free) & Street (Paid) Free Parking Tests Offered: HIV (Rapid): Free HIV (Lab): Free Chlamydia : Free Gonorrhea : Free Hours: Mon 10:15 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Tues 10:15 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Wed 10:15 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Thurs 10:15 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Fri 10:15 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Sat Closed Sun Closed

Secretary < Back Hannah Neuman Hannah is a genderqueer lesbian from Jacksonville, FL with a BSc from Florida State University. They have an extensive background in education and youth empowerment, and a deep passion for community-building. Over the last three years, they have co-directed two small non-profits focused on uplifting houseless individuals and local artists by expanding access to vital resources. Hannah is currently working as a caseworker in Refugee Resettlement and plans to pursue a Masters of Social Work in 2025. As a Jewish member of the queer community, they are dedicated to Collective Liberation—actively uplifting Palestinian voices in their fight for freedom at every opportunity. In addition to advocacy work, Hannah enjoys practicing astrology, tarot, art, and vegan cooking. In their free time, you can often find them taking a long hike through nature, working on a magazine collage, or performing with their indie-rock band “No Parts”. < Back to Our Team

Member < Back Hannah Neuman Hannah is a genderqueer lesbian from Jacksonville, FL with a BSc from Florida State University. They have an extensive background in education and youth empowerment, and a deep passion for community-building. Over the last three years, they have co-directed two small non-profits focused on uplifting houseless individuals and local artists by expanding access to vital resources. Hannah is currently working as a caseworker in Refugee Resettlement and plans to pursue a Masters of Social Work in 2025. As a Jewish member of the queer community, they are dedicated to Collective Liberation—actively uplifting Palestinian voices in their fight for freedom at every opportunity. In addition to advocacy work, Hannah enjoys practicing astrology, tarot, art, and vegan cooking. In their free time, you can often find them taking a long hike through nature, working on a magazine collage, or performing with their indie-rock band “No Parts”. < Back to Our Team