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Learn about STDs, safe sex, and preventing pregnancy. < Return to Learn Sexual Health Safe sex is sexy Learn how you can make it safer and even sexier Sex Talk Communication Communication is one of the most important parts of a healthy relationship. Learn More Consent Learn about the nuances of sexual consent. Learn More Talking About Getting Tested Advice on how to talk to your partner about STI testing. Learn More Sex Toys 101 Toys can be fun, but proper care is essential. Learn More Talking About Using Protection Protection greatly reduces the risk of pregnancy and contracting an STI. Learn More STIs STD Basics Learn the basics of STIs, including what they are and how they're spread. Learn More Syphilis Syphilis is a bacterial infection that is contracted mainly through sex. Learn More HIV & AIDS Your resource for HIV and AIDS, from causes to prevention. Learn More HPV HPV is a common infection that causes warts on various parts of the body. Learn More Herpes Herpes causes contagious sores, most often around the mouth or on the genitals. Learn More Hepatitis B Hepatitis B is a liver infection and a very common virus. Learn More 1 2 1 ... 1 2 ... 2 Prevention and Protection 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 ... 100

< Return to Open Positions Research Director We recommend reading more about our task forces before starting your application. Please select the following option below: Research 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 relies on the dedicated contributions of volunteers to further its initiatives. The Research Director oversees our Research Task Force, which conducts internal and external surveying and data collection and coordinates non-educational STI prevention programs. 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 oversee the operations of the Research Task Force (STI Clinic Search, STI Clinic Vetting Program, surveying, data analysis, etc.) Coordinate community service logs, payroll, and attendance logs Assist in securing grant funding for the Research Task Force by searching and applying for grants Preferred qualifications : Experience with data analysis and surveying Experience with STI prevention or public health services Experience working with research involving human beings Volunteer and staff management experience Prior research regarding nonprofit program efficacy or public health services Grant writing 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

PRISM aims to provide LGBTQ+ youth in South Florida and beyond with the education and support they need. It is our goal to make sure everyone feels included in their community, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Voting Hub We're here to help you get ready for the polls. Use the links below to navigate through our various tools, with which you can do things like register to vote, request your mail-in ballot, check your status, and more. Register to Vote in Florida Request Mail-In Ballot Check My Voter Status What's on My Ballot? Trans & Non-Binary Voting Guide 2024 in Partnership with Equality Florida

< Back to School Policy Hub Willi Ninja Who was Willi Ninja? Early Life Sexuality House of Ninja Death and Legacy Who is Willi Ninja? Willi Ninja in the 1990 film "Paris is Burning" (Image Source: IMDb) William Rosco Leake, or Willi Ninja, was an African American dancer and choreographer. Known as the godfather of voguing, he appeared in “Paris is Burning," a documentary film about the New York ball scene and the lives of the Black and Latino LGBTQ+ members involved. Early Life Willi Ninja had an unorthodox queer experience for the time (Image Source: Isabella B83/Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0 ) Willi was born on April 12, 1961, in New Hyde Park, New York. Born to a single mother, Willi lived in Flushing, Queens, where he first started teaching himself to dance. After high school, Willi went to beauty school and moved to Greenwich Village. It was in his early twenties that he started to perfect his style of voguing. While he did not invent Voguing, he perfected and pioneered the technique, drawing from Fred Astaire, Kemetic hieroglyphs, and martial arts to name a few. Sexuality While not much is known about his childhood, Willi talked in an interview with Joan Rivers about how he never really came out. His mother actually confronted him about it and said “A mother always knows” in reference to his homosexuality. She told him that he was her son and she would always love him. This was in stark contrast to most queer youth of the time. The support his mother gave is really what nurtured his vogue and led to him becoming the artist and house “mother” he was. House of Ninja Willi Ninja and friends voguing at "Mars", a nightclub in New York City, in 1988. Ninja founded the House of Ninja, a safe space for struggling queer youth. Willi was a prominent figure in the New York drag ball scene. Balls were parties thrown by queer people starting in the 1920s as a way to come together in a safe space and have some fun. With rising political race tensions through the 50’s and 60’s the scene was fractured and balls became segregated, often with black or black and Latino-only houses competing. Houses in the scene were not formed until the early 70’s starting with the first house, the House of LeBeija. These houses served as a chosen family for queer youth who were either abandoned by their families or ran away from home. Headed by a “mother”, each house was known for certain characteristics. For example, members of the House of Xtraviganza were known for their natural beauty while the House of Ninja was known for their dance skills. Houses competed against each other for prizes and the title of the best house. Willi founded the House of Ninja along with Sandy Apollonia Ninja, formerly from the House of LeBeija, where they served as house mothers. The House of Ninja serves as a multiracial family and currently has 220 members worldwide. Want to learn more about gay club culture in the 70s and 80s? Click here. Death and Legacy Willi Ninja pushed vogue, and queer club culture as a whole, into the mainstream. Willi Ninja died on September 2nd, 2006, of AIDS-related heart failure. Even until his death at age 46, Willi mentored upcoming dancers and models, as well as contributed to the discussion of HIV/AIDS awareness in the queer community. His legacy is felt even now as his work inspires many artists and continues to inspire dancers and queer people today. Willi was featured in Malcome McLaren's “Deep in Vogue” music video and inspired Madonna’s number one song, “Vogue.” He is also a central figure in LGBTQ+ and gender studies for his passionate and nonconforming expression as an artist.

< Back to School Policy Hub Homosexuality in Medieval Europe The Church and Gay Sex Laws on Homosexuality Female Homosexuality Medieval Homosexuality Sources Central Europe, 919-1125 CE (University of Texas Libraries: Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection) Medieval times, also called the Middle Ages, describe the period after the fall of the Western Roman Empire (around 500 CE) and before the Renaissance (1500s). Since there was no unified government or state, the Catholic church became the main source of authority in Europe. Later, homosexuality was largely viewed and upheld by society as a sin. The Medieval Church and Sex The medieval owner of these manuscripts censured certain sexual acts. (J. Paul Getty Museum) The connection between sexual deviancy and homosexuality by the church wasn’t really pushed until the later, or “High”, Middle Ages. Individual cases of homosexuality were often overlooked in day-to-day life in the earlier Middle Ages. The distinction was not really between gay and straight but between reproductive and non-reproductive sex. The medieval church only sanctified exclusive and procreative marriages, meaning “opposite-sex” activity that was not for reproduction, was also not considered acceptable. However, as the church began facing criticism from scholars, they became increasingly concerned with preventing scandals that could diminish their authority. There was the theologian Peter Damian, who coined the term “sodomy” in the 1000s in relation to clerical homosexual relationships. (However, this term was used for any non-procreative sexual acts.) He wrote an entire book addressed to Pope Leo IX about the “corruptions” (including homosexual relations) within the church and monastery, calling for a reformation. Pope Leo IX responded by promising action against those who committed “crimes against nature.” Another theologian, Thomas Aquinas, also used the discourse of “nature” to cast any non-reproductive sex as sinful. So, the church eventually began targeting homosexuality and enforcing stricter discipline in monasteries. Medieval Laws on Homosexual Relations Artist depiction of the torment of unchaste monks and nuns. (J. Paul Getty Museum) These reform movements led to the development of specific laws towards homosexuality, therefore expressing “authoritative” views toward it. There was a large increase in municipal (city) laws regarding homosexuality. The actual prosecution of same-sex activity often wasn’t in royal or ecclesiastical (church) courts but in urban cities. Many towns, especially in Italy, legislated about homosexual acts. These called for various punishments, including maiming, death, fines, or exile. The cities of Lucca, Venice, and Florence even created special legal structures in the 1400s to manage sodomy accusations. Still, there weren’t many actual prosecutions for same-sex activity. Medieval Female Homosexuality There is even less recorded evidence of female homosexuality in Medieval Europe than in Ancient Europe. Some historians theorize that this is because their homosexuality did not prevent them from bearing children to legal husbands and also because of the general misogyny of the times. Medieval Homosexuality Sources It’s important to note that we don’t have many surviving sources to reconstruct the experience of medieval homosexuals. Homosexual images in medieval texts and artifacts are few and far between. Most texts dealing with homosexuality are related to clerics and/or are found in homophobic contexts, often in the form of legislation. Therefore, what little we know about homosexuality in the Middle Ages is very broad and often with a negative connotation. References Cheng, D. (2017) Homosexuality in High Medieval Europe: Reformist Thought and its Effect on Queer Subculture, JUST, Vol. V, No. 1. https://ojs.trentu.ca › ojs › just › article › view Damien, P. (1982). Book of Gomorrah: An Eleventh-Century Treatise Against Clerical Homosexual Practices. (P. Payer, Trans. And Intro.). (Original work published 1051.) https://books.google.com/books?id=hr4VAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_atb#v=onepage&q&f=false Karras, R. M. (2012). Sexuality in Medieval Europe: doing unto others . Routledge. Karras, R.M. (2020) The Regulation of “Sodomy” in the Latin East and West, Journal of The Medieval Academy of America: Speculum: Vol. 95: Iss. 4. https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/710639 Lacopo, F.P. (2016) Medieval Europe and the Culture of Contempt in the Age of the Lateran Councils, Grand Valley Journal of History: Vol. 4: No. 2, Article 1. https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/gvjh/vol4/iss2/1

< Back to School Policy Hub Homosexuality in the Pre-colonial Americas The Dine (Navajo) The Culhua-Mexica (Aztecs) The Runa (Inca) and the Moche Overall Author's Note: I will never understand or be able to discuss this topic outside of the view of the colonizer. This is an unfortunate knowledge barrier that is better addressed than breached. Native people are in need of support on many fronts from non-native people, and I hope to write every word of this article to support, not rewrite, native history. If you are unfamiliar with the level of erasure that has taken place since European colonization, please understand that it greatly exceeds anything I will be able to portray. Whenever you see the term ‘colonized as,’ I am referring to the fact that the common names of the land and peoples we were taught to use in public school are all European constructs. Therefore, I am trying to use only the names used originally or retroactively by native people. Three things are apparent in the available sources of information about homosexuality* in the pre-colonial Americas; one is that while the modern LGBTQ+ community was largely established in the mid-twentieth century, queerness* existed hundreds of years ago. Two, homosexuality* is intrinsically linked with the diverse gender structure of native tribes. Three, the most accurate information on this topic is from native people. With that being said, this article will attempt to establish a partial picture of the queer* cultures that flourished hundreds of years ago. Indigenous Tribes of Turtle Island (colonized as North America) The Diné (colonized as the Navajo) is an active indigenous tribe on Turtle Island. Prior to European intervention, the Diné had a non-binary social structure incorporating four gender identities: women*, men*, feminine Nádleehi, and masculine Nádleehi. Nádleehi gender identities were determined as a person grew up and were typically not a birth assignment. A child in these cultures discovered how they wanted to express themselves based on their interests or “gifts” and partook in society in ways that suited them individually. Nádleehi tribe members were highly regarded and often held high social positions. We’wha was a lhamana of the Zuni tribe who lived in the 1800s and spent several months in Washington D.C as an esteemed guest. (Image Source: Pinterest) Other tribes had similar identities, like the Lhamana of the Zuni tribe and the Asegi of the Cherokee. A modern blanket term introduced to describe these identities is “two-spirit,” and while it is commonly used, it is not universally accepted by native peoples or equivalent to a queer identity. It is estimated that 155 tribes across Turtle Island embraced a multi-gendered culture. The expanded conceptions of identity in these societies seem to have overshadowed sexuality. While homosexual* relationships were common, they were not inherent. The Culhua-Mexica (colonized as the Aztecs) In particular, the stories of the civilizations in modern-day Mexico are almost exclusively accessed through a colonized perspective. The Spanish colonizers burned the libraries and destroyed much of the resources that would have provided access to objective truth. The Mexica held a vast empire that incorporated many different ethnicities and cultures. They had a complicated relationship with homosexuality*, particularly with the practice of sodomy. The levels of acceptance varied by region and ruler. A map of the Culhua Mexica (Aztec) empire at its height. (Image Source: Wikimedia Commons) It has been suggested that the laws banning homosexual* behavior in the empire were a tactic by the Mexica to separate conquered peoples in the region from their previous cultures and religions, which often had feminine two-spirit shamans. This implies that the Culhua-Mexica empire was not homophobic but trying to strip others of their rich, queer* past. A depiction of practitioners of sodomy being mauled in the street by the war dogs of conquistadors. (Image Source: The Lone Woman and Last Indians Digital Archive) We know that homosexuals* and two-spirit people were prevalent because of encounters between Hernan Cortés and the native people of the regions he explored. Cortés remarked in a letter to his King, “We know and have been informed without room for doubt that all practice the abominable sin of sodomy.” Bernal Diaz del Castillo, another conquistador, also quoted Cortés as saying, “...young men must cease to go about in female garments...” While these remarks are indicative of male-homosexuality*, there is no mention of female-homosexuality*. However, we can (reasonably) infer that these relationships took place given that the Mexica region also embraced an expanded gender foundation like the tribes to the north, which encompassed marriages and relationships between women*. Abya Yala (colonized as South America) The Runa (colonized as the Inca) and the Moche The Runa were the people that lived in the region of modern-day Peru. The language they spoke was Quechua. The name Inca, or Incan, actually comes from their emperor Sapa Inca, not the name for the people. The Runa empire reportedly held similar views on homosexuality* as the Mexica, yet both societies realistically failed to enforce these laws on a widespread basis. The term “Moche” is not used to describe a group of people by nationality or origin, but rather the creators of a distinctive form of art (mostly ceramic pots depicting artwork) found in and near the Runa empire. While sexually explicit artwork was destroyed en masse by the Spanish invaders, some artwork does survive today. Of what does exist of this art, there is a major collection that displays in full detail, gay-male* sex as well as other sexual positions that focused on female* pleasure rather than simple procreation. This is an interesting discovery and gives us just a small amount of insight into what homosexuality* was present in this region as well as all of Abya Yala. We can also infer that given the conditions on Turtle Island, Abya Yala societies carried similar notions and customs of homosexuality*. The queer* history of the rest of the continent exists somewhere, and likely among its indigenous people. Overall These societies had unique gender identities and sexualities that developed independently of the established gender binary in the Euro-colonized world. Much like in the crusades of the Middle Ages, the European invaders eradicated "opposing" cultures and demonized their practices. Dine Equality is a group working to undo hundreds of years of queer erasure and uplift LGBTQ+ natives to heal the damage in their community. You can find more information on their website: www.equalitynavajo.org . *The use of gendered language, the word queer, and the word homosexual is for clarity purposes. Still, it is important to consider that these concepts do not adequately describe indigenous cultures as they are euro-centric ideas. References Brundage, J. (1991). The Construction of Homosexuality. By David F. Greenberg. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1988. x 635 p. $29.95. Church History, 60(1), 148-149. doi:10.2307/3168572 Cortés Hernán, & Morris, J. B. (1991). Hernando Cortés, Five Letters, 1519-1526 (p. 25). W.W. Norton. del Castillo, B. D. (1844). The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal Diaz Del Castillo . (J. I. Lockhart, Trans.) (Vol. 1) (p. 119). J. Hatchard and Son. Epple, C. (1998). Coming to Terms with Navajo Nádleehí: A Critique of Berdache, "Gay," "Alternate Gender," and "Two-spirit". American Ethnologist , 25 (2), 267–290. https://doi.org/10.1525/ae.1998.25.2.267 Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology at Harvard University. (n.d.). Who Were "Moche?" . Peabody Museum. https://www.peabody.harvard.edu/node/2505 Smithers, G. D. (2014). Cherokee “Two Spirits”: Gender, Ritual, and Spirituality in the Native South. Early American Studies: An Interdisciplinary Journal , 12 (3), 626–651. https://doi.org/10.1353/eam.2014.0023 Vecchio, R. (2004, March 7th). Erotic Ceramics Reveal Dirty Little Secret. Los Angeles Times . https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-mar-07-adfg-pottery7-story.html Wilson, T. (2011). CHANGED EMBRACES, CHANGES EMBRACED? RENOUNCING THE HETEROSEXIST MAJORITY IN FAVOR OF A RETURN TO TRADITIONAL TWO-SPIRIT CULTURE. American Indian Law Review,36 (1), 161-188. http://www.jstor.org/stable/41495705

Learn all about bisexuality and the bi+ community! < Return to Resources Bisexual Resources Learn all about bisexuality and the bi+ community! The Basics Sexual Orientation Basics Sexual orientation is a person's gender identity in relation to the gender to which they are attracted. Learn More Coming Out Tips Check out our tips and advice for how to come out safely. Learn More Bisexuality Bisexuality is the attraction to more than one gender. Many sexualities are often considered subgroups of.... Learn More History The Fight for Marriage Equality For decades, the LGBTQ+ community fought for marriage equality. Here's the story of that struggle. Learn More Malcolm X Malcolm X was an American Muslim minister and Civil Rights activist. Learn More Homosexuality in Ancient Europe Although "homosexuality" is a modern term, same-gender attraction has been documented since ancient times. Learn More Josephine Baker Josephine Baker was an entertainer, French Resistance agent, spy, and Civil Rights activist. Learn More AIDS Crisis The AIDS Crisis ravaged the LGBTQ+ community for decades, and the government did little to help. Learn More Homosexuality as a Mental Illness It wasn't until 1973 that homosexuality was declassified as a mental illness by the American Psychiatric Association. Learn More 1 2 1 ... 1 2 ... 2 Bi Pride Quick View PRISM Pride Backpack: Bisexual Price $48.00 Quick View PRISM Pride Notebook: Bisexual Price $16.50 Quick View PRISM Pride Magic Mug: Bisexual Price $16.00 Quick View PRISM Pride Face Mask: Bisexual Price $19.50 Quick View PRISM Pride Shirt: Bisexual Price $36.50 Quick View PRISM Pride Sweatshirt: Bisexual Price $45.50 1 2 3

< Back to School Policy Hub Outdated Trans Terms Transgender terminology and how it was used as little as a decade ago can now be considered outdated, misinformed, or just plain offensive. That’s why it’s important to stay educated on how certain words and phrases affect different parts of the LGBTQ+ community. You may think this isn't a big deal — they're just words, right? But remember, words have power! Those trying to tell you otherwise are people who probably don't have to worry about words like these being used against them. Here's what not to say: Transgender as a noun/verb Be mindful that using transgender as a noun or verb is often used as a means to dehumanize trans folx. Instead, transgender should only used as an adjective (e.g., trans woman or trans man) Wrong "There are a lot of transgenders on the team." "Is she a transgender?" "He transgendered last year." Right "There are a lot of transgender people on the team." "Is she a trans woman?" "He transitioned last year." "Sex Change" Using “sex change” or “sex reassignment surgery” implies that someone who is trans must have surgery in order to transition properly. Instead, talk about it in terms of “gender-affirming” surgery . By the way, don’t outright ask a trans person if they have undergone surgery. It’s a private matter and should be treated with dignity. "Transvestite" “Transvestite” is an old term that often misrepresents trans people. Historically, it most commonly refers to cisgender men who dress in feminine clothing. Today, that community prefers the term “cross-dresser” and finds “transvestite” to be insulting. Defamatory terms, including “tranny” and “she-male” are highly inappropriate slurs, used to discriminate against and dehumanize trans people. "Transsexual" “Transsexual” is a term used to describe a transgender person who has undergone gender-affirming medical procedures. However, “transsexual” is not an inclusive umbrella term like “transgender” is, as it only describes a trans person who has undergone a surgical procedure to transition. Furthermore, it emphasizes "sex," or a person's genitals. But being trans is about gender, not sex, so "transgender" is far more appropriate. Here's the bottom line: Although some of the terminology mentioned may not be considered offensive to all trans people, it is important to understand the potential impact words may have. Discrimination is not defined by the intent of the speaker, but by the effect it has on the listener. Change begins with you, and adapting your language is the first step to bringing about that change.

< Back to School Policy Hub HIV & AIDS What are HIV and AIDS? How It's Spread Getting Tested Testing Positive Prevention What are HIV and AIDS? HIV and AIDS are NOT the same thing. HIV, or Human Immunodeficiency Virus, is a sexually transmitted infection that attacks and weakens your immune system. AIDS, or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, is a disease caused by HIV that makes it extremely hard for your body to fight off infections. HIV has no cure. Once someone gets HIV, they've got it for good. However, there are treatments that can reduce your viral load to the point where you cannot give it to someone else. 1.2 MILLION Americans have HIV. There are about 34,800 new cases reported every year. While HIV disproportionately affects gay and bisexual men, anyone can get HIV, regardless of age, sex, race, or sexual orientation. How It's Spread HIV is carried in semen, blood, vaginal fluids, and breast milk. You can get it by having vaginal or anal sex or by sharing needles or syringes. HIV isn't spread through saliva, and you can't get it just by kissing or touching someone who is HIV-positive. If you think you've been exposed to HIV, you can take PEP, or post-exposure prophylaxis, within 72 hours to lower your chances of contracting it. Getting Tested Testing for HIV is generally simple and painless. HIV testing usually involves either a cheek swab or drawing blood. When you contract HIV, your body produces antibodies to fight against the virus. An antibody test, which is the most common, looks for these antibodies in the blood. Generally, it can take 18 to 90 days for your body to make these antibodies. This means that for this period, your test results can come back negative, even if you have HIV. This is known as the window period. NATs (Nucleic Acid Tests) only have a 10 to 33 day window period and involve drawing blood from a vein to look for the virus itself. However, these tests are extremely expensive and only used in high-risk situations. Some tests, called rapid HIV tests, can give you results in 30 minutes or less. Almost all rapid HIV tests are antibody tests. These generally involve either a cheek swab or drawing blood through a finger prick. You can also get an at-home rapid HIV test called OraQuick, which can be purchased at your local pharmacy or online . Others can take several days or weeks if samples need to be sent to a lab. It's important to get tested regularly. If you're sexually active or share needles for drug use, piercings, or tattoos, get tested. It can take up to 10 years to develop AIDS, so most people who have HIV don't know it until they get tested. Seriously. AIDS is a BIG problem, especially among LGBTQ+ folk. 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. If you or your partner have HIV, it does not necessarily mean anyone cheated. Like we said, most people who contract HIV don't know they have it until years later. How do I get rid of it? If you think you've been exposed to HIV, you can take PEP, or post-exposure prophylaxis , within 72 hours to lower your chances of contracting it. Unfortunately, HIV can't be cured. However, your doctor can prescribe antiretroviral medications that can lower the amount of the virus in your body and slow the damage it does to your immune system. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) can lower your viral load to a point where it doesn't show up on standard tests. At this point, it is considered "undetectable," meaning that you can't spread HIV to sexual partners. "Undetectable" doesn't mean cured. Even if your viral load becomes undetectable, it can still return to detectable levels if you stop treatment, meaning you can spread it to your partner(s) again. It is important to maintain treatment if you contract HIV. Prevention Wear protection. The easiest way to prevent the spread of HIV is by wearing protection. Barrier methods like condoms and dental dams are 90-95% effective in protecting you from HIV. Consider taking PrEP. PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis , is a daily pill that can prevent HIV. It's especially useful for MSM (men who have sex with men) since they make up the biggest group of HIV cases in the United States. If you think you've been exposed to HIV, you can take PEP, or post-exposure prophylaxis, within 72 hours to lower your chances of contracting it. Use clean needles. Don't share needles when shooting drugs or getting tattoos or piercings. References HIV.gov (2021, June 2). U.S. Statistics . HIV.gov. https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/overview/data-and-trends/statistics . HIV.gov. (2021, April 8). What are HIV and AIDS? HIV.gov. https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/overview/about-hiv-and-aids/what-are-hiv-and-aids . HIV.gov. (2021, April 8). HIV Testing Overview . HIV.gov. https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/hiv-testing/learn-about-hiv-testing/hiv-testing-overview . Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, May 13). Types of HIV Tests . Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/hiv-testing/test-types.html . Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, May 20). Treatment . Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/livingwithhiv/treatment.html . Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, May 20). Opportunistic Infections . Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/livingwithhiv/opportunisticinfections.html . Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, July 16). HIV Self-Testing . Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/hiv-testing/hiv-self-tests.html .

< Back to School Policy Hub Talking About Using Protection What is Contraception? The Importance of Protection Talking to Your Partner About Using Protection Responding to Pushback What is Contraception? Contraception is a variety of methods used to prevent pregnancy and STIs. There are many medications, surgeries, and other devices that fall into this category, but generally when we say "protection", we're referring to barrier methods , such as condoms, dental dams, and other physical coverings. The Importance of Protection Protection greatly reduces the risk of pregnancy and contracting an STI. Condoms, for example, are 98% effective at protecting against pregnancy and STIs when used correctly. Wearing protection means that you and your partner don't need to worry about the possibility of contracting an STI or getting pregnant and can focus more on the... *ahem* task at hand. Talking to Your Partner About Using Protection The best way to discuss using protection is to be open and honest. Although it may be uncomfortable or awkward, voice your need to use protection early on, especially if you are not 100% sure of your partner's STI status or are a female who does not use another method of birth control. Make sure to remain steadfast. If your partner isn't receptive to wearing protection, let them know that you want to use it for your own health and for theirs. We recommend watching Planned Parenthood's video on discussing protection with your partner: Responding to Pushback The most important thing to remember is that your body is YOUR body. If you care about your sexual health and your partner doesn't respect your concerns, this can spell major trouble for your relationship with them moving forward. Question whether or not it's worth it to engage with someone who doesn't care about your sexual health or their own. Willingly risking your or your partner's sexual health isn't sexy. Peace of mind is sexy.