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October is LGBTQ+ History Month, which is meant to recognize and honor the historical impacts, achievements, and contributions of queer people. As a queer person, I was never much of a history buff. Sure, I learned about it in class, I passed most of my tests, but then I went home and forgot every single detail. It wasn’t until I started learning about LGBT history, about the storied struggle for the rights of people like me that spans decades, that I became a history buff. And it was that, it was learning of all the LGBT civil rights leaders, the persecution, the hate, the joy, the love, the hope of LGBTQ Americans, the textbook pages and educational videos and quotes from those that came well before me, that drove me to the work I do today. The history and beauty of my community, the LGBT community, goes well beyond discussions of sex and should be welcomed and cherished in schools, in media, and everywhere else. Eighty years ago, I would’ve been forced to wear a pink triangle. Thirty years ago, I might’ve worn it on purpose, a reclamation in my fight for survival in the AIDS epidemic. Up until 1998, I could’ve been fired in Miami-Dade for just being gay, much less doing anything close to that. And until the Supreme Court ruling in Bostock v Clayton County, which was a mere two years ago, I could’ve been fired, evicted, even denied service at a restaurant for being gay in 55 out of Florida’s 67 counties along with so many other Americans. We shouldn’t be depriving our students of foundational chapters of our nation’s story. LGBT History is American history because LGBT Americans are Americans. In solidarity, Maxx Fenning President, PRISM FL, Inc

On September 7th, the Miami-Dade County School Board will vote on whether to recognize LGBTQ+ History Month in October. Now, LGBT organizations, activists, students, parents, and teachers are calling on the school board to remain steadfast in their commitment to supporting every student in the district. The recognition of LGBTQ History Month promotes education about the historical impacts, achievements, and contributions of our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community. Maxx Fenning, a youth activist and the founder and President of PRISM, said, "LGBT people have existed since the dawn of history itself. LGBTQ+ history is American history because LGBTQ+ Americans are Americans." While MDCPS voted 7-1 to recognize LGBTQ+ History Month in 2021, a surge of anti-LGBT rhetoric puts the pending resolution at risk. This year’s resolution also directs the Superintendent to look into the feasibility of providing optional resources for teachers to discuss landmark Supreme Court cases Obergefell v. Hodges (2015) and Bostock v. Clayton County in 12th grade US Government classes. "Miami-Dade County has always been a front runner in human rights. We are watching and waiting with bated breath at what the extremists will do and say to roll back the traditions of freedom, justice, liberty, and equal rights," said Orlando Gonzalez, Executive Director of SAVE. Scott Galvin, Executive Director of Safe Schools South Florida and North Miami City Council member, echoed this, stating, "Those who think they can turn back time are always wrong." Since PRISM launched an online petition to support the resolution, they have received over 600 signatures from parents, students, and teachers in the district. They’ve also launched a letter-writing campaign to members of the school board. You can find PRISM’s petition here and letter campaign here.

With the adoption of the infamous "Don't Say Gay" law on July 1st and other anti-LGBT bills sweeping across the country, PRISM FL, Inc. and several LGBTQ+ organizations throughout Florida have launched a new social media campaign and movement called "#SayGay" to place public pressure on companies to support LGBTQ+ organizations year-round. Rainbow capitalism or pink capitalism is a marketing tactic used by companies to embed LGBTQ+ topics into advertising and merchandise in order to make a profit, most commonly seen during Pride Month. Generally, LGBTQ+ marketing is seen as rainbow capitalism when companies also make contributions to anti-LGBT causes or political campaigns or when they do little to provide tangible support to the LGBTQ+ community. "Rainbow capitalism negatively impacts the entirety of the community worldwide," said CJ Walden, Vice-President of PRISM. "Corporations who gain profit from pride-related merchandise without giving back to the LGBTQ+ community only do us harm." #StayGay, which launches on June 20th, not only makes it known just how much companies contribute to anti-LGBT campaigns and the LGBT community, but it also shows companies how they can connect with LGBT nonprofits in the state. "With the Don’t Say Gay bill going into effect the day after pride month, it is so important that companies put their money where their mouth is," said Maxx Fenning, President of PRISM. "In June, they #SayGay. The other eleven months, they should #StayGay." Those interested in learning more are encouraged to visit www.staygay.org or contact PRISM FL, Inc. at staygay@prismfl.org.

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

On Wednesday, July 20th, the school board of Miami Dade County held a meeting to decide whether to keep or reject the previously approved "human growth and development" curriculum. In other words, sex ed materials. The materials were approved in April, but 278 objections were filed against the textbook. The point of contention was the book's inclusion of contraception, abortion, and other topics. This spurred a hearing where a neutral judge affirmed that the textbooks were in line with state standards. Several groups mobilized in support of the textbook, including PRISM. Knowledge about sexual health is important to the health and safety of all, but particularly to the marginalized youth we seek to serve. Upwards of 90% of speakers were in support. Detractors argued the textbook enabled sexual grooming and jumped to accusations of communism and censorship. These talking points are not only irrelevant to the conversation but are well-established canards used by reactionary movements. At the initial meeting, three separate "concerned parents" associated with conservative nonprofit Moms for Liberty yelled at students and other speakers. . School board members, security staff, and onlookers in the audience were subjected to a flurry of screamed insults as all three were forcibly escorted from the building. During that meeting, the board voted 5-4 to remove the textbook from the curriculum. This put the district out of compliance with state standards (which require schools to teach sexual health curriculum), so another meeting was held just last Thursday to discuss how the board would move forward. In just three days, we and several other organizations mobilized hundreds of parents in Miami, creating a petition that garnered over 2800 signatures, an online tool that sent over 300 emails to each board member, and dozens of speakers at the special meeting. After several hours of discussion, Chairwoman Perla Tabares Hantman reversed her vote– meaning there were finally enough votes to keep the textbook, in another 5-4 decision.

After their Instagram account was taken down for allegedly “violating community guidelines,” PRISM FL, Inc has created a new social media campaign called “#SavePRISM” to shine a light on just how pervasive LGBTQ+ censorship is online. PRISM uses Instagram to reach approximately 35,000 people every month, providing vital information about sexual health, gender, sexuality, and LGBT history. Unfortunately, on January 6th, PRISM’s Instagram account was taken down for “violating community guidelines.” After repeated attempts to restore their account through Instagram’s automated system (and attempting to create a new account, which was deactivated within just 30 minutes), PRISM was unsuccessful in regaining their presence on the platform. Now, PRISM is taking action against queer censorship on social media. For every time someone uses the hashtag #SavePRISM between now and March 29th to share a story about either how PRISM has impacted them or how they’ve been discriminated against by a social media platform, a growing list of organizations, individuals, and businesses will donate $1 to support their work to make South Florida for every color and for everyone: “It’s important to recognize that this issue is bigger than PRISM,” said Maxx Fenning, President of PRISM FL, Inc. “Queer censorship is baked into social media algorithms themselves, and the companies that create them need to be held accountable.” Those interested in participating or making a donation pledge are encouraged to visit www.prismfl.org/saveprism or contact PRISM FL, Inc. at info@prismfl.org.