The Prism Program

The death of Nex Benedict (they/them) was a result of transphobic violence from their peers and a lack of action from their school and hospital staff. Nex’s death highlights the ever-growing need of protection and support for trans youth. PRISM is here to be a pillar of support for anyone needing it. We will not stop moving towards a future that protects trans youth and their freedom. We see you, we celebrate you.

Our support line is open 10AM-10PM everyday. Call or text us at 414-336-7974

Thank you for sticking around with us for another entire year, Prism People! As we wrap up 2023, how are you feeling going into 2024? You might feel a little bit of all of these options, and that's okay! We'd love to hear the spectrum of your thoughts! Feel free to contact us and/or comment below! We're open 10AM-10PM every day!

Photo ID: On a green background, black text reads: End of Year Check-In. In a light yellow cloud, text reads: How are you feeling about 2024? There is a line underneath ranging from "Not good" to "Meh" to "OK" to "Good" to "Amazing!" with red, orange, yellow, green, and blue hearts, respectively. Bottom text reads: Wherever you are, you aren't alone! Call or text Prism: 414-336-7974. The Prism Program logo is in the bottom right corner. End ID.

If the holiday season brings up complicated feelings, please know you’re not alone. The Prism Program warmline is open 10am-10pm daily, including the holidays, for peer support by and for the LGBTQ+ community. If you need a space to vent, grieve, reflect, or just need some company, reach out!

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This International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we lift up trans and nonbinary folks living with disabilities. Trans people experience higher rates of disability than non-trans people. As we mark this international day of recognition, we honor the intersections, challenges, and persistence of trans and nonbinary people living with disabilities.



[Image: Graphics of four people with disabilities: on the far left, a person in a fuzzy green jacket and green boots uses a wheelchair. Second from the left, a person with a prosthetic leg sits on the floor while drawing and listening to music. Third from the left, a person wearing a shirt with the autism symbol and tattoos uses a wheelchair. On the far right, a person wearing a salmon dress with a big pink bow uses crutches. Text: “International Day of Persons with Disabilities. December 3, 2023.” FORGE logo.]

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Today is Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day when we take time to honor those we have lost and to rededicate ourselves to fighting for trans rights. This year, we would especially like to honor Brazil Johnson, Toi Davis, Regina "Mya" Allen, Cashay Henderson, and Chyna Long, women who should still be with us.

Photo IDs: All photos have a solid black background. Slide 1. A pink, white, and blue flower is in the top right corner. The Prism Program logo with a prism refracting a rainbow is in the lower left corner. Text reads, "Transgender Day of Remembrance November 20, 2023." Slide 2. Text reads, "Wisconsin people to life up this year: Brazil Johnson, Toi Davis, Regina "Mya" Allen, Cashay Henderson, Chyna Long. They should still be with us. We will continue to uplift their memory by fighting for trans lives." Slide 3 includes a graphic detailing the TDOR event at Zao MKE Church with doors opening at 6:30 PM. Text reads, "Celebrate the lives lost this year with a candlelight vigil and access community resources present during the service." Slide 4. A person with long hair and a pink dress stands holding a trans flag. Text reads, "Trans people are extraordinary, strong, intelligent, persistent and resilient. We have to be. And we will not stand for the picking and choosing of rights. We still have hope. Sage Dolan-Sandrino." Slide 5. Text reads, "We are here to support you. Call or text: 414-336-7974 or email: [email protected] from 10 AM - 10 PM any day. Zoom support groups Tuesday evenings at 7 PM CT. Zoom Meeting ID: 841 2055 4336" END ID.

GSA's - MKE needs your help!

Image ID: On a blue background with rainbow edges, text reads: Courage MKE. Calling all GSA's! We need your help! Courage MKE is overwhelmed with requests for courage kits so we're hosting a competition to see who can collect the most items! The winning GSA will receive $1,000 to be used towards their annual GSA budget, second place will receive $500, and third place $250. Each item collected will be 1 point, each kit put together is 25 points! Did you know that each year more than 6,000 Courage kits are delivered to local Milwaukee schools and organizations? Each kit contains the following travel-size items: Deodorant, Shampoo/Conditioner, Toothbrush/Toothpaste, Gum or mints, trail mix or bars, Band aids, Chapstick, Soap, Handwarmers, Menstrual products, Gloves and hat, and Hand sanitizer. To participate and arrange a drop off / pick up please email [email protected]. Please turn all donations in by December 4th. END ID.

We wish we had some better news to share. The Senate has scheduled hearings on SB 479 and SB 480 on Thursday October 12th at 11:30am.

Senate Bill 479 - Relating to: a civil cause of action for a minor injured by a gender transition procedure. 

Senate Bill 480 - Relating to: prohibiting gender transition, medical intervention for individuals under 18 years of age.

Senate Committee on Health - 411 South at 11:30am - SB 479 & SB 480 

The hearing will be happening at the same time as the floor vote on the bills banning transgender athletes and gender affirming care in the Assembly, which starts at 10:00am. 

If you can come and testify, please do so. If you want to submit written testimony please written testimony to [email protected] by 5pm on Wed if possible.

If you are able to come in person please stop by 425 South West (same room as last week) if you need assistance or have questions. This room will also serve as a quiet space away from the hearings.

It's no coincidence that the Senate hearings are scheduled on the same day and time as the Assembly floor vote. They are trying to divide us and wear us down.

Please do what you can to push back against these harmful bills.

And to our trans youth and their families, please know that you are loved and there are a heckuva lot of people fighting for you.

Happy Bisexual Visibility Week, Prism people!!!! Need someone *bi* your side? We're here for you! Do you see what we did there? 😎

Image ID: On a pink, purple, and blue background, text reads "Happy Bi Visibility Week. Need someone BI your side? Call or text 414-336-7974." The Prism Program logo is in the top left corner, and a frog holding a bisexual flag heart sits in the bottom right corner. END ID.
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This Thursday! Come take advantage of our late night testing slots!
Call (414)390-0444 Ext:1 to inquire!

get informed.
spread love.

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***r

Hey Milwaukee County peers - please check out these locations if you need a place to cool off today. Be kind to your bodies!

We had such a blast tabling at this event - thank you SO MUCH Dead Bird Brewing!!!!!

Remember that awesome Market we had a couple weeks ago?? Ya know, the one that supported q***r makers and helped support the Prism Program?! We were able to donate $202.71 from the day! Thank you for showing up and helping us raise some money for this great cause!

Cheers 🍻

A message for our q***r and trans community after the protest today.

Image ID: Red text in the upper left corner reads "TW: Anti-LGBTQ+ Violence." Black text reads, "In light of the protest at the Watertown Pride in the Park event today, please... Stand up for LGBTQ+ people. Take extra time for self care today. Check on each other. Fellow q***r and trans friends, you deserve safe, celebratory events and for your rights to be preserved. If you need someone, we are here." The Prism logo is in the bottom left corner with the Prism phone number 414-336-7974 and hours 10AM-10PM daily and 12-10 on Saturdays. End ID.

Milwaukee area peers - check out this event next Friday!

Join us for Coffee with Courage on July 28th from 8-10am at our new location, the C2 Apartments. Come ask us questions, see the new building and find out what we're up to. We want to meet YOU, our Courage Family!

Attention Prism People - we have an exciting announcement!

Alt text: A yellow flier shows a rainbow banner. Text reads, "Announcement. Potential Warmline Delays. What's happening? The Prism team is completing a training created just for us by Peer Pride to help make our warmline better for you! What to expect: You may experience delays in response from 5-8pm on July 12, 13, 14, 17, and 18th. If we miss you, we'll follow up ASAP after 8pm! You can still call or text us at (414) 336-7974 or email [email protected]." To the right is a graphic of a person with long hair sitting at a desk in front of a laptop while holding a mug. The Peer Pride and Prism logos are at the bottom of the flier. END ID

The theme of Mental Health America’s 2023 BIPOC Mental Health campaign is Culture, Community, & Connection. Our lives are deeply intertwined with our environments, and these surroundings impact our mental health and overall wellness. Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) populations are faced with disproportionate amounts of historical trauma and displacement that can challenge their ability to thrive in their environments. However, culture, community, and connection are pillars that support and uplift BIPOC individuals in the face of oppression and systemic racism. Learn more at mhanational.org/july

We had such a blast at the Q***r Makers Market on Saturday thanks to Dead Bird Brewing! Thank you again for helping raise funds for us and for stopping by for some Prism freebies!

***rmakersmarket 🌈

June 26th is LGBT Equality Day, commemorating the national legalization of same-sex marriage. While we recognize this important step for marriage equality, we also need to continue to give voice to the challenges still facing LGBTQ communities, like the 500+ anti-trans bills that have been introduced in 2023.

Learn how you can support trans and nonbinary communities: https://forge.tips/3IgGVFD



[Image: Rainbow flags hanging on overlapping lines, surrounded by pink watercolor paint and blue rainbow arcs. Text: “LGBT Equality Day. June 26, 2023.” FORGE logo.]

We can't wait to have y'all out on Saturday! We've got quite the lineup featured and it's gonna be rockin'!



press





sky.studio



Whimsical World of Waarvik
Angelic Rage Co.

Music:
bleck

Cheers 🍻

Juneteenth (or Freedom Day) celebrates the end of slavery in the United States, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Although Juneteenth commemorates the legal end to slavery, many people still don’t have freedom or equality in the US. Learn more about this history of Juneteenth at Juneteenth.com.

[Image: Over a black background, text surrounded by green, red, and yellow splashes of paint. Text: “June Teenth. Day of Freedom. June 19, 2023.” FORGE logo.]

Calling all Milwaukee area peers! Check out this super cool event!

Hi Community! Join us and our partners, Pathfinders & Milwaukee LGBT Community Center, on Friday 6/16, at Lakeshore State Park! We'll start our bird hike at 6pm, followed by a pride bonfire at 7pm.

Pride started as a riot, but in addition it is also a celebration amongst us as LGBTQIA+ BIPOC and our diversity and resilience. See you all next week!

Looking for resources for or about trans people? We've got you! Check out the Trans Lifeline's Library here! Topics include Parents of Trans Youth, Gender Affirming Shopping, Legal, and more!

Trans Lifeline Library | Stand with Trans: Support for Trans Youth & their Families Trans Lifeline Library Welcome to the Trans Lifeline Library, a project funded by The HOPE Fund of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan. View of the city library in Malmo, Sweden Trans Lifeline Library Welcome to the Trans Lifeline Library! The Trans Lifeline Library is a Stand With Trans...

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Another wonderful year at so happy to meet so many wonderful amazing people, what a great way to kickstart

Happy Pride, Prism people! We'll be at Milwaukee Pridefest this weekend - stop by for stickers, Prism gear, and to say hello!

Alt text: Graphics show one person holding a nonbinary pride flag while sitting on someone's shoulders, a frog holding a pride flag heart, and rainbow colored flowers. The Prism logo (a glass prism refracting a rainbow) is at the bottom. Text reads: Happy Pride month. Join us at the Pridefest Health & Wellness area at Milwaukee Pridefest Firday June 3rd and Saturday June 4th. End.
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This Mental Health America invites you to to learn about how your surroundings can impact mental health. Learn more: MHAnational.org/May

We got to visit Bay View High School in Milwaukee to talk to the GSA about LGBTQ+ peer support, our warmline, prom, and a whole lot more! Thanks for having us! We also loved to see the mural painted by students to promote inclusion for all genders and sexualities. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️💕

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