Welcome to the official website for PrismND! To learn more about the organization, feel free to explore the other pages on the site.
My dear people, let us love one another since love comes from God and everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. Anyone who fails to love can never have known God, because God is love.
— John 4:7‐8
T-Shirt Fundraiser for Black LGBTQ+ Lives
Notre Dame, St. Mary’s, and Holy Cross students, faculty, and staff with access to campus: Fill out the form here to make a donation and get your t-shirt!
PrismND is dedicated to inclusivity and intersectionality, and released a statement on racial justice on June 12, 2020.
Black Lives Matter
“No pride for some of us without liberation for all of us.”
-Marsha P. Johnson
To our friends, members, allies, and the Notre Dame community,
Our nation cries out for justice following the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, Nina Pop, and countless other victims of police brutality, white supremacy, and the legacy of colonialism. In response to recent violence, and in recognition of the long road ahead to achieve equality and justice at the University of Notre Dame and beyond, a coalition of Black clubs wrote a comprehensive call to action for the university. PrismND fully supports the statement of the Black Student Association and other Black clubs, as well as the statement from the Notre Dame Student Government. Through direct, structural, and cultural violence, our nation has failed to protect our Black neighbors, even within our own South Bend community and university. The time for inaction has passed.
Catholic Social Teaching reminds us of universal human dignity and the importance of solidarity. Everyone has a responsibility to address racial injustice, but PrismND recognizes an additional obligation to take action in light of the intersectional nature of Black and queer identities. The LGBTQ+ community owes a debt of gratitude to Black leaders of the queer and civil rights movements, such as Marsha P. Johnson, Audre Lorde, and Bayard Rustin. Black LGBTQ+ people occupy an especially vulnerable place in society, as evidenced by the recent deaths of Tony McDade, a Black trans man, and Nina Pop, a Black trans woman. In solidarity with our Black and queer friends and allies, we at PrismND are committed to working for racial justice in whatever capacity we can.
PrismND has been in communication with the Student Activities Office and with Black-led organizations and clubs on campus, including the Black Student Association, to discern how to best use our platform and our resources to promote justice at this time. We intend to organize a fundraiser within the coming weeks, and we are dedicated to providing inclusive, intersectional programming during the upcoming school year.
Our officers and our advisor are always willing to help individual students. Please feel free to reach out if there is any way that we can offer assistance or support. The following organizations offer a variety of resources:
- The Marsha P. Johnson Institute: The Marsha P. Johnson Institute protects and defends Black transgender people and responds to issues of race, gender, and violence through its advocacy and leadership.
- Center for Black Equity: The Center for Black Equity advocates for economic, health, and social equity for Black LGBTQ+ communities around the world.
- Black Lives Matter South Bend: South Bend’s local Black Lives Matter organization actively organizes to seek freedom and restorative justice for Black people; it also works to foster a gender-inclusive, queer-affirming community.
Additionally, we have created a list of black-led LGBTQ+ organizations separated by region. Please let us know if there are other organizations we should be made aware of.
During Pride Month, and for as long as injustice persists, we encourage our queer family and allies to join us in supporting Black Lives Matter and Black-led LGBTQ+ organizations across the country. We are also committed to continuing a conversation about justice, and we will continue to work towards empowerment, equality, and community for those at the intersections of racial and LGBTQ+ identities.
In solidarity and on behalf of the PrismND board,
Matt Sahd
President
Matthew Bisner
Co-Vice President
Aaron Moyer
Co-Vice President
Claire Sison
Treasurer
Molly Doerfler
Secretary
Gabe McKenna
Historian
PrismND 