Welcome to Prism, a multiracial, multifaith coalition for LGBTQ liberation in Minnesota! In partnership with other movements for justice, we organize and build power for the protection and freedom of queer folks across the state. I’m excited that we’ve already got more than 150 people who have expressed interest in building this movement!

In addition to showing up at the Capitol last week to encourage legislators to protect Minnesota’s trans neighbors (above), we’ve started to make ourselves known with this new website, and new Facebook and BlueSky pages. Follow and share if you’re on one of the social platforms—word of mouth is one way we will continue to welcome others to this shared work. And if you want to get updates like this in your inbox, here’s where folks can join the email list!

In founding this network, I’ve chosen the name “Prism” for several reasons. First, a prism helps to make visible what is hidden in plain sight. When visible light passes through a prism, the clear triangular object separates out the visible light spectrum into the colors of the rainbow. That rainbow is always there in everyday light, but needs a prism to make it visible to the bare eye. Likewise, LGBTQ people exist in every family, faith community, neighborhood, and city across Minnesota, but many of us can remain hidden unless we deliberately reveal ourselves. Second, I’ve learned that prisms are used in manufacturing to focus lasers and otherwise intensify light. Our organizing work not only reveals the multiracial, multifaith, and statewide existence of LGBTQ people—we also focus the energies of queer folks and our allies for greater protection, freedom, and thriving for all of us.

Watch this space for much more to come. Please let me know what you think of this blog, and if you’d like to meet up to talk about ways we can build Prism power together!

Oby Ballinger

Founder and Lead Organizer