FEBRUARY 2026VOL. 5 • ISSUE 1PRISMFL.ORGSPONSORED BYVISIT US ONLINE AT: OUTFAU.COM | INSTAGRAM: @OUTFAULOVE, UNSCRIPTEDQueer relationships beyond the scriptSEE PAGE 3TARGETED — THEN CLEAREDAn FAU professor returns after threats, doxxing, and suspensionSEE PAGE 4SEX ED, NO MYTHSWhat students actually need to knowSEE PAGE 6
2 OUTFAU | THIS ISSUE IS SPONSORED BY PRISM | FEBRUARY 2026OutFAU newspaper is a part of J&J Media Group. You should not presume the sexual orientation or gender identity of any featured individuals solely based on their names, appearance, or inclusion within this publication. Any opinions shared within stories, columns, graphics, or letters to the editor should not be assumed to represent the opinions of OutFAU or its publisher. Any stories or content, either in print or online, and also including any articles that are featured in conjunction with any media partners, are protected under federal copyright and intellectual property laws, and this ownership is carefully and jealously guarded by this media group. Nothing that is published may be reprinted, either in whole or in part, without first receiving written consent from Publisher, Jason Parsley. OutFAU is owned by Jason Parsley and Justin Wyse, and is represented legally by Russell Cormican. As a private corporation, J&J Media Group reserves the right to enforce its own standards regarding the suitability of advertising copy, illustrations, and photographs.Copyright © 2026 J&J Media Group.Executive EditorCHRISTIAN “CJ” WALDENDesignerJULIE PALMERContributorsCHRISTIAN “CJ” WALDEN • MARY RASURA KY WALKER • I. ROQUE • CHEYENNE E. BODDIEJOSEPH “JOEY” MANSOURAdvisorsMICHAEL KORETZKY • JASON PARSLEYBRENDON LIES • AURORA DOMINGUEZSales & MarketingFOR AD PLACEMENT, CALL 954-514-7095OR EMAIL [email protected] RASURAFIRST COPY IS FREE, EACH ADDITIONAL IS 50 CENTSOUTFAUFEBRUARY 2026 | VOL. 5 • ISSUE 1Spot an error? Let us know at [email protected] publication is solely the expression of the author and/or publisher and it is not an official publication of Florida Atlantic University, nor is it in any way intended to express any policies or opinions of Florida Atlantic University, or its personnel.Happy 2026 and a new semester, everyone! On behalf of the OutFAU team, welcome back. And if you’re a new reader, we’re glad you’re here.The team and I are proud to continue our goal to inform, empower, and amplify queer voices both on and off campus, while continuing our mission to foster awareness, celebrate identity, and build bridges across communities by highlighting the stories that matter most to queer and trans people at FAU.Now that we’re fully into the swing of the semester, make sure you’re taking care of yourself. Remember that you come first before anything else in your life. Rest when you need to. Reach out when you need support. And know that you’re not alone on this campus.Enjoy!Love Is LoveFebruary 14 is the beloved — some might say infamous — day of love, dates, and way too many restaurant reservations. While modern-day Valentine’s Day is celebrated around the world as a holiday of romance, it doesn’t always feel the same for members of the LGBTQ+ community.Homophobia is still, unfortunately, very real — even in 2026. Anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-trans legislation gets filed, debated, and even passed across the country. Queer folks are judged — sometimes quietly, usually loudly — for simply being who we are, especially when we’re unapologetically loud and proud. Our community is slandered, targeted, and forced to think about safety in ways many people never have to.So no, Valentine’s Day — and love — don’t always come with the same ease for us. But we fight back anyway, and we dare to exist every single day.That’s why the team decided to highlight their experiences and views on queer love; you can read them on page 3.Because love is love — and each and every single one of us deserves it.Black History MonthFebruary is recognized as Black History Month — a time to honor Black history, celebrate Black culture, and reflect on the generations of resilience, creativity, and leadership that have shaped our communities. What began as a dedicated effort to uplift African American history has grown into a wider recognition of Black contributions and stories around the world.For the LGBTQ+ community, it’s also a moment to learn and remember Black queer trailblazers who expanded CHRISTIAN “CJ” WALDEN EXECUTIVE EDITORLove, Resilience, And Showing UpCOVER: Photo via Adobe.LETTER FROM THE EDITORwhat freedom and community could look like. Names like Marsha P. Johnson, Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, Frances Thompson, Alvin Ailey, and Audre Lorde are more than historical references — they’re reminders of what’s possible when people insist on being seen.Take some time this month to read, watch, listen, and share. Learn the stories that schools skip. Celebrate the wins, honor the struggles, and recognize the impact — because Black history isn’t separate from our present. It’s part of how we move forward.Don’t know where to look? OutFAU’s sponsor, PRISM, is here to help. All month long, PRISM will be sharing different pieces of Black history through their Black History Month campaign on Instagram — don’t miss out. Plus, they have a wide range of resources on queer people of color on their website. Walden at Equality Florida’s 3rd annual Let Us Live march. Courtesy photo.Check out PRISM’s Black History Month Campaign here:Check out PRISM’s Resources on Queer People of Color here:
THIS ISSUE IS SPONSORED BY PRISM | FEBRUARY 2026 | OUTFAU 3Love, UnscriptedFall in Love Again and AgainSTAFFPERSONAL ESSAYSLove is love — but none of us experience it the same way. Between movies, dating apps, and Valentine’s Day marketing, we’re often handed one script: find “the one,” settle down, and call it complete. But queer love has always been bigger than that, messier than that, and more honest than that. These two personal essays offer just a glimpse into the endless ways people build connection, community, and commitment. Different journeys, different truths — same reminder: you get to define love for yourself.A reminder that love doesn’t come with one script — and you get to write yoursI’ve always been a romantic. I love romcoms. I love wedding shows. I love love. I began planning my future wedding when I was 8. In all my imaginings of big weddings and princess-cut gowns, there was always a placeholder waiting at the altar for me — a nameless, faceless figure who I knew would be a man, because that was the only thing ever modeled for me. As I got older, I realized that an idealized wedding was all wrong for me. I hate dresses — I hated them before I ever dreamed of a Cinderella-style gown. They’ve always felt uncomfortable and wrong on me, no matter how well they fit. I always felt uncomfortable and wrong, especially when it came to envisioning myself in a relationship. I didn’t start dating until well into high school, and even then, I never showed up as myself. I was scared to talk to my crushes about my identity after one told me he could “fix me.” When I began to fully embrace all parts of my identity, I started to find real love. I met my future wife, “CM”, the summer before our junior year of college, and I knew almost immediately I’d spend the rest of my life with her. I wasn’t even looking for another partner when I met “RJ” in an online chat room, but we clicked. We bonded fast, became friends, and before I knew it, we were telling each other “I love you.” A few months later, RJ met “IN” at a speed dating / friendship event — he wasn’t looking for a partner either, just hoping to make friends — but they kept talking after it ended. CHEYENNE E. BODDIEQueer Love As LiberationAs a Philosophy major, a lot of my work centers around the nature of man. The intricacies of identity — and the frameworks we’ve carved out for men and women, respectively, in Western civilization — are often on my mind. Aristotle speaks of two instances of natural subordination: that of the master over the slave and that of the man over the woman, which is quite funny to me. Plato, in his Symposium, tells us a Greek myth where, sometime long ago, “humans were originally created with four arms, four legs, and a head with two faces. Fearing their power, Zeus split them into two separate parts, condemning them to spend their lives in search of their other halves.” This myth — two halves doomed to search for missing limbs — prevails through the ages, with imagery and metaphors that seep into even the most modern cultural conventions. Pastel conversation hearts with soft-spoken pleas like “be mine” and “soulmate” are passed around by school children. Artificial Intelligence applications advertise everywhere that they have the expertise to find you a true “match.” This, however, is a clever Western notion that stems from a deep dissatisfaction with one’s material reality. For millennia, nonbinary people were considered sages — individuals who embodied the spirit of multiple genders and held some esoteric truth about wholeness. The Muxe of the Zapotec culture are artisans, masons, and I. ROQUEWhen they began dating, he introduced the two of us, and almost immediately, IN and I started mutually crushing. Within a year and a half of meeting RJ, IN and I were partners too. I’ve known I was open to polyamory since I first entered the dating space, but going from someone who barely dated to being in three committed relationships at once was a trajectory I never expected. Still, I can truly say queer love saved me. My partners see me, hold me, and lift me up in ways I never knew existed. To be loved by them, and to love them, has been one of the greatest, most fulfilling journeys of my life. Being able to be my full self with partners who are as nonbinary, as bi/pan, or ace as me has been incredible.craftspeople. The Hijra of South Asia, led by a guru, were prominent members of society before the terror of the British Raj. It is my true belief that love exists universally, and that queer love is not only a rebellion against the norms of society, but against the very idea of natural subordination itself. When one rids themselves of the dependency that comes with assuming any one gender, then one is free to pursue a better world for all. For some, that means taking on multiple partners. For others, it is breaking free from the heteronormativity that continues to silence us even today.However you love this Valentine’s Day, do it knowing that you’re free to — and that love always wins. Courtesy photo.Cheyenne and RJ. Courtesy photo. Cheyenne and CM. Courtesy photo.
4 OUTFAU | THIS ISSUE IS SPONSORED BY PRISM | FEBRUARY 2026was too shaken to truly enjoy it. Of course, we pressed charges, and Thomas Landry is facing two counts of battery.He lives across the fence from me. Am I afraid that he’ll come back, in the open-carry state of Florida, and threaten me if I show my face at a protest again? Yes. Am I gonna stop protesting? No. Renee Good wouldn’t have. Alex Pretti wouldn’t have. I carry their experiences with me as I stand up for my rights, and I encourage you to reflect on the privileges you have as citizens when it comes to expressing your thoughts about what’s happening in our country today. Everybody’s got something to lose. It’s through the bravery of regular folks like us that we still have a country worth fighting for. Back In The ClassroomDon’t Let Them Fool YouNEWSPERSONAL ESSAYDr. Karen J. Leader, an art history professor at Florida Atlantic University, spent roughly two months on paid administrative leave after being accused of “making comments” about the shooting of late conservative activist Charlie Kirk. In reality, Leader had reposted content not celebrated or encouraged violence.Leader’s leave began Saturday, Sept. 13. During that period, she said she was doxxed online and received death threats, turning what began as a university personnel matter into an alarming, personal safety situation.The university lifted Leader’s leave on Tuesday, Nov. 18, after an internal review determined her posts were protected speech. A university report concluded that “Leader’s posts are protected speech under the First Amendment and FAU policy,” and added that there was “no evidence that Leader… disrupted university operations.”In an interview with OutFAU, Leader said she felt “grateful” to be back on campus, especially with her students, while also urging the university to improve how it responds when online campaigns spill into the classroom.“I am grateful beyond words to be back with students. Being abruptly pulled from 3 classes was traumatizing for them and me,” said Leader. “This disruption was entirely the fault of bad-faith actors fomenting violence online, combined with poor administrative decisions at the presidential level at FAU. For the sake of our university mission, we must do better.”Looking ahead to Spring 2026, Leader said she plans to focus on the intersection of free speech and political violence, particularly how online incentives can escalate conflict. She said she has already given public presentations on the role of algorithms and “profit motives” in amplifying controversy, arguing that what drives “virality” can also intensify threats and intimidation.“I am pursuing a better understanding of the relationship between free speech and political violence,” she said. “I have given several public presentations so far about how algorithms and profit motives drove the actions of those using “Charlie Kirk” as a way to juice engagement, knowing that “virality” also stokes violence. It is mob politics on steroids, using terror to stifle speech. It is death to democracy.”Leader also said she hopes to offer nonpartisan voter education to campus groups and classes, and encouraged students and organizations to invite her to speak.“I will also be visiting classes, clubs, anyone who asks, to offer non-partisan voter education: ‘Everything You Need to Know About Registering and Voting,’” she said.Dr. Karen J. Leader can be reached at [email protected] and on Instagram at @proftinkerbell. About a month ago, I had books due at the Glades Road Branch Library. I’d been on a reading stint — mostly abolitionists and revolutionaries — in an effort to deepen my knowledge of my constitutional rights.I picked up a fresh stack and sped off on my scooter toward Dave’s Hot Chicken for lunch, but stopped in my tracks when I ran into a massive crowd of anti-ICE protesters about a mile from my house. Their signs carried the same message as the pages I’d been holding so close to my heart. “Who organized this? Did you organize this?!” I chirped at a burly man in spiffy fireman garb. “Me? No.” He shook his head, sunglasses shielding his gaze, struggling a little with his sign. “How can I help?” I offered, leaning my scooter against a telephone pole and setting my Trader Joe’s bag alongside it. I mean, it must have been fate. I was bummed I couldn’t attend the anti-ICE protest up North, but it felt like this one had come to me. At that point, I was free game. The scene looked like this for a while: I held my newfound friend’s sign on the corner, turning when he asked me to turn, holding it higher when he asked me to hold it higher. All of the blue — WHACK! A man I’ve come to know as Thomas Landry smacked the sign out of my hand, punched my friend, and started spitting in his face. I didn’t realize it at the time, but he — seemingly inebriated — was shouting obscenities, accusing my friend of being a “phony firefighter.” I whipped out my phone, got probably too close to the assault, and stood by. I didn’t instigate further; I only captured. At some point, my friend was able to call the police. Since we were already at a protest, they were thankfully nearby. My friend bought me that Dave’s Hot Chicken as a thank you for recording. I After two months on paid administrative leave, and amid online doxxing and threats, Dr. Karen J. Leader says she’s returning to campus “grateful,” but wants Florida Atlantic to “do better”A protest, an attack, and a neighbor across the fence: why this student won’t stop speaking outCHRISTIAN “CJ” WALDEN EXECUTIVE EDITORI. ROQUELearn more about the Jan. 10 anti-ICE protest here:Screenshot courtesy of I. Roque.Dr. Karen J. Leader. Courtesy photo.
THIS ISSUE IS SPONSORED BY PRISM | FEBRUARY 2026 | OUTFAU 5I’ll Still Call Florida Home Student Government Should Feel Like The Student BodyCHEYENNE E. BODDIEPERSONAL ESSAYGUEST COLUMNIt’s cliché to say, but I always did get a bit of pleasure from the phrase “I live where you vacation.”I loved rubbing the great weather, access to beaches, and variety of cultures in the faces of my friends and family from out of state. And although I’ve always wanted to see the world, when I imagine myself settling down, it’s here. Because of this, it’s been devastating to face the fact that I have to leave — and may not be able to safely return.As I said, I always envisioned myself leaving the state to see the world and experience other ways of life. I started developing my “up and out plan” in my senior year of high school, plotting out the various paths I could take north and where I might settle for a time, considering states as close as Georgia or as far-flung as California. But regardless of where I wanted to visit, I always assumed that in four or so decades, I would return to the place that I’ve always called home.Then, the first election of Donald Trump, a few months later, changed my plans a little.As a Queer Black person, I’m no stranger to hatred. But the vitriol that Trump encouraged in his followers truly scared me. I cried when he won because, to me, it meant that our society was moving away from the acceptance and equality it claimed to uphold. In the decade since his first election, we’ve only fallen further from those ideals. I fear every day for the families of my classmates and my partner — for my own family, who are naturalized citizens but may be attacked or deported solely for their skin color or accents. I fear even more for the ones who are undocumented, or have loved ones who are. I fear every day that I may not be able to marry the person I love and plan to spend the rest of my life with because same-sex marriage is at risk, and we may both be at risk due to our other queer identities.I fear, too, for the beautiful beaches, natural parks, and our incredible wildlife under regimes that don’t believe in climate change and are willing to encroach on natural lands in the name of profit.So, I’m leaving. I’m not sure when — I’m still in college, and I’ll need to save up, but I’m looking for places where my partner and I will be safer, happier. I hope that someday I can safely return, but no matter where I go, I’ll still call Florida home. Students walking across the breezeway at Florida Atlantic University see campaign tables almost every semester. Posters promise transparency. Candidates promise representation. Slogans promise that Student Government (SG) will fight for the student body. For many students, however, those promises have begun to feel distant from their everyday experiences on campus.A recent letter to the editor in FAU’s University Press, written by SG Jupiter Senator and Sunshine Party Chair, Caroline Ribeiro, voiced a concern that many students quietly share. She argued that SG has drifted away from the practical needs of ordinary students and has become influenced by outside political networks and organized funding that shape elections before most students even vote. Instead of focusing on issues such as parking, library hours, classroom resources, and support for student organizations, the system can feel dominated by money, branding, and connections. The Sunshine Party was created in direct response to those frustrations.Rather than relying on outside interests or large political machines, the Sunshine Party centers its mission on student-first representation. Its goal is simple and local: put students back at the center of campus decisions. That means campaigning on everyday concerns that affect commuters, residents, first-generation students, and club leaders. It means listening to classmates, not outside donors. It means building a government that is transparent about spending, accessible to students, and focused on results that can be felt across campus.Where Ribeiro’s letter describes an uneven playing field shaped by money and professional marketing, the Sunshine Party emphasizes grassroots involvement. Volunteers, conversations, and peer-to-peer outreach are meant to power campaigns. The belief is that leadership should come from students who understand the campus because they live it every day, not from groups with resources beyond the university.The connection to Ribeiro’s letter is clear. Her warning highlights what happens when representation becomes detached from the people it is meant to serve. The Sunshine Party wants to correct that disconnect by returning SG to its original purpose. Instead of treating elections as stepping stones or political contests, the party treats them as opportunities to solve real problems: more commuter parking, longer study space hours during exams, clear funding for student organizations, and better communication between students and administrators. These are not abstract debates, but daily realities. The Sunshine Party also pushes transparency and accountability. Students should be able to see where their fees go, how budgets are allocated, and why decisions are made. When students understand the process, trust grows. When leaders remain visible and accessible, participation increases. A representative government only works when students feel that their voices matter.Ultimately, the Sunshine Party represents a shift in focus from external influences to the campus community. It reflects the same concern raised by Ribeiro while offering a constructive path forward. If SG is meant to be the closest form of democracy students experience, then it should look and feel like the student body itself. The message is straightforward: Student Government should belong to students — and the Sunshine Party exists to make sure it does. Courtesy photo.Reflections from a native Floridian planning to move awayThe Sunshine Party says it’s pushing back against outside influence with a student-first, results-driven agendaJOSEPH “JOEY” MANSOUR SG BOCA HOUSE REPRESENTATIVECheck out The Sunshine Party here:Sunshine Party. Courtesy photo.
6 OUTFAU | THIS ISSUE IS SPONSORED BY PRISM | FEBRUARY 2026Sex Ed MythbustersKY WALKERFEATUREWhen it comes to sex ed, getting accurate information can feel like searching for an outlet in a crowded lecture hall. It’s hard to know what resources to trust, where to turn, and misinformation shows up fast. Schools often skimp on details, myths travel quicker than facts, and young folx — especially those in the LGBTQ+ community — get left out entirely. A lot of students are trying to find real answers and safe spaces to ask questions. When I worked in HIV prevention, I heard the same frustrations all the time: “Why didn’t anyone teach us this?” and “I don’t even know what’s true.” I also heard a handful of myths that keep circulating and can lead to confusion, shame, or real health risks. Here are some of the most common misconceptions — paired with facts — so you can stay informed and take control of your health.Myth: “Trans people on HRT can’t get pregnant / get someone pregnantFact: Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and other gender-affirming hormones are not birth control. Estrogen may reduce sperm production, but fertility can persist (and sometimes return). Testosterone can stop periods for many people, but ovulation can still occur. If there are sperm and eggs in the mix, pregnancy is still possible — so contraception still matters. Talk with partner(s) ahead of time about what you’re Photo by NIAID via Wikimedia Commons.using and what your plan is.Myth: “HIV is a ‘gay disease.’”Fact: HIV affects everyone regardless of identity. Gay and bi men are disproportionately impacted in the U.S., but anyone can be born with or contract HIV. The CDC recommends everyone aged 13-64 get tested at least once, and people at higher risk test more often. Prevention tools — condoms, PrEP, PEP, and Doxy-PEP for some — are for anyone who needs them.Myth: “Talking about testing ruins the mood.”Fact: Communicating about safer sex is caring — and honestly, it can be sexy. If it feels awkward, make it low-pressure: grab food, watch a movie, then go get tested together. It takes the “interview” vibe out of it and builds trust. Regular screening matters because plenty of STIs have no symptoms.Myth: STIs make someone “dirty.”Fact: There is nothing “dirty” or shameful about having an STI or HIV. Anyone who is sexually active can contract an STI at any time. Shame-based language pushes people away from testing and treatment and increases stigma. Skip “clean/dirty” and focus on care: testing, treatment, communication, and safersex strategies.Myth: “Plan B doesn’t work for people over a certain weight / BMI.”Fact: This concern comes up a lot, and the reality is more complicated than a viral post makes it sound. Effectiveness can vary person to person, and some evidence suggests weight may affect how well certain emergency contraception works, but that doesn’t mean Plan B is useless. If you’re worried, ask a provider or pharmacist about your options, including ella (ulipristal acetate), which may be a better fit for some people.Myth: “The only emergency contraception is pills like Plan B.”Fact: Pills are one option, but not the only one. A copper IUD can also be used as emergency contraception if placed within five days after sex — and it can provide longterm pregnancy prevention afterward, too. If you’re deciding what to do after a scare, a clinician can help you pick the option that fits your timeline and body best. Myths spread fast. Here are the facts that help you stay informed and in controlMyth: “You can’t get STIs from oral sex.”Fact: You can contract STIs from oral sex — gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, herpes, and HPV are all possible. HIV transmission through oral sex is less common, but risk can increase if there are sores, cuts, or bleeding gums. Barriers (condoms, dental dams) and avoiding sex when you have mouth sores or cuts lowers risk. Pay attention to your body, and give yourself time to heal when you need it.Myth: “If I’m on PrEP or birth control, I’m fully covered.”Fact: Different tools protect against different things. PrEP protects against HIV, not other STIs, and not pregnancy. Most birth control methods (pill, patch, ring, shot, implant, IUD) prevent pregnancy but don’t protect against STIs. Barrier methods — like external or internal condoms — are the main method that reduces STI risk while also helping prevent pregnancy. A lot of people combine tools: PrEP + condoms, or birth control + condoms, plus routine testing and vaccines like HPV and hepatitis A/B.Myth: “If I had sex a few days ago, an HIV / STI test will definitely catch it.”Fact: Tests have “window periods,” meaning very recent exposures may not show up right away. That’s why routine screening matters, and why timing can be important. If you think you were recently exposed to HIV, ask a clinician about PEP as soon as possible.Let’s Be Real It can be awkward to ask questions about sex, especially when you don’t know where to turn. For LGBTQ+ folks, it can feel even harder — because even healthcare providers aren’t always trained to support queer and trans patients well.That’s why Compass LGBTQ+ Community Center in Lake Worth is here. Compass offers free, confidential HIV/STI testing, linkage to treatment, and prevention options like PrEP, PEP, and Doxy-PEP (for some). They also provide free condoms, dental dams, lube, and Plan B (when available). Have questions and don’t know where to go? Ask me. No question is stupid, weird, or off-limits. You deserve accurate info — and care that respects you. Have questions and don’t know where to start? Reach out.561-533-9699 ext. [email protected] affects everyone regardless of identity. Gay and bi men are disproportionately impacted in the U.S., but anyone can be born with or contract HIV.
THIS ISSUE IS SPONSORED BY PRISM | FEBRUARY 2026 | OUTFAU 7The Queerbaiting Letdown Of The “Stranger Things” FinaleCJ GODDARDREVIEWAfter nearly a decade of buildup, the popular show closes the door on its queerest storylines — and fans are left holding the disappointmentFellas and fellows, is it queer to see your best friend wreathed in golden light every time you look at him? According to the Duffer brothers, that answer is a firm no. The ending of “Stranger Things” came out and left the majority of the fandom with a bitter taste in their mouths — and not just because of the finale’s lackluster writing. Ringing in the New Year, many were expecting confirmation of the slow-burning romantic subplot that had been brewing in the foreground of the first four and a half seasons. Instead, the rug was pulled out from under fans’ feet when an open ending left the two main characters unrequited, and the WLW relationship got together, only to be immediately broken up during the epilogue. Mike Wheeler and Will Byers were each other’s confidants for the entire runtime of the show. They trusted each other in ways they never quite did with anyone else. Mike, at one point, trusted Will more than he trusted his girlfriend at the time — and couldn’t even tell her that he loved her without first consulting Will. The two fought in the rain, biked across town for each other, and seemed to love each other quite deeply. But when the finale came to a close, they were separated, and Will was paired with a boyfriend who was never shown on screen. This ending, unfortunately, doesn’t come as a shock to some, because we’ve seen this play out across plenty of shows within the past decade. A prime example is “Voltron: Legendary Defender,” which aired on the same streaming service and wrapped on a very similar note. Many fans hoped that, Editor’s Note: Spoiler warning: Do not read if you still haven’t seen the finale (you’re living under a rock).in nearly 2026, queerness would finally be allowed to flourish on-screen in a show not centered on romance. Instead, the finale was another disappointing letdown.Around the same time, Netflix also announced the removal of many beloved shows due to licensing expirations, including the queer-centric “She-Ra and the Princesses of Power” and several other pieces of content aimed at teens and younger audiences that include queer characters and storylines. Even if that’s most likely out of the platform’s control, it could not come at a worse time — because it implied much more than a simple licensing expiration. Most of us know how protections for queer folks have been worn away — or outright removed — under the actions of the current administration. And it’s not a stretch to claim that the media produced and distributed at any given time is emblematic of the status quo that it’s made in. The creators chose to queerbait their characters: both with Mike and Will, and with the relationship between Vickie and Robin Buckley, who got together at the beginning of season five and were broken up during the epilogue. “Stranger Things” sidelined its queer characters at the finish line, and the arcs that they were set on were left without solid conclusions. Will ending the show with a boyfriend falls flat when that boyfriend is never shown on screen. And when the two WLW characters in your show break up during a time skip, it feels like a cheap trick — like trying to bury your gays without being explicit about it.“Stranger Things” fans deserved better than nearly a decade’s worth of queerbaiting. But hey — at least we were all crazy together. Public domain photo, via Wikimedia Commons.A “Safe Space” For Women In Media Is Taking Shape At FAUMARY RASURAFEATUREPhoto courtesy of Phoebe Potter.Networking has a branding problem. It sounds like name tags, forced smiles, and pretending you “love connecting.” But The NetWork: Women in Media and Communications is pitching something different: community, career skills, and a space where women in media and communications can actually feel supported. In an interview, NetWork President Phoebe Potter, said the organization was designed to be both supportive and practical.“The NetWork: Women in Media and Communications (TNWMC) was created as a safe space for women in these fields at Florida Atlantic, dedicated to professional development,” said Potter.Potter, who is earning a BFA in visual art with a concentration in sculpture and a minor in women, gender, and sexuality studies, emphasized that the organization’s mission is broader than one major or department.“TNWMC is not exclusive to women in Media and Communications,” Potter said. “It is open to those who care about empowering women and want to gain career-ready skills in addition to what they learn in the classroom.”The goal, she added, is for members to leave FAU feeling more confident and less alone. “We hope our members feel they have a group of people who will prioritize their safety and help them gain confidence as young professionals once they graduate,” stated Potter.Programming this semester aims to balance social connection with career preparation. “We try to have a mix of community bonding through fun events alongside workshops built to aid professional development, so be sure to see our event lineup for this semester!” Potter said. For Potter, the club also connects to the women who have shaped her life outside campus.“I personally hold my female friendships and relationships with the influential women in my life, primarily my mom and educators, in the highest regard,” she said. “All of these connections have helped me develop into who I am today, so I joined the NetWork to further build these connections in a safe and professional setting.”Students interested in joining or keeping up with events can follow the NetWork on Instagram @thenetworkfau, find the club on Owl Central, or visit their Linktree through their Instagram bio. Visit TNWMC’s Linktree here:
8 OUTFAU | THIS ISSUE IS SPONSORED BY PRISM | FEBRUARY 2026