Almost 300 students gathered for PRISM’s annual Sex Toy Bingo Night at Pfleeger Hall last Friday. 

PRISM, the student-operated LGBTQIA+ advocacy organization at Rowan University has been conducting these events and others like it for nearly a decade now. Since their establishment in 2015, they have organized Sex Toy Bingo and other events, beckoning those from all walks of life to break down social barriers and raise awareness and money for an important cause. 

“Shock is always the first reaction,” said Arianna Little, the vice president of PRISM, in reference to the students or faculty’s responses when they hear about Sex Toy Bingo. 

“We’re all used to normal bingo with normal prizes, but our twist is making it a sex-positive event. It’s normally a taboo topic that people are afraid or ashamed to talk about. We aim to normalize the conversation around safe sex and ensure that the people in our community feel safe as well,” said Little. 

The concert hall was nearly filled to the brim as 279 students clenched their bingo cards and watched as the gift baskets were lined up at the front of the auditorium. The gift baskets, which were awarded to the winners of each game, were filled with different items that were donated by Fantasy Gifts, a local retailer that has been co-sponsoring the event. The bingo night presents those who are open to the cause a space for open dialogue regarding intimacy, identity, and self-acceptance through lighthearted jokes and games. 

Although the evening’s events are in a playful environment, the message and goal that PRISM wants to convey are serious. 

“PRISM’s mission is to educate, advocate, and support the LGBTQIA+ community within our campus. Each year, Sex Toy Bingo is run to raise money for our larger partners, such as the Trevor Project,” said PRISM President Mack Reilly.

The Trevor Project is a non-profit organization that focuses on suicide prevention within the LGBTQIA+ community. It is widely recognized for its 24/7 crisis hotline that provides the youth with potentially life-saving support. 

“With the hotline being free, it can be a struggle to pay the hardworking counselors on the other side of the line. This is why it’s so important that we hold this event and raise money. We also do this to raise awareness in our community, breaking the stigma of sex being such a different and weird thing between non-LGBTQIA+ people and those who identify,” said Reilly. 

A key ingredient to the success of this event and others going forward, is the partnership that PRISM has with Fantasy Gifts. Fantasy Gifts has donated thousands of dollars worth of safe-sex kits and gift baskets for the participants. 

“Without them, Sex Toy Bingo would not be possible, and we are forever grateful for our partnership,” said Reilly. 

The gifts that Fantasy Gifts provides for PRISM are part of a broader picture that encourages an environment that encapsulates the feeling of acceptance and diversity. 

“Sex Toy Bingo is openly advertised as an event for everyone,” said Little. “While our organization is aimed towards the LGBTQ+ community, we heavily value our straight allies and ensure that they know they are more than welcome at our events and meetings.”

In most circumstances, success would be measured by the monetary value and gain of the event, or the attendance numbers, however, PRISM lets other factors determine the success of their events. 

“Success is measured in change,” said Reilly. “At the end of an event like this, we know it was a success if we see attendees leaving happier than they came. The opportunity to make a difference in the lives of our students and the workers of The Trevor Project is success in itself.”

PRISM also finds value in the personal connections they establish through their various events. The people they manage to reach make up for any obstacles or hurdles that may come across. 

“Planning it all together has been difficult, and we’ve had our fair share of hurdles, but it wouldn’t have been possible without our team. Everyone on the board has gone above and beyond to make Sex Toy Bingo spectacular, and I wouldn’t trade the experience of working with them for the world,” said Reilly. 

Creating and continuously coming up with these kinds of events is not easy, and it can become overwhelming at times. The different themes as well as coordinating and operating within the means and boundaries of a college campus are the most daunting of tasks when coming up with these events. 

“At times, you will get frustrated, thinking that your peers believe you have all the time in the world to plan something like this,” said Reilly. “In the end, you remember, if you won’t do it, who will? The successes trickle in like a broken water spout, after overcoming each challenge, you get a sip of water or a breath of fresh air. In the end, it is all worth it for that rush of adrenaline on stage.”

Now in its ninth year of existence, Sex Toy Bingo has established itself as a paramount event for PRISM. But it is not the only event that PRISM is hosting, as they are active all year round. This December, they are also hosting their second annual winter gala, an event that will help those potentially facing crises involving their identity. Around this time of year, family engagement and communication are greatly encouraged, but for some that might be difficult to fathom due to their identity. 

“Some struggle during these months due to their identity, losing out on making memories with family,” Reilly said. “This is why we hold the Gala, a free event, for our community to feel joy for why they are here and how they matter.”

For PRISM and Rowan University’s LGBTQIA+ community, these events are used to practice advocacy, spread awareness, and connect with others. PRISM has created an event that offers far more than entertainment. It’s a symbol of what the LGBTQIA+ community stands for. A reminder of the importance of visibility, compassion, and solidarity.

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