Connor Corzine measures community leadership by whether young LGBTQ people can find support when they need it most.
Corzine, 30, is a gay Boynton Beach resident who served as chair of PRISM’s board of directors from 2023 to 2026. During that time, he helped connect LGBTQ youth with resources, acceptance and a community that could remind them they were not alone, even when their situations at home were difficult.
“I’m incredibly proud of how PRISM has grown into a cherished organization in our community that continues to serve more young LGTBQ people every day,” Corzine said.
Helping create spaces where young people feel welcome and empowered to be themselves has been among his proudest accomplishments. His work comes from an understanding that LGBTQ identity can expose people to barriers and personal challenges that others may never face.
“Coming out gave me a deeper appreciation for the importance of empathy, inclusion, and mutual respect,” he said. “That perspective has influenced how I build relationships, support others, and approach both my personal and professional life.”
For Corzine, being out and proud begins with recognizing one’s worth. It also means having enough confidence to speak up, create change and reject the pressure to hide the qualities that LGBTQ people bring into every space they occupy.
“Visibility matters because it helps inspire others to live authentically and reminds the world that queer culture deserves to be celebrated, respected, and valued,” he said.
Corzine’s message to LGBTQ youth acknowledges how difficult self-discovery can become when it is surrounded by judgment, expectations and criticism. His advice is to separate those outside voices from the truth of who they are.
“The sooner you can tune out the pressure to be someone you’re not, the sooner you can begin living as your authentic self,” Corzine said.
His belief in supportive relationships also shapes his personal life. Corzine has shared the past 11 years with his partner, and he considers building their loving relationship one of his greatest achievements.
That personal stability and his work with PRISM reflect the same principle: people thrive when they are seen, respected and supported.
Corzine’s favorite quotation, from the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., connects that local work to a broader responsibility: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”
