In North Florida, a college is censoring LGBTQ stories.
In South Florida, OutFAU is publishing them.
That contrast says everything about why queer student journalism matters right now.
What’s happening at Pensacola State College should concern anyone who believes students deserve the freedom to tell LGBTQ stories. At the same time, it should reinforce why projects like OutFAU matter now more than ever.
A few years ago, Out South Florida, in collaboration with student Mary Rasura, launched OutFAU in direct response to the attacks on LGBTQ inclusion happening across Florida.
Rasura wanted to create a space where queer students could be seen, heard, and empowered — especially after Florida Atlantic University’s DEI center was shut down.
What started as an act of defiance has grown into something much bigger.
Last week, OutFAU’s cover story also served as the cover story for OutSFL. The deeply reported, 3,000-word feature demonstrated exactly what student journalists are capable of when they are given support, mentorship, and the freedom to pursue ambitious storytelling.
"This is one of the most comprehensive looks at the current state of the fight for personal freedoms in Florida today,” a statement from Compass Community Center reads. “It looks at all the main issues facing the LGBTQ+ community over the last decade."
Another reader wrote: “Mary Rasura’s piece was a real tour d'force of research and analysis.”
It was not “good for a student newspaper.” It was simply good journalism.
OutFAU now wraps up its third school year, and in that short time the publication has already earned 19 awards.
That success does not happen by accident. It takes talented students willing to put in the work, editors willing to lead, and a community willing to believe queer student journalism is worth investing in.
As we say goodbye to editor CJ Walden — who is graduating and heading into a master’s program — we also want to thank him for helping guide OutFAU through another successful year. At the same time, we are excited to welcome Joey Mansour as OutFAU’s incoming editor.
Leadership transitions are defining moments for any publication, and we are looking forward to seeing where Joey and the next generation of student journalists take OutFAU.
But while we celebrate OutFAU’s growth, Pensacola remains a reminder of how vulnerable LGBTQ student journalism can still be.
Across Florida and beyond, student journalists are facing increasing pressure, uncertainty, and political scrutiny. Some publications are being marginalized. Others are being silenced before they even have a chance to grow.
That is why supporting projects like OutFAU matters.
It is also why we want to thank PRISM for its sponsorship this year and the Our Fund Foundation for its grant support.
These partnerships help ensure queer students continue to have opportunities to learn journalism, tell stories, and build community.
Because publications like OutFAU do not survive on passion alone.
They require mentorship, resources, equipment, photography, editing support and the simple ability to give students the tools they need to succeed.
Most importantly, they require people willing to invest in the next generation of LGBTQ storytellers.
Today’s student journalists become tomorrow’s newsroom leaders, advocates, photographers, editors, filmmakers, and community voices.
If we want a future where queer stories continue to be told accurately and unapologetically, we have to help build that pipeline now.
To the students of OutFAU: congratulations on another successful year. You should be proud of what you created.
And to our readers and supporters: thank you for helping make this work possible. If you believe in queer journalism, queer visibility, and giving LGBTQ students the opportunity to learn and thrive, we hope you’ll continue supporting OutFAU and OutSFL.
Because visibility does not sustain itself.
People sustain it.
