This organization--based out of Madison, Wisconsin--is, in its own words, a "trans-affirming, racial justice-focused, prison abolitionist project sending books to incarcerated LGBTQ+-identified people across the United States."
We are working with this organization to we collect the books eligible for donation and this organization sends it to the prisoners in need of them!
For more on their organization please visit the link below:
Discrimination and Stigmatization: LGBTQ+ prisoners often face discrimination from inmates and staff. Transgender individuals are at heightened risk, being ten times more likely to experience sexual assault as opposed to non-members of the LGBTQ+ community. In Wisconsin, 40% of transgender individuals face these risks. Stigma often leads to isolation and victimization.
Mental Health Issues: Hostile environments such as ones found in prisons exacerbate mental health struggles like depression and anxiety. LGBTQ+ prisoners are disproportionately placed in solitary confinement.40% of transgender individuals have attempted suicide at a time in their lives, which is about 10 times the national average. This number significantly increases in prisons settings because of the lack of support in prisons and the hostile conditions.
Facility Placement: Transgender individuals are often assigned facilities based on anatomy or birth gender, increasing their vulnerability to abuse. LGBTQ prisoners face very high rates of sexual abuse and other acts of violence by staff and other prisoners. In the last year, sexual assault was three times higher for non-community members and about 10 times higher for all transgender prisoners. As a way to address this issue many prisons use solitary confinement to make the prisoners "safe" but this can be a form of psychological torture that can lead to anxiety and depression.
Social Factors: High rates of homelessness, poverty, and violence contribute to overrepresentation in the criminal system. Many lack access to resources, with 82% unaware of help for abusive relationships and 15% excluded from programs due to their identity.
Lack of Resources: Limited access to tailored support, such as literature or groups, worsens isolation. Only 20% of LGBTQ+ prisoners have access to LGBTQ+ materials, and many lack care for issues like gender dysphoria or PTSD.
Reintegration Challenges: LGBTQ+ individuals leaving prison struggle with housing, jobs, and support due to discrimination and lack of resources. One in five transgender individuals experiences homelessness after release, and over 50% of formerly incarcerated LGBTQ+ people remain unemployed. Without housing or stable work, many face higher risks of re-incarceration. Expanding job programs, housing support, and mental health care can help them successfully reintegrate.