Queer&Trans Intersectionswith thePICandAbolition

Thissessionfocusedonourlivedrealitiesasqueerandtrans folksandManyofourinsidemembersexpressedthegeneral environmentoffeartheyexperience.

Prison is definitely not the same for everyone... Imagine, 1200 men in an enclosed space making catcalls, lewd gestures, gyrations, and plain obscenities, rooting each other on; trying to one-up each other in vulgarity. Put that poor woman in the middle. Now you begin to feel the struggle of being a transwoman in prison. ~Anastasia (paraphrased)

Inside membersalso expressed frustrationat thelackof solidarity amongqueer

“Most of the LGBTQ ‘family’ in prison is so separated and cutthroat, it’s scary. We come from hard backgrounds, violence is all they know, there’s no real trust and everyone is hustling to

“The LGBTQ community is shot to hell in prison. Instead of the family concept, there’s now several gay and trans prison gangs fighting against each other instead of uniting to fight the PIC, so I want to see issues in the community fixed before

Somemembersstruggledwiththequestionofhowtostaysafe inaworldwithoutprisons.Manysharedexamplesofviolence fromotherinmatesandfearofwhatmoreviolencetherewould bewithoutthestatusquostructuresofpunishmentand containment,whileotherssharedabouthowoftentheweapons ofthePICareturnedagainstthevictimsofviolencethemselves.

“There’s the rape, the physical and mental abuse of transgenders by staff and inmates; speaking on this results in the victim being fucked over worse so we just have to take it and deal with the PTSD on our own.” ~Sylvia (inside member)

Miss Kelli shared her experience of being assaulted by two white supremacists just for being herself, yet she was the one charged and sent to solitary.

“We all know the PIC is evil, corrupt, and has to go. TGIJP asked for input on pending legislation to end solitary confinement, including Ad-Seg. I have been in Ad-Seg for non-disciplinary reasons and it was traumatic. Everyone in our transgender support group was against eliminating it. For us, abuse is a constant danger, so without ad-seg how can we be protected against our abusers? If we can answer this, we can end the PIC.” ~Anastasia

“When a man hits a transgirl, the officers either toss her in the hole or do nothing. But if I assault a man I get punished fully, and I know it’s even worse outside these walls.” ~Nicole

“How can we improve prisoners’ lives today without legitimizing and strengthening the system we ultimately want destroyed?’ I know I have no answers, there :(. It’s a paradox..” ~Dymitri