What can we do as citizens to peacefully create change? This is the question that we tried to answer in the final unit of our Humanities class, Global Peace. We studied different ways to analyze and understand violence, looking at real examples and applying them to our own lives. By studying famous peacemakers, such as Sharp and Gandhi, we learned many different strategies for peaceful change and were able to better understand famous protests and movements. For our Action Project, our goal was to start or participate in our own peaceful protest. I chose to focus on the efforts being made by the organization Black & Pink, dedicated to improving conditions for incarcerated LGBT people and, ultimately, abolishing prisons.
More than seven million people around the United States are incarcerated; about two percent of the entire population. Of these, more than twenty-five percent of those people identify within the LGB community. LGBT and Queer people are three times more likely to be incarcerated than the general population (Williams Institute), and 59% of incarcerated transgender people have been sexually abused or assaulted (Cowart). Even as laws and policies change to support LGBT people on the outside, jailed people are often given harsher punishments than their straight and cisgendered counterparts, abused in prison and are jailed at much higher rates than they commit crimes. What we must first do to see the full scope of the issue is understanding exactly where this oppression is coming from. First, and most obvious, is structural violence. Structural violence is the oppression that has been placed on LGBT+ people by the government and powerful systems like private prison companies. Next is societal violence, the oppression originating from other people. One of the biggest influences on this in the United States are religious groups, especially Christian, that believe that being gay and trans is a sin. And, lastly, this issue is an example of direct violence, meaning person-to-person. This is perhaps the most visible, in instances of sexual abuse or assault, and physical abuse.
Over and over in history, we have seen those in power take advantage of those without power. Our prison systems in the US are increasingly broken and dangerous, and most often, the solution to keeping transgender people ‘safe’ is locking them away in solitary confinement, a practice that is widely considered against the eighth amendment. Currently, the United States prison system lies on the fourth rung of the ladder of tolerance: oppression. LGBT people are consistently profiled by law enforcement, and the same protections given to straight and cisgendered people do not exist under the law. Just seven years ago, an amendment was added to the Prison Rape Elimination Act that included specific protections for transgender and intersex inmates, the groups with the highest rates of abuse against them; trans women are 13 times more likely to be assaulted than the average prisoner (TransEquality). Using a conflict analysis tree, we can begin to understand the root of the problem. People are afraid of what is different than them and the difference between straight, cisgendered people and LGBT people, whether real or perceived, often causes oppression, violence and, of course, higher rates of incarceration.
Tackling the issues of prison abolishment and LGBT incarceration since 2004, Black and Pink is an organization founded by Jason Lyndon to help connect Queer people both in and out of prison. One of their most popular programs and a large reason why they are so successful is their penpal program. People can sign up and are matched with someone to exchange letters, art, photography, and more. Their studies have proven that prisoners who are involved with Black and Pink are much less likely to commit repeat crimes, have severe depression, or commit suicide. Although rates of mental illness, especially depression, are much higher in prisons than the general population, (more than 65% of prisoners suffer from some sort of mental illness) the rate of illness among LGBT prisoners is even higher (NAMI). LGBT people often feel isolated and lonely, especially if they are locked away with mostly cisgender, straight people and guards who are either apathetic or abusive. Connecting with inmates and showing them that they do have a support system and someone who cares can make all of the difference. This closely relates to the Gandhian principle of sarvodaya or the uplifting of all. We have seen time and time again in history that the only way to truly make a difference is by human connection. It shouldn’t matter whether someone is gay or straight, trans or cis, incarcerated or free; what really matters is that we are all human and none of us deserve to be alone. And that is why I became a Black and Pink member the day after I turned eighteen. I have been bullied throughout my life, and though I cannot relate to the feeling of being incarcerated, I can relate to the loneliness that can cement itself when it seems as though you are the only person who understands.
Through Sharp’s second method of peaceful protest, writing letters in support, I hope to raise awareness of the dangerous situations that LGBT people find themselves in through our prison system. I also wanted to provide emotional support to at least one incarcerated person, to show others that they can also reach out and help. A survey completed by Black and Pink in 2014 found that 85 percent of the inmates who responded had spent time in solitary confinement, and half of those had collectively spent more than two years there. As one transgender prisoner wrote, “I was placed in solitary after being raped… only released after it drove me to a suicide attempt.” I want to do my part, no matter how small it may seem, to help those who have to live like this. By providing support from the outside, my goal is to inspire hope for the future, and instill confidence in as many people as I can to fight back against the unjust system.
Even the smallest acts of kindness can change lives. That is the most important lesson that I have learned throughout this project. When you look at all of the statistics and overall research, it is almost impossible not to be disheartened and scared for the future. Even though there are millions of people that are locked up, the fact that I have made just one of their lives better means so much to me. That is one more person who is much less likely to commit suicide, one more who will probably not repeat the same crime. Although I had done research before starting this project, it was the act of writing the letter that really changed it for me. Instead of looking at anonymous numbers from a website, I was looking at a real person who needs help. I will continue my involvement in this program for the rest of my life. By reaching out to oppressed people anywhere and letting them know that they are not alone, anyone can change a life. I hope after reading about my experiences that you will too.
Daley, Elizabeth. “STUDY: LGBT Inmates More Likely To Be Sexually Abused, In Solitary.” Advocate.com, Here Publishing, 21 Oct. 2015.
“Department Of Justice Study: Mental Illness Of Prison Inmates Worse Than Past Estimates.” NAMI, National Alliance on Mental Illness, 6 Sept. 2006.
“Incarceration Rate of LGB People Three Times the General Population.” Williams Institute, UCLA School of Law, 9 Jan. 2018.
HRC Staff. “DOJ Releases Data on Use of Segregation & Solitary Confinement in Prisons and Jails.” Human Rights Campaign, The Human Rights Campaign, 27 Oct. 2015.
“LGBT People and the Prison Rape Elimination Act.” TransEquality.org, National Center for Transgender Equality, 21 Apr. 2015.
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| Black and Pink, Wikipedia (2008) |
More than seven million people around the United States are incarcerated; about two percent of the entire population. Of these, more than twenty-five percent of those people identify within the LGB community. LGBT and Queer people are three times more likely to be incarcerated than the general population (Williams Institute), and 59% of incarcerated transgender people have been sexually abused or assaulted (Cowart). Even as laws and policies change to support LGBT people on the outside, jailed people are often given harsher punishments than their straight and cisgendered counterparts, abused in prison and are jailed at much higher rates than they commit crimes. What we must first do to see the full scope of the issue is understanding exactly where this oppression is coming from. First, and most obvious, is structural violence. Structural violence is the oppression that has been placed on LGBT+ people by the government and powerful systems like private prison companies. Next is societal violence, the oppression originating from other people. One of the biggest influences on this in the United States are religious groups, especially Christian, that believe that being gay and trans is a sin. And, lastly, this issue is an example of direct violence, meaning person-to-person. This is perhaps the most visible, in instances of sexual abuse or assault, and physical abuse.
Over and over in history, we have seen those in power take advantage of those without power. Our prison systems in the US are increasingly broken and dangerous, and most often, the solution to keeping transgender people ‘safe’ is locking them away in solitary confinement, a practice that is widely considered against the eighth amendment. Currently, the United States prison system lies on the fourth rung of the ladder of tolerance: oppression. LGBT people are consistently profiled by law enforcement, and the same protections given to straight and cisgendered people do not exist under the law. Just seven years ago, an amendment was added to the Prison Rape Elimination Act that included specific protections for transgender and intersex inmates, the groups with the highest rates of abuse against them; trans women are 13 times more likely to be assaulted than the average prisoner (TransEquality). Using a conflict analysis tree, we can begin to understand the root of the problem. People are afraid of what is different than them and the difference between straight, cisgendered people and LGBT people, whether real or perceived, often causes oppression, violence and, of course, higher rates of incarceration.
Tackling the issues of prison abolishment and LGBT incarceration since 2004, Black and Pink is an organization founded by Jason Lyndon to help connect Queer people both in and out of prison. One of their most popular programs and a large reason why they are so successful is their penpal program. People can sign up and are matched with someone to exchange letters, art, photography, and more. Their studies have proven that prisoners who are involved with Black and Pink are much less likely to commit repeat crimes, have severe depression, or commit suicide. Although rates of mental illness, especially depression, are much higher in prisons than the general population, (more than 65% of prisoners suffer from some sort of mental illness) the rate of illness among LGBT prisoners is even higher (NAMI). LGBT people often feel isolated and lonely, especially if they are locked away with mostly cisgender, straight people and guards who are either apathetic or abusive. Connecting with inmates and showing them that they do have a support system and someone who cares can make all of the difference. This closely relates to the Gandhian principle of sarvodaya or the uplifting of all. We have seen time and time again in history that the only way to truly make a difference is by human connection. It shouldn’t matter whether someone is gay or straight, trans or cis, incarcerated or free; what really matters is that we are all human and none of us deserve to be alone. And that is why I became a Black and Pink member the day after I turned eighteen. I have been bullied throughout my life, and though I cannot relate to the feeling of being incarcerated, I can relate to the loneliness that can cement itself when it seems as though you are the only person who understands.
Through Sharp’s second method of peaceful protest, writing letters in support, I hope to raise awareness of the dangerous situations that LGBT people find themselves in through our prison system. I also wanted to provide emotional support to at least one incarcerated person, to show others that they can also reach out and help. A survey completed by Black and Pink in 2014 found that 85 percent of the inmates who responded had spent time in solitary confinement, and half of those had collectively spent more than two years there. As one transgender prisoner wrote, “I was placed in solitary after being raped… only released after it drove me to a suicide attempt.” I want to do my part, no matter how small it may seem, to help those who have to live like this. By providing support from the outside, my goal is to inspire hope for the future, and instill confidence in as many people as I can to fight back against the unjust system.
Even the smallest acts of kindness can change lives. That is the most important lesson that I have learned throughout this project. When you look at all of the statistics and overall research, it is almost impossible not to be disheartened and scared for the future. Even though there are millions of people that are locked up, the fact that I have made just one of their lives better means so much to me. That is one more person who is much less likely to commit suicide, one more who will probably not repeat the same crime. Although I had done research before starting this project, it was the act of writing the letter that really changed it for me. Instead of looking at anonymous numbers from a website, I was looking at a real person who needs help. I will continue my involvement in this program for the rest of my life. By reaching out to oppressed people anywhere and letting them know that they are not alone, anyone can change a life. I hope after reading about my experiences that you will too.
WORKS CITED
Cowart, Dylan. “Transgender Prisoners Face Sexual Assault and Discrimination at Pittsburgh Jail.” American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU, 13 Nov. 2017.Daley, Elizabeth. “STUDY: LGBT Inmates More Likely To Be Sexually Abused, In Solitary.” Advocate.com, Here Publishing, 21 Oct. 2015.
“Department Of Justice Study: Mental Illness Of Prison Inmates Worse Than Past Estimates.” NAMI, National Alliance on Mental Illness, 6 Sept. 2006.
“Incarceration Rate of LGB People Three Times the General Population.” Williams Institute, UCLA School of Law, 9 Jan. 2018.
HRC Staff. “DOJ Releases Data on Use of Segregation & Solitary Confinement in Prisons and Jails.” Human Rights Campaign, The Human Rights Campaign, 27 Oct. 2015.
“LGBT People and the Prison Rape Elimination Act.” TransEquality.org, National Center for Transgender Equality, 21 Apr. 2015.
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