Social Justice Education: Criminal Justice and the LGBTQ+ Community

You may have heard that COVID-19 is ravaging jails, prisons, and detention centers across the U.S. But did you know that LGBTQ+ people are more likely to be incarcerated than our non-LGBTQ+ counterparts? Did you know that LGBTQ+ people are more likely to be serving life sentences and are more likely to be held in solitary confinement than others? If you’ve ever wanted to learn about America’s criminal justice system and how it uniquely impacts the LGBTQ+ community, join Family Equality for this interactive session offered in partnership with Beyond These Walls and Our Family Coalition. Our three organizations are pleased to offer this unique opportunity for LGBTQ+ families to learn more about our community members living behind bars. You’ll also learn how to take action today to provide immediate relief to prisoners impacted by COVID-19.

Beyond These Walls provides direct support, education, and advocacy for and with LGBTQ+ prisoners in the Pacific NW (and trans prisoners everywhere). They are currently running an active COVID-19 Crisis Line for incarcerated people and their families, in addition to overseeing several prisoner leadership programs behind bars.

Our Family Coalition advances equity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) families with children through support, education, and advocacy. They offer workshops, support groups, outings, seasonal celebrations, meet-ups, classes, play dates and referrals for LGBTQ families in San Francisco and the East Bay, and will be providing many of those regular programs online for the duration of the current pandemic.