Resources: LGBTQI-focused Organizations and Resources

This project was formed to connect with Midwest-based incarcerated trans/gender non-conforming people with other trans/gender non-conforming and allied community members.  This project was initially launched to reach out to transgender prisoners who are placed in lock down (administrative segregation), and now will correspond with LGBTQIA2S+ individuals mainly in MN, IA, ND, and SD.

Hearts on a Wire is a grassroots organization working to address the needs of incarcerated transgender people in Pennsylvania prisons. They are a group of trans and gender variant people building a movement for gender self-determination, racial and economic justice, and an end to policing and imprisoning our communities. Offers a free newsletter to incarcerated and detained people. Write to be added to their mailing list. In your letter asking to be added, please tell us something about your relationship to the trans community. Serves transgender people in Pennsylvania only.

Advocates for change policies and society to increase understanding and acceptance of transgender people. Its Racial and Economic Justice Initiatice includes work on reforming detention conditions for transgender people in correctional facilities and in immigration detention. In 2019, NCTE published Failing To Protect & Serve, an audit of the policies at the 25 largest police departments and a model policy to help local advicates and law enforcement. Operating remotely in January 2022 and will continue to do so for an undetermined period of time. They are still active during the pandemic but remote status may impact phone and written responses. Will send resources nationwide.

Part of the Center for Transformative Action. Assists folks coming out of immigration detention in New York in securing structural, health/wellness, educational, legal, and emotional support and services.

Provides free legal services to released prisoners who are transgender, intersex, gender nonconforming people who are low-income, and/or people of color. They specialize in providing assistance on name changes, identity documents, public benefits, immigration, shelter and more. Operating remotely in January 2022 and will continue to do so for an undetermined period of time. They are still active during the pandemic but remote status may impact phone and writen responses. Serving individuals in New York area only.

The primary focus of TLC’s prison mail response program is to connect incarcerated transgender and gender-nonconforming people with information to equip them to advocate for themselves. The resources TLC has access to include; policies issued by specific state DOCs and the federal BOP;  guides to navigating grievance processes and filing lawsuits; know-your-rights guides for transgender and LGBT people; legal name and gender change information; model policies developed by LGBT advocacy organizations; statements from medical professional associations on the necessity of transition-related health care; basic medical information about transition-related health care; case law from previous lawsuits filed by transgender people in prison; reentry resources; resource lists of other organizations. Unfortunately, we cannot provide legal advice, representation, or take on cases through our prison mail response program. Serves people nationwide, but more specific information for Californians.