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Criminalization & Incarceration

Photo Courtesy Erik McGregor Photography

LGBTQ people—especially low-income LGBTQ people of color—are disproportionately impacted by the criminal justice system. LGBTQ individuals experience significantly higher rates of joblessness and poverty than the general population, leading many to turn to underground economies like sex work or drug sales for income. Police bias, abuse and profiling of LGBTQ people—especially trans women of color—means more LGBTQ people are targeted by law enforcement. These factors, together with widespread discrimination and social marginalization, contribute to the significant overrepresentation of LGBTQ people in prisons and jails.

Advocacy

Legislation & Policy

Cases & Advocacy

Doe v. Bondi

NCLR, GLAD Law, Brown Goldstein & Levy LLP and Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld LLP represent three transgender women in a case challenging a federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) policy directed by President Trump which would override Prison Rape Elimination Act protections for vulnerable populations, including transgender women, and would terminate all medical care for gender dysphoria for incarcerated individuals.

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Resources

Press Release

Lawsuit Filed Against Trump Administration DOJ for Ignoring Federal Protections Against Sexual Abuse in Prison

A transgender woman filed a federal lawsuit today against the U.S. Department of Justice, challenging a December 2025 DOJ memorandum that unilaterally suspended longstanding federal regulations protecting incarcerated transgender people from sexual abuse. The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, asks the court to set aside the memorandum as procedurally invalid under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).

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Publications

Supporting LGBTQI Youth in the Prison Abolition Movement

This report synthesizes findings from three sets of sources with recommendations and guidance to support this population of young people. Given the disproportionately negative outcomes experienced by LGBTQI youth in the prison system, this report makes the case for approaching the academic literature with an understanding of intersectionality, in order to support LGBTQI young people involved in a broad range of social movements. This report also serves to highlight ways in which these young people are well poised to become powerful change agents in the movement to end the failed youth prison model.