As the nation focuses on disparities in policing and criminal justice, a new report spotlights how our broken system adversely impacts LGBT people of color.
Washington, D.C., August 4, 2016 — The events of the summer of 2016 have spurred renewed dialogue and protests about the unequal treatment of people of color, particularly black and Latino people, in the U.S. criminal justice system. Now, a new report explores how lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people of color are treated in police interactions, court proceedings and confinement.
Unjust: How the Broken Criminal Justice System Fails LGBT People of Color, examines how racism and anti-LGBT discrimination combine to make LGBT people of color particularly vulnerable to entering the system and facing unfair and abusive treatment once they are in it.
“Whether they are interacting with law enforcement, going to court, confined in prisons or jails, or preparing for re-entry into society, the story is the same: LGBT people of color face an extraordinarily high risk of discriminatory treatment and abuse in our criminal justice system,” said Ineke Mushovic, Executive Director of the Movement Advancement Project (MAP).
The report was coauthored by MAP and the Center for American Progress as a companion to the broader report, Unjust: How the Broken Criminal Justice System Fails LGBT People. Today’s report was released in partnership with Advancement Project, Forward Together, JustLeadershipUSA, MALDEF, National Action Network, National Black Justice Coalition, and National LGBTQ Task Force.
The report reviews evidence that LGBT people of color are overrepresented in the criminal justice system. For example, one in five young people in U.S. juvenile justice facilities identify as LGBTQ, and 85% of these individuals are youth of color. The report also describes how unjust treatment at the hands of law enforcement, courts, immigration authorities and re-entry programs puts the lives and life chances of LGBT people of color at risk.
“Statistically, it is quite clear that the criminal justice system has prospered from the disproportionate impact it has had on black and brown people. As LGBT people of color, this impact is twofold as our multiple identities too often represent threats and garner disrespect,” said Isaiah Wilson, External Affairs Manager of the National Black Justice Coalition. “If we are not resolute to acknowledge and address this reality, we will lose a generation of unapologetic, young LGBT people of color to the flaws of our justice system.”
A Spotlight on a Broken System
The Unjust report identifies three factors in the overrepresentation of LGBT people of color in the criminal justice system: racism combined with pervasive anti-LGBT stigma and discrimination in communities, schools and families; discriminatory enforcement of drug laws and HIV criminalization laws; and policing strategies and tactics that increase the likelihood of LGBT people of color being subject to police stops, arrest and incarceration. One problem highlighted in the report is that LGBT youth of color who face difficult circumstances in school, at home or in their communities may end up spending some or all of their time living on the street, putting them at increased risk of encountering law enforcement and having their lives criminalized.
Unjust also paints a comprehensive portrait of how LGBT people of color are unfairly treated and abused in the system. The following are among the problems it documents:
- Discrimination in court and court proceedings. Evidence shows that people of color and LGBT people, including LGBT youth, face unique challenges accessing counsel, obtaining pre-trial release, and getting a fair sentence.
- Unfair and inhumane treatment in confinement facilities like jails, prisons, and immigration detention centers. When LGBT people of color are placed in confinement facilities to await trial or as part of a sentence, they are extremely vulnerable to harassment, discrimination and inhumane treatment. In the National Transgender Discrimination Survey, half or more of Latino, Native American, and black transgender people who had been incarcerated reported harassment from other inmates – twice the rate for formerly incarcerated white transgender respondents.
- Lack of support in preparing for re-entry. Obtaining skills, staying connected with family, and coordinating re-entry planning services are all crucial elements of a successful life after conviction and confinement, and yet LGBT people of color are disadvantaged in all of these areas.
The report documents how unjust treatment of LGBT people of color in the criminal justice system means they are more likely than the broader population to be living with a criminal record. This, in turn, can create enormous challenges as they try to rebuild their lives—challenges that are compounded by the discrimination and bias they already face because of factors related to their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity.
“LGBT people of color face an extreme level of bias and discrimination across multiple systems. Lives are being lost every day because our broken criminal justice system unjustly adds to the unique burdens facing this population,” said Laura Durso of the Center for American Progress. “As we continue to discuss how to reduce disparities and fix the system, we must explore solutions that will make it fairer for people of color, including LGBT people of color.”
ABOUT THE CO-AUTHORS
Movement Advancement Project's (MAP) mission is to provide independent and rigorous research, insight and communications that help speed equality and opportunity for all. MAP works to ensure that all people have a fair chance to pursue health and happiness, earn a living, take care of the ones they love, be safe in their communities, and participate in civic life. www.lgbtmap.org
MAP's mission is to provide independent and rigorous research, insight and communications that help speed equality and opportunity for all. MAP works to ensure that all people have a fair chance to pursue health and happiness, earn a living, take care of the ones they love, be safe in their communities, and participate in civic life.
Center for American Progress is a think tank dedicated to improving the lives of Americans through ideas and action. CAP combines bold policy ideas with a modern communications platform to help shape the national debate. CAP is designed to provide long-term leadership and support to the progressive movement. CAP’s policy experts cover a wide range of issue areas, and often work across disciplines to tackle complex, interrelated issues such as national security, energy, and climate change. www.americanprogress.org
ABOUT THE PARTNERS
Advancement Project is a next generation, multi-racial civil rights organization. Rooted in the great human rights struggles for equality and justice, we exist to fulfill America’s promise of a caring, inclusive and just democracy. We use innovative tools and strategies to strengthen social movements and achieve high impact policy change. www.advancementproject.org
Forward Together is a multi-racial, multi-issue organization that is changing how we think, feel, act, and make policy about families. Whether chosen or biological, we work to ensure that all families have the power and resources they need to thrive. We work at the intersections of race, gender, and sexuality—and find ways to shift our culture and policy in the areas of reproductive justice, economic justice, and ending mass incarceration. www.forwardtogether.org
JustLeadershipUSA is dedicated to cutting the U.S. correctional population in half by 2030, while reducing crime. JLUSA empowers people most affected by incarceration to drive policy reform. www.justleadershipusa.org
MALDEF is the nation’s leading Latino legal civil rights organization. Often described as the “law firm of the Latino community”, MALDEF promotes social change through advocacy, communications, community education, and litigation in the areas of education, employment, immigrant rights, and political access. MALDEF strives to implement programs that are structured to bring Latinos into the mainstream of American political and socio-economic life; providing better educational opportunities; encouraging participation in all aspects of society; and offering a positive vision for the future. www.maldef.org
National Action Network (NAN) is one of the leading civil rights organizations with chapters throughout the U.S. Founded in 1991 by Reverend Al Sharpton, NAN works within the spirit and tradition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to promote a modern civil rights agenda that includes the fight for one standard of justice, decency and equal opportunities for all people regardless of race, religion, nationality or gender. www.nationalactionnetwork.net
National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) is a civil rights organization dedicated to the empowerment of Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people. Founded in 2003, NBJC has provided leadership at the intersection of national civil rights and LGBTQ organizations, advocating for the unique challenges and needs of the Black LGBTQ community that are often relegated to the sidelines. NBJC’s ultimate purpose is to bring awareness and recognition of the existence, contributions and unique obstacles of a population at the intersection of racial justice and LGBTQ equality. www.nbjc.org
The National LGBTQ Task Force works to secure full freedom, justice and equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people. For over forty years, we have been at the forefront of the social justice movement by training thousands of organizers and advocating for change at the federal, state, and local level. www.thetaskforce.org
