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 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.”
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.”
