LGBTQ+ Voices

We honor the courageous leaders who have paved the way. Miss Major and Alexander Lee bravely brought attention to the violence faced by Trans Women in California's correctional facilities. Jannetta Johnson of TGIJP has transformed the organization, providing crucial housing and employment for formerly incarcerated LGBTQ+ individuals, while remaining unapologetically Black. Jennifer Orthwein, an unwavering advocate and attorney, has been instrumental in fighting for the safety of LGBTQ+ individuals within CDCr, leading the charge for SB-132. Trans Latina also played a vital role in advocating for this critical legislation.

The most powerful testament to our organization's goals comes from the lived experiences of those within the system and the triumphs of those who have transitioned back into the community. The members of Red Rose Trans Movement, collectively carrying over 40 years of incarceration, have endured firsthand the violence and neglect within prisons. SB-132 was enacted because the Court recognized CDCr's failure to protect LGBTQ+ individuals, acknowledging their role in the violence. These laws do not erase the years of suffering, nor do they rectify a system that perpetuates violence against its citizens, regardless of their alleged crimes.