Excerpts from incarcerated 2SLGBTQIA+ penpal bios

by the Prisoner Correspondence Project (PCP)

The Prisoner Correspondence Project is a solidarity project for 2SLGBTQ+ prisoners in Canada and the United States, linking them with people a part of these same communities outside of prison.

Over the course of the project, we’ve had thousands of prisoners sign up to be connected with penpals, and we currently have nearly 3000 prisoners waiting to be matched, since as far back as 2017. Over time, these profiles blur into a kaleidoscope of words, and yet each one represents a whole person condemned to a cage by the state.

Writing a letter is the basic first step for any kind of prison support. It’s how we connect: over difference, over space, and over prison walls. Prisoners often identify isolation as the most debilitating part of a prison sentence, but a prison correspondence can often provide much more than emotional support. When a prisoner receives mail at mail call, it indicates to the guards and other prisoners that someone outside is paying attention and that whatever happens will be noticed. It has a tangible impact on reducing violence and administrative harassment. In developing a correspondence, you are able to help connect a prisoner with the worlds outside and help link them to resources, education, and community support not reachable in prison.

If you’re interested in writing to a 2SLGBTQ+ prisoner, you can visit our website at
https://prisonercorrespondenceproject.com/
and hit “Getting a Penpal” for more info!