2015 Donation:
LGBT Books to Prisoners

In 2015, the GriffinHarte Foundation donated $1,000 to LGBT Books To Prisoners.

LGBT Books to Prisoners is a donation-funded, volunteer-run organization based in Madison, WI that sends books and other educational materials, free of charge, to incarcerated LGBTQ people across the United States (https://lgbtbookstoprisoners.org). We have been doing this for over 10 years and have sent books to more than 7,000 people in that time. We do this because:

• We want to acknowledge, and work against, the oppressive functions of the prison system. Our project shifts some control back into incarcerated people’s hands.
• Incarcerated persons have little access to reading material, and LGBTQ people behind bars have a particularly hard time finding resources that meet their needs and wants. We are in a position to gather and distribute these resources.
• We believe that our work affirms the dignity of all individuals by providing access to knowledge of their choosing, so that they can learn and grow as they desire. We respond to individuals’ requests as directly as possible.
• LGBTQ people behind bars face many hardships, including — but not limited to — isolation and physical violence. We want them to know that they have a supportive community on the outside that cares about their wellbeing.

If you are interested in volunteering with us or donating to the project, or if you simply have a question or comment, please write to us at lgbtbookstoprisoners@gmail.com. You can also find us at the LGBT Books to Prisoners Facebook page.