Honoring LGBTQ+ People in Texas Prisons This Pride Month
Dear Friends,
This Pride Month, we are reminded that the fight for LGBTQ+ equality and the fight against mass incarceration are intertwined. LGBTQ+ people are incarcerated at disproportionately high rates. And once they are inside prison, the harm doesn’t stop. Incarcerated LGBTQ+ people report high rates of abuse, solitary confinement, and denial of medical care.
But many incarcerated LGBTQ+ people find ways to persevere and inspire hope. People like our client Hazel.
At just five years old, Hazel witnessed the death of her mother and she experienced child abuse at a young age. To cope with her childhood traumas, Hazel turned to substance use and was later incarcerated for possession of a controlled substance.
Inside, Hazel centered her life on family, faith, and recovery, becoming an exemplary member of prison society. That’s when Texas Defender Service stepped in, advocating for her before the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles. After hearing her story, the parole board granted Hazel a second chance and she returned home.
Throughout her incarceration, Hazel’s wife was her anchor. Knowing she had someone at home who loved her and believed in her kept Hazel grounded, and it shows. She completed her sentence in good standing, becoming a model member of her prison community. Now she’s back home, living with her wife and focusing on their future. She has a job at a local fuel company, is launching her own HVAC business, and is training to become a certified Peer Support Specialist.
LGBTQ+ people in Texas prisons deserve dignity, safety, and access to care. And we are committed to seeing them through.
With gratitude,
Burke Butler & Randi Chavez
Co-Executive Directors
Texas Defender Service
