We are 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. We have been doing this for over 10 years and have sent books to over 9,000 people in that time.

Map of the US displaying distribution of 3,032 packages of books we sent between January 1 and December 31, 2017. It shows concentrations in California, Florida, Pennsylvania, and throughout the Midwest and East coast.

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.

Want to get involved? We’re always looking for support. If you have some time to volunteer matching letters with books, wrapping packages, or restocking our library, contact us. If you have books, dictionaries, or other LGBTQ resources  you’d like to donate, we’d love to help make arrangements through the donation page. You should also visit the donation page if you would like to make a financial contribution, which helps us buy postage and packing supplies. We would be grateful for donations in any amount and can provide a tax receipt for all donations.