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BENT BARS PROJECT
New resources for LGBTQ+ people in prison Bent Bars Project co-founder, Sarah Lamble, introduces two self-help toolkits for LGBTQ+ people in prison; produced with the Prisoners’ Advice Service, the resources provide practical information and advice for LGBTQ+ people in prison to better understand their rights.
T
he Bent Bars Project and the Prisoners’ Advice Service (PAS) are pleased to announce the publication of two new resources to support lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer and transgender prisoners: l A Prisoner’s i e o es i n n ise i s l A Prisoner’s i e o r ns i s We know that life inside prison for LGBTQ+ people can pose difficulties and challenges that are related to your sexuality or gender identity. Whether it is questions around ‘coming out’, finding your way through intimate or sexual relationships, or dealing with harassment and bullying, it can be hard to know how to deal with these things. We know that LGBTQ+ concerns still often remain hidden or overlooked, and support can be limited (both inside and outside prison).
So, we’ve created these toolkits to provide information and advice around how to deal with some common issues that LGBTQ+ people in prison face. These ‘know your rights’ guides are designed especially for LGBTQ+ people in prison in England and Wales to better understand their legal and human rights when in prison. The guides cover a range of issues, including: l How to report homophobic and
transphobic abuse l How to make complaints if you think
your rights are not being respected l Sexual health and intimate relationships
in prison l Cell sharing among LGBTQ+ people in
prison l Access to LGBTQ+ content and
materials in prison.
