bail OUTS

LGBTQ Freedom Fund pays immigration bond in every U.S. state and pretrial bail in Florida, focusing on LGBTQ individuals.

In detention, an individual is at risk of violence and losing employment, custody of children, and housing. Most suicides in jail occur within the first week.

While those with means are released from confinement, those in poverty face only injurious choices: languish at risk, or accept deportation or a guilty plea to get out of jail.

By paying bond, we’re able preempt these harms.

lgbtq criminalization

LGBTQ Freedom Fund fights the criminalization of LGBTQ folks, who are much more likely in the U.S. to be incarcerated than other individuals.

We work as an advocacy, education and grantmaking outfit to mobilize the public and policymakers to address the disproportionate impact of incarceration on LGBTQ individuals.

This disparity is precipitated by poverty and discrimination in school, employment, policing, family and society at large.

The sweep of criminalization is extraordinary. At some point in their lives, 70 percent of low-income LGBTQ people are homeless by some estimates, and half of homeless people will be incarcerated.

LGBTQ criminalization manifests widespread violence against sexual minorities.

In the decade following the passage of the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), around two million individuals were sexually assaulted in confinement—half are estimated to be LGBTQ.

lgbtq migrants

With same-sex sexual activity illegal in over 70 nations, and widespread extralegal discrimination around the world, U.S. immigration detention is unduly felt by LGBTQ people.

LGBTQ Freedom Fund pays bond across the U.S. to secure the freedom of migrants in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention.

This preempts victimization in custody and improves case outcomes — those free are more likely to get counsel and those with representation are more likely to win their asylum cases.

On immigration issues we also work as a nonpartisan advocacy and education outfit. We engage the public and policymakers to raise awareness of the disproportionate impact of immigration jails on LGBTQ people.

Supporting Queer Youth: LGBTQ Fund Weighs In on the Homelessness and Incarceration Crisis

By Sheena Holt, DatingAdvice

“Every day, LGBTQ youth are forced from their homes because of their gender identity or who they love. Homelessness can trigger cycles of poverty and incarceration that are often difficult to get out from.”

LGBTQ Freedom Fund Is Bailing Out People In U.S. Jails and Immigration Facilities

By Jessica Moulite, The Root

“Mass incarceration is an LGBTQ issue, and we must examine the societal conditions that disproportionately push LGBTQ-identified people into the carceral system.”

The deadly epidemic we must acknowledge

By Josh Marcus, Independent

LGBTQ Freedom Fund tells the Independent: “At the end of the day, as long as there are high levels of discrimination across [society]…you’re going to see high representation of trans people in the criminal legal system.”

Critical Mass: Mass Incarceration and the LGBTQ Community | PANEL

By Our Fund Foundation

Watch LGBTQ Freedom Fund and Our Fund Foundation discuss the disproportionate rate and harm of incarceration of LGBTQ individuals.

LGBTQ Freedom Fund Posts Bail for Low-Income Individuals

By Amber Brooks, DatingNews

“The U.S. criminal justice system disproportionately impacts LGBTQ+ folks, particularly those of color. LGBTQ+ individuals are three times more likely to be incarcerated than their straight and cisgender counterparts. What’s more, queer individuals are 12 times more likely to suffer sexual assault during their time served.”

Bail Funds, Nonprofits, and Freedom Funds: How Donations Go to Work

By Sarah Shoen, Vanity Fair

LGBTQ Freedom Fund tells Vanity Fair: “Unless people have lived it, they often haven’t considered how being LGBTQ impacts one’s likelihood of incarceration.… There’s few organizations whose primary purpose is to address LGBTQ criminalization.”

locking up sex workers hurts anti-trafficking Efforts | Opinion

By Scott Greenberg, Executive Director of the LGBTQ Freedom Fund

The Super Bowl sex trafficking myth does more harm than good. It misleads the public and harms sex workers, who are disproportionately sexual minorities.

immigration bill will harm LGBT people | Opinion

By Scott Greenberg, Executive Director of LGBTQ Freedom Fund

Florida’s legislature is moving fast on a bill, SB 168, that requires local communities and police to do the job of the federal government in the deportation of migrants…

Vote NO on $100 million Police HQ | OPINION

By LGBTQ Freedom Fund staff

The criminalization of homelessness disproportionately impacts low- and no-income LGBTQ people, 70 percent of whom are homeless at some point in their lives…

Honoring #BlackHistory by Investing in #BlackHealth | BLOG

By Tremaine Jones, Project Director of LGBTQ Freedom Fund

In the United States, mass incarceration has harmed black families, employment and negatively impacted the mental health of black people…

Repeal Florida’s anti-sodomy laws. They violate the U.S. Constitution. | Op-ed

By Scott Greenberg, Executive Director of LGBTQ Freedom Fund

This year, a criminal court in South Florida sentenced a man for having consensual sex with another man, holding that the defendant committed an unnatural and lascivious…