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Beyond Punishment, Toward Possibility
Beyond Punishment, Toward Possibility
Queer and trans individuals—particularly Black, Indigenous, disabled, and undocumented individuals—have long been at the mercy of systems of policing, punishment, and confinement. Laws against crossdressing, school pushouts, and ICE detention have all served to surveil and criminalize our communities for simply existing.
But abolition is more than just tearing down; it’s about building something better. This module explores what happens when we have accountability and healing without relying on cages or police. We anchor ourselves in the radical, ongoing legacy of queer and trans abolitionists who fight for more than just survival – they aim for transformation.
Since punishment wasn't intended for us, possibility was.
Core Content
Core Content
Panel Video (YouTube): Practicing Prison Abolition Everyday - Reina Gossett + Dean Spade
Part of the “No One is Disposable” series, this video features trans and queer activists discussing abolition as a way of life: building community accountability, justice practices, and alternatives to carceral systems.
Short Video (YouTube): Queer Liberation: No Prisons, No Borders, No Cops - Barnard Center for Research on Women
A clip from Queer Collective featuring trans voices sharing abolition demands and strategies—rooted in direct action and radical self-determination.
Longer Scholarly Article: Abolition as Lodestar: Rethinking Prison Reform from a Trans Perspective – D. Dangaran (2022)
A peer-reviewed law article examining how prisons intrinsically harm trans people, and why abolition—not reform—is the necessary path toward justice.
- Audio/Video Recording (YouTube): From Stonewall to Minneapolis Fighting for Black, Queer, and Trans Liberation (and Winning!) - Center for Constitutional Rights
A longer motivating talk by queer abolitionists spotlighting movement victories and the importance of mutual support, resistance, and survival beyond punishment.
Report (Public Health Journal): “Public Health Perspectives on Queer Liberation & the Necessity of Abolition”
An analysis showing how carceral systems harm LGBTQIA+ people’s health—especially trans, BIPOC, and disabled communities—and why abolition is essential for well-being.
Op-Ed (Free Article): “There Is No Queer Liberation Without Prison Abolition” – Gem Nwanne
A concise, powerful argument linking queer liberation to the abolition of prisons and police—highlighting historical ties from Stonewall to trans-led protests. Emphasizes reshaping safety through mutual aid and collective care.
Essay (Public Op-Ed): “We Keep Us Safe: The Transformative Justice Movement” – ROAR Magazine
An exploration of how queer, trans, and women of color-led communities are creating transformative justice alternatives—grounded in kitchen-table process, non-state accountability, and refusal of punishment.
Reflect, Resist, Rejoice: Discussion & Practice
Reflect, Resist, Rejoice: Discussion & Practice
Reflection Questions (great for journaling or small group dialogue)
Reflection Questions (great for journaling or small group dialogue)
What does safety mean to you, and who gets left out of mainstream definitions of safety?
When have you or your community been harmed by systems of policing or punishment?
What would accountability look like if it weren’t based on punishment or fear?
How have queer and trans people in your life modeled care or justice outside the system?
What possibilities open up when we imagine justice beyond the carceral state?
Critical Discussions Prompts (for classrooms, study groups, or peer-led facilitation)
Critical Discussions Prompts (for classrooms, study groups, or peer-led facilitation)
How have carceral systems (like prisons, police, immigration detention, or child welfare) specifically targeted queer and trans people?
In what ways does abolition require us to rethink not only justice, but also safety, healing, and care?
What are the limitations of reform—and how do queer/trans abolitionists challenge “progressive” institutions?
How do race, gender, sexuality, and disability intersect in the criminalization of queer and trans people?
What examples from the core content show abolition not just as theory, but as lived practice?
Creative + Collective Practice Prompts (for workshops, zines, or embodied learning)
Creative + Collective Practice Prompts (for workshops, zines, or embodied learning)
Create a zine, poster, or visual piece that reimagines safety through a queer/trans abolitionist lens. What does a world without prisons look like?
Map your own community accountability process: How could harm be addressed without involving police or punishment?
Write a letter to your younger queer/trans self imagining a future where abolition is reality. What systems no longer exist?
What replaced them?
Organize a teach-in, art share, or community conversation on transformative justice. What stories or strategies can you uplift?
Collaboratively design a “no cops, no cages” pride float, installation, or protest sign. What would it say—and who would it center?
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