Abstract We examine the unique challenges faced by LGBTQI+ individuals within the U.S. prison system, highlighting the systemic discrimination, abuse, and neglect they endure both during incarceration and upon reentry into society. The essay traces the historical context of LGBTQI+ incarceration, revealing how discriminatory laws and systemic biases have disproportionately targeted this population. It further explores the disproportionate impact on LGBTQI+ prisoners, particul