Trans Abolitionist Futures is a reading group for trans people (including nonbinary people) interested in learning more about prison abolition in the UK in a discussion space exclusively for trans people.

As trans people caught in the middle of the UK culture war, we already know that our lives are often at risk from violence, abuse, and systemic discrimination. And that these risks increase exponentially for those of us who are racialized, low income, migrants, people living with disabilities, and sex workers, among others. Mainstream LGBT organisations work to fix these problems by reforming the same systems that harm us, by getting the 'right people' into the 'right prisons.' But can prisons and policing actually make us any safer? Are there realistic alternatives to the criminal punishment system, and how might these alternatives help create sustainable futures for trans people? Can we imagine a world without punishment?

In this reading group, we'll be exploring prison and police abolition, and what abolitionist thinking can do for us as a community.

Trans people are welcomed and encouraged to attend other Abolitionist Futures groups, including Black Abolitionist Futures, before, during, or after attending this group, as different discussion groups may provide different frames that are useful for understanding these issues.

Sessions

Session One: Introduction to Abolition

6:30pm - 8pm - Weds 25th Nov 2020

Session Two: What’s wrong with reform?

6:30pm - 8pm - Weds 2nd Dec 2020

Session Three: Feminist, queer, antiracist abolition

6:30pm - 8pm - Weds 9th Dec 2020

Session Four: Transformative Justice

6:30pm - 8pm - Weds 16th Dec 2020

Session Five: Abolitionist Mutual Aid in response to Covid 19

6:30pm - 8pm - Weds 6th Jan 2020

Session Six: Black Lives Matter & Defund the Police