Being a convict
Telling someone about going to prison or being a "Convict" is just like to coming out of the closet. The similarities are shocking.
✔ You want to open up and share your existence, but you know folks think it's shameful, even though it's nothing to be ashamed of.
✔You feel like people on the street can clock you.
✔It's impossible to stay "in the closet" because human beings require trusting relationships to thrive and be healthy. But if you want to live a "normal" life, you can't trust anyone ....you have to live behind a mask all the time.
✔You avoid new relationships or friendships cause when you finally tell someone, you have to answer tons of uncomfortable and inappropriate questions.
✔You're afraid to be honest and risk discrimination in work, housing, medical care, and education.
✔Many people believe that everyone in prison are criminals and they deserve to be there in the same way that homophobes believe that getting HIV is a punishment and queers deserve to get it.
✔People who know the truth will avoid interaction or relationships with you because they don't understand or they are worried about being judged for being with you.
✔ Sometimes you feel a bizarre conflict about going back in, cause eventhough it was hell, there was safety in the routine of doing what was expected everyday.
✔ Daily struggle with PTSD or mental health issues from being attacked for simply being.
✔Living in constant fear of a relationship/ friendship going bad, and a person you trusted "outs" you in an attempt to hurt you.
I was targeted by the legal system and I served time in prison for not backing down. Convict, much like Queer, Femme or Disabled, is a label that describes me but does not define me. Everyday is a struggle to embrace it and constantly fight the stigma that surrounds it.
