Summertime conversations about incarceration and intersectionality

The oppressive summer heat beat down on the dried grass in Baisley Pond Park in the far outer edge of Queens on July 17 as Evie Litwok looked around at assorted tables, chairs, and people milling about. Just a few feet from her, folks were sampling mac & cheese from Just Soul Catering, eating cupcakes from Chef Fresh Antwoin Gutierrez, or listening to Die Jim Crow records. Others were sitting under tents, taking shelter from the heat or filling out voting registration cards. Oppressive as the weather was, the day was filled with music, laughter, and conversation.

“What is it going to take for someone to say, ‘What can I do?’” Litwok asked as she surveyed the scene. “How do we get the LGBT community to care about us? We don’t have money. We can’t get their dollars. We can’t frequent their spots. We live in a different world. And I’m here. We should be their brothers and sisters. So, I know they should care about what happens to so many in their population.”