“Author of 'Bullied Behind Bars' | Exposing PREA Failures & Systemic Discrimination | Gay Christian Survivor | LGBTQ+ Prison Reform Advocate”
I'm Matthew Melvin, author of "Bullied Behind Bars: A Gay Christian's Story." I'm a survivor, advocate, and voice for the invisible LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent individuals failed by the American prison system.
In 2017, I was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for a non-violent crime. While incarcerated at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, I was raped. I filed a PREA (Prison Rape Elimination Act) report, expecting the system to protect me. Instead, I was placed in the same unit as my rapist, denied protective custody, and subjected to relentless harassment from both inmates and corrections officers. The system that was supposed to protect me made me a target.
I was diagnosed with autism just before my incarceration, which made me even more vulnerable. The prison system had zero accommodations for neurodivergent individuals, and my impulsivity and difficulty reading social cues made me an easy target for abuse.
I wrote "Bullied Behind Bars" to expose the systemic failures that affect thousands of LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent inmates nationwide. My story isn't just a memoir, it's a documented indictment of institutional failures and a call for change.
As a podcast guest, I can speak to:
• LGBTQ+ rights in the criminal justice system
• PREA violations and enforcement failures
• Neurodivergence and incarceration
• Faith and sexuality (being a gay Christian)
• Life after prison and reintegration challenges
• Criminal justice reform and advocacy
I'm here to share my story, educate audiences, and advocate for systemic change. If you're looking for a guest who can speak authentically about LGBTQ+ prison issues, mental health, faith, or survival.
Let's Connect.
This captivating book will appeal to anyone who has served time in prison or who has ever made a mistake and paid too steep a price for it. Bullied Behind Bars reveals the hard truths Melvin learned in prison and how very unfair life can be. But in the end, his time spent incarcerated was not for naught. He learned to take responsibility for his actions and came out of the system a better person. Go to www.bulliedbehindbars.com to learn more!
