First page from 'De Profundis', the letter addressed by Oscar Wilde to Lord Alfred Douglas from Reading Gaol

Oscar Wilde wrote this letter to his former friend and lover, Lord Alfred Douglas. He wrote it while imprisoned for “gross indecency”, which was just homosexual behavior, in the Reading Gaol, and English Reading Prison. LGBTQ+ history is fraught with wrongful imprisonment, while more modern, Western issues involve systemic oppression and demonization (religious or secular). “De Profundis” translates to “from the depths”, an appropriate title for an angry, bitter man's attempt to evaluate his character and how he got here, all while addressing someone he can no longer love. While many do not face imprisonment, Queer people risk social/familial ostracization, denial of resources, and an overall sense of internal turmoil and self-loathing when considering coming out. I think this letter could inform designers who may be slightly ignorant to just how far back these injustices can go, prompting them to utilize design as their tool for awareness and systemic change.