Stealing Tongues

I have led a study here on the Ten Commandments for a few months now. I was thinking as the group came to number 8 about stealing, everyone seemed to think it only applied to material possessions. Yet, as we got to talking about it, we came to realize that stealing applies to commandments 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. For instance, murder steals life, adultery steals spouses etc.  Number 9, false testimony steals justice, it steals your character, it steals reputations, it steals dignity and fair second chances.

I’ve never been one to make excuses for my mistakes, or bad choices or other people who made bad choices and we’re paying the consequences for our journey. I briefly spoke before in a previous commentary; I was called a lesbian approximately 250 times during my trial. In 1986, this word and label alone shaped my life and my trial! At 21-years old I felt like I had no voice out of fear and judgment because it was still a crime in Kentucky.  Even in my presentence investigation report, I was called a “dominant type homosexual". Well, let me assure you for 40+ years in prison, I have no dominance, no violence or anything of the sort on my record. In our criminal justice system, prisoners are still being denied parole, denied fair treatment and more things based on stereotypes, differences, lies and stealing tongues.

Let's think about it for a moment...250 times of being called a lesbian. in 1986 was this to inflame a jury or was it get me a longer sentence? Now consider this, when the actual killer was on the stand and my lawyer asked him "what did Karen Brown do?" He answered "Karen said I can't do it, I can’t do it". My question is why were these words not repeated 250 times?

Our Kentucky governor is often saying that all children are God’s children. He was the first Kentucky governor to speak at a Fairness rally. I know other progressive governors do this also and we’re blessed by it. While I am so appreciative of these stances they take, there are those of us in prison, like me, for decades who were judged by lifestyles instead of forensic evidence, our accomplishments, or who we are now decades later.

In my opinion, there are stealing tongues and there are healing tongues. A stealing tongue can take a word and hurt people. A healing tongue they need action put behind them. This is Karen and I plead to be judged by who I am today, for all to be created fairly based on faith, growth and character not appearances.  For instance, I have led praise and worship in our chapel since 1999 but there are still churches that conned in that won't let me play music based solely on how I look! Please don't steal the rest of my life based on hate filled words.

This is Karen asking for people to support prison radio so they can keep giving us a voice and an outlet for truth, for reform and for a second chance in our journey of life.

Karen Brown M.Ed. has been incarcerated since February 1986. She is currently a correspondent for Prison Radio.org. Karen’s commentary Stealing Tongues was posted on 7/10/2026 and can also be heard on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.