Cause+Effect

A native Bay Area resident, Sylvia Maria Guerrero is the mother of four children and comes from a family of fourteen. In 1999, one of Sylvia’s children confided to her that despite being born a boy, she had never felt comfortable being male. Instead, this child, who was always very feminine, felt she was and should become a woman. This child would soon become known to the world as Gwen Amber Rose Araujo.

By 2002, after a few years in which Sylvia and her family came to accept her child’s transition from male to female, Gwen was living full-time as a woman. Tragically, in October of that year, Gwen was brutally murdered in Newark, California, by at least four people with whom she was recently acquainted. She was just 17. Several of these assailants have been sentenced and are serving jail time for their part in Gwen’s senseless death.

In the following months, Sylvia and her family and friends were thrust into the forefront of transgender activism. Learning as she went along, Sylvia began to speak out about the pain and injustice that her daughter and her family suffered – and suffer still – due to societal ignorance and transphobia. A 2006 Lifetime movie, A Girl Like Me: The Gwen Araujo Story, captured Gwen’s journey to self-acceptance and her mother’s determination to educate others about transgender people.

As the quest to bring Gwen’s murderers to full justice continues, Sylvia is committed to protecting other families from experiencing such pain. Through the Gwen Araujo Memorial Fund for Transgender Education, Sylvia speaks at middle and high schools about transgender awareness and understanding. She also speaks to people who recognize her on the street, youth in her town, community groups, LGBT groups, and other organized events about Gwen’s experiences in school and the workplace. and about the need for societal change and education regarding transgender equality. Sylvia’s dedication to speaking out about familial acceptance and educating others about transgender people sends a powerful message that change is not only possible, but that one day transgender people like Gwen will be honored and protected for living openly as their true selves.

Current Press Opportunities

(Suitable for family press, women’s interest, social justice press, LGBT press)

Sylvia Guerrero is the mother of Gwen Araujo and a tireless activist for LGBT civil rights.  In 2002, her family’s tragedy thrust her into the spotlight of LGBT rights.  Since then, she’s kept her daughter’s memory alive by speaking to students, activists, educators and community leaders throughout the country.

Recent Press

• PlanetOut People of 2003
• Advocate for Transgender Tolerance
• A Mother’s Pain and Defiance
• Court Approves Name Change for Murdered Transgender Teen
• ‘Eddie’ Legally ‘Gwen’
• Family and City Remember Gwen Araujo, Murders
• Life After Gwen

Contact Information

Cause+Effect
888.829.0004 [main]
866.843.6697 [fax]
SylviaGuerrero@cause-pr.com