11.13.2020 - By Molly & Cody
The life of Gwen Amber Rose Araujo was cut short in Newark, CA in October of 2002 at just 17 years old when she was brutally murdered at a house party. This case became groundbreaking in the legal protection afforded to the LGBTQ+ community and elimination of the use of the Gay/Trans Panic Defense under California Law AB1160, known as the Gwen Araujo Justice for Victims Act. Through Gwen's death, the legal system evolved and continues to evolve, as her mother Sylvia Guerrero is a strong advocate for the the rights of the transgender community.