The murder of Gwen Araujo, part of a national epidemic of violence against transgender people, presents an opportunity for all of us to examine our attitudes about gender, gender expectations, discrimination based on gender identity and individual and institutional responsibility.

--Larry Brinkin, senior officer / San Francisco's Human Rights Commission

This is yet another case in the trend of violence against the transgender community, and more disturbingly, murders of transgendered youth. The public needs to be educated and these killings must stop. --- http://transyouth.net/index.html

Gwen has been described as a beautiful person both inside and out and always smiling. She lived in Newark, CA, a small town 30 miles from San Francisco, the supposed gay mecca of the United States. --- http://transyouth.net

The complex issues arising from the news of Gwen Araujo's murder start with one basic, simple fact: Gwen Araujo was a young woman. In teenage parlance, she was a girl. Articles and reports in the media refer to a "boy" named "Eddie," which are references to Gwen's sex at birth and her given name. But according to our understanding of who Gwen was, she was trying to make it clear to her family, friends, schoolmates and others in her life that she was female. She dressed in women's clothes, wore makeup, tried on different female names (settling finally on Gwen), presented in every way as female, and spoke of yearning for physical transformation, including surgery. --- --Larry Brinkin, senior officer / San Francisco's Human Rights Commission

A national survey shows most Americans know little about transgender people. The poll, taken for The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), shows that while most people accept that a person can be transgender, more education is needed to help people better understand the lives of transgender Americans.

"The data shows that most people want to treat transgender Americans fairly and protect them from workplace discrimination and hate crimes," said David Smith, HRC communications director and senior strategist.

"Still, the majority of Americans report being uncomfortable about transgender issues, especially when confronted with the challenges that transgender people face," he said.

Seventy percent of Americans have heard the word "transgender."

"The concept of transgender is something that the public is aware of, if not focused on," said Celinda Lake, of the polling firm Lake Snell Perry & Associates Inc., which conducted the survey for HRC.

"Most people accept that it is possible for a person to be 'born as one sex but inside feel like the other sex.' However, many are confused about what transgender means, and which people would be considered transgender," she said.

All voters overwhelmingly favor transgender students attending public schools, according to the poll results. Additionally, despite differences between sympathizers and opponents, there is a strong general consensus that no one should be subjected to violence and discrimination because of who they are.

There are, however, differences between the two points of view on how to address these issues. The poll found that sympathizers who believe in transgender equality favor transgender-specific laws, and opponents prefer using what they erroneously believe to be existing laws to protect transgender people. However, the fact remains that there are very few jurisdictions that prohibit discrimination against transgender Americans, said HRC.

Additionally, the poll found a very critical correlation between whether the public sees being transgender as a moral issue and whether they think people have a choice about being transgender.

"Three-quarters of those who say being transgender is a choice, also see it as a moral issue," said Lake, "while two-thirds who do not see it as a moral issue say people are born transgender."

For more news, visit 365Gay.com.

Marching, shouting, demanding an end to attacks on transgenders.

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I have heard and read the different articles about the horrible death of Gwen. I am anxiously awaiting to watch the Lifetime movie about her. Just from reading and hearing the national media, it breaks my heart to know that people could be so cruel. What, were those guys too embarressed for people to know they had sex with a male? Guys in prison do it all the time, so what's the difference? Underneath our physical apperanance,we are all still human beings. All this girl wanted was to be normal like any other female. Whats wrong with that? Is that politically incorrect due to the fact that she was born a "male"? All I know is that the sentence the 2 guys got was injustice. Had it been a white male who was the victim and hispanics or some other minority who were the killers, they would be sitting in san quentin right now awaiting lethal injection. My heart and prayers go to gwen's family.

I just wanted to report this disgusting site, since i don't know who to report it to. its celebrating Gwen's murder, it is offensive, disgusting and just ignorant and stupid. Maybe you guys can get rid of it. Enter To Celebrate The Murder Of Eddy "Gwen" Araujo - The Ill Community link: http://aolsearch.aol.com/aol/search?encquery=6c700f77dd98baaeff080224e1e41bae1c75db8b352d5d807d33cbca90057b71f2f6981ab133ef8fbdb183a0605b8aa283e9a828f5b6f9663c906b93fc388304ee7f4dc0793cbdfa&invocationType=keyword_rollover&ie=UTF-8

I hate the fact that another human being could sit there and talk about how they are disgusted with the websites that are dedicated to GWEN. Are you upset that GWEN was and ALWAYS will be more beautiful than you? Or maybe you are really disgusted with yourself and found that this was a reason to speak what you felt about what happened to GWEN, when it is really your feelings about yourself. She died because she was proud of who she was and was not afraid to show it, and someone that didn't understand her was afraid of her. People are afraid of what they don't know and I think GWEN was trying to help yall get to know what else is out there. She was herself. She believed that being yourself is more valueable than anything in this world. I wish I had the opprtunity to meet someone as beautiful as GWEN. People need to stop judging others because of the way the choose to live their lives. I personally, as a straight woman prefer to be in the company of homosexual men and woman as well as transgendered men and woman. Why? Because they are human just like you and me and they don't judge the person that you are. They also have so much life, love, and energy about them and believe it or not the give very intellectual conversations. Yall need to take a deep look inside yourselves and find your own faults before you can attempt to find fault in someone else. You all are NOT GOD, therefore you have no means to judge. I pray that we as a people can get past our differences and learn to live with one another as we are. If not, may GOD have mercy on your souls. STOP THE HATE AND SPREAD THE LOVE. WE ALL ARE GOD'S CHILDREN, THEREFORE WE ARE ALL EQUAL.

I just finished watching the Gwen Araujo story on Lifetime and I was brought to tears. I am a straight white female who has never really experienced much prejudice and the thought that someone can protest on the day of a murder victims funeral disgusts me. This was a total lack of respect to Gwen's family. She was already dead .....what was the protest going to do. Did those people really feel it was necessary to tell this family that there were people in this world who hated this child for being who she was? I'm sure they were not blind to that fact, but they loved her and that is what matters on that day. People do not have to like eachother, it is unrealistic to think we all could but we need to teach our children to respect others. There will never be world peace but we can start with respect or even ignoring those we choose not to associate with. We must be realistic.
The movie did not do Gwen justice. She is more beautiful than they could have portrayed.

im a transexual. it makes me so mad and scared of this world today. im a passive transgendered just as well as gwen was. i never knew her but i heard so many good things about her. her story really touched me and my family. my family was once one of those people really didn't like transgendered people but when i came oput of feb 2006 it all changed they got so interested into what it was all about now they love and embrace it. as a transexual i face alot of obstacles ahead of me but i will learn how to go over or around them. gwen's story touched no body should ever have to go through that but gwen is a hero to me. if it wasn't for her story so many people would be dead. gwen taught us to be honest with ourselves and others. i don't tell everyone that im a transexual but if it gets sexual i do. and i thank sylvia so much for letting them make a story of her daughter may god bless you and thank you once again (kisses for all)

people will get over themselves soon. this world is changing people are different and people must accept if not they will be left. i will not become a victim of people making my esteem low i will much rather die of hormones than die of some people who can't accept me bring me down. for those who is sick of this ignored people please just pray nfor them and god will take care them. you will reap what you sow trust me. always rememebr to do you and know that god is love