Gwen Araujo's Name Officially Changed Posthumously

Hi everyone,

Props to Chris Daley from the Transgender Law Center and JoAnne Keatley from
the Transgender Resource and Neighborhood Space.

This great news and sends a clear message: "media amnesia" when reporting
on transgender terminology and pronoun use has to stop.

There must be respect and sensitivity for our communities and reporting
accurately based on gender identity and sexual orientation should be a
priority.

Eddie
Eddie Gutiérrez
Associate Director of Regional Media
The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)
5455 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 1500
Los Angeles, CA 90036
direct: 323.634.2011
cell: 213.713.5565
fax: 323.933.2241
email: gutierrez [at] glaad.org
web: http://www.glaad.org

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is dedicated to
promoting and ensuring fair, accurate and inclusive representation of
people and events in the media as a means of eliminating homophobia
and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.
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Press Release
Thursday, July 1st, 2004

English Language Press Contact:
Christopher Daley, Esq.
Co-Director
Transgender Law Center
(415) 865-0176, cell (415) 771-7304

Spanish Language Press Contact:
JoAnne Keatley, MSW
Project Director
Transgender Resource and Neighborhood Space
(415) 476-2364

California Superior Court Grants Posthumous Name Change Petition for Slain
Bay Area Transgender Teen

Fremont, CA ­ On June 23, 2004 Superior Court Commissioner Thomas Surh
issued an order recognizing the change of name from Eddie Araujo, Jr. to
Gwen Amber Rose Araujo. The order had been requested by Gwen¹s mother,
Sylvia Guerrero, in a May 25th hearing.

³I¹m elated for Gwen, my family, and our friends. This is something that all
of us have been waiting too long for,² said Sylvia. ³It is one of my regrets
that I didn¹t call my daughter Gwen more while she was alive. Having this
order granted helps me to put that regret to rest.²

³From the day we filed, we were confident that California law would support
this petition and we are thankful that Commissioner Surh agreed,² said
Transgender Law Center Co-Director Christopher Daley, Sylvia¹s Attorney.
³Hundreds of transgender people access the California Court System for
official recognition of their name change every year. It is one more way
that California, as a state, honors and supports the transgender people that
live here.²

³And now that the court has recognized her name, I¹m calling on all print
and broadcast media outlets to do the same,² said Sylvia. ³Using ³Eddie Gwen
Araujo² is no longer appropriate in any media coverage. I expect that all of
you will, from this point forward, refer to my daughter as Gwen Amber Rose
Araujo or simply Gwen Araujo.²

Daley agreed, ³Make no mistake, this court order is not a symbolic document.
Due to last week¹s mistrial, Gwen¹s name and identity will once again be
subject to unprincipled attacks from the same defense attorneys who have
spent the last several months disrespecting her. It is my strong hope that
as we move towards a retrial for their clients, each of these attorneys will
give this order the respect it demands by referring to Gwen by her legal
name.²

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Organization information at:

Transgender Law Center
http://www.transgenderlawcenter.org

Transgender Resource and Neighborhood Space
http://www.caps.ucsf.edu/TRANS/