A Girl Like Me

Lifetime's original movie "A Girl Like Me. The Gwen Araujo Story." is the true story of Gwen Araujo, born Edward Araujo Jr. on February 24, 1985, a transgender teenager who was brutally murdered by four men in 2002 after it was discovered that she had male genitalia. The movie follows Gwen's life growing up, the horrible tragedy that she faced, and the trial of her four killers.

The movie starts with a part of the trial where the witness is describing the condition of the body. The body was found tied up and wrapped in a shower curtain, covered in dirt and blood, marks on the neck from rope, a star-shaped laceration on the back of the head, and a black sock inserted in the mouth. The autopsy showed that she died from strangulation associated with blunt force trauma to the head. The attorney asked the gender of the victim. The answer was a normally developed male.

In the bedroom, a young Eddie is standing there looking at his sister's dress. He says he wants to be a girl. He starts sleeping with dolls. His mother starts noticing but doesn't want to think anything is wrong. She catches Eddie wearing make-up, jewelry, and a bra. She has Eddie promise not to do this anymore. Sylvia asks Eddie, now 17 and going by the name Gwen, to behave and not act strange at her new school. Once she arrives, she puts lipstick on and all the kids stare. She then meets her new best friend, Lisa. Walking away, she bumps into Jaron Nabors, one of Gwen's killers, who criticizes her and starts a fight. The altercation is broken up. Sylvia is trying to cope with the lifestyle of Gwen but she is finding it hard to understand but she will always love Gwen. Excited her sister is getting married, Gwen wants to be the maid-of-honor but her mother won't allow it. At the wedding, she meets a man named Joe who she takes an instant liking to. They go out for nine months. Sylvia doesn't think it's right so she tells Joe the truth about Gwen. He right away stops talking to Gwen.

Finding out the news upsets Gwen and she leaves. She meets up with a friend, Nicole. They go to a party at Jose Merel's house, another one of Gwen's killers. They're drinking and Gwen, who is drunk, starts making out with Jose. She also meets Michael Magidson and Jason Cazares. Then Jaron shows up and, not remembering Gwen, starts making out with her. Nicole, jealous of the attention Gwen is getting, notices manly things about Gwen so she tells the guys. They get so upset, they make up a story for Gwen to stop by. Once she's there, they attack her, pull down her pants and discover her male genitalia. All four boys, enraged, started beating her and continue the beating for five hours, tied her up and then threw her into a grave. A few days later, Sylvia, not knowing where Gwen is, spots a police car driving up to her home. They found Gwen's body. Her murder was top news. The day of the funeral, television stations and protesters crowded outside the funeral home. Even with all the commotion of people, the funeral was still a peaceful and beautiful memorial.

After two trials, three of the boys are found guilty. Michael Magidson and Jose Merel are convicted with second-degree murder. Jaron Nabors pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter. Jason Cazares pled no contest to voluntary manslaughter.

She started seeing herself more as a female than a male. No one understood. No one wanted to understand. She lived her life as she wanted. In the end, she faced a horrible tragedy all because no one understood.

Lizzy   =)