Mother of Slain Transgender Child Will Speak at UNC-Wilmington

WILMINGTON--Sylvia Guerrero, Mother of slain transgender youth Gwen Araujo, will speak in recognition of National Coming Out day inside the Lumina Theater at UNC Wilmington, Sunday, October 12th at 6:00pm.

As a mother, Guerrero has endured unthinkable tragedy, yet she still finds the strength to make a difference in the lives of others through her advocacy work. Since the murder, she has become a prominent figure on the national scene advocating for tolerance and equal rights for people who live the transgender lifestyle. Her daughter's story has been made into a movie by the Lifetime television network.

"Diversity is often defined in black and white, particularly here in the South," said Kimberly McLaughlin-Smith, UNCW Multicultural Center coordinator. "This story and the event built around National Coming Out Day for gay and lesbian people will serve as an eye opener about the many aspects of diversity. It is a reminder that hate crimes are still very much an issue in the new millennium."

Guerrero's talk will be followed by a question & answer session as well as a brief panel discussion with members of a Wilmington support group for transgender people. Scenes from the critically acclaimed documentary "Transgeneration" will also be shown. The National Coming Out Day program is sponsored by the Multicultural Center, UNCW Presents in conjunction with OUT Wilmington.