Now that Creating Change 2014 is receding into history, I have some time to refocus my attention on what's happening in the trans community while I was doing my part to make our Houston flavored event an off the charts successful one.There has been increasing pressure being applied on the Contra Costa County DA's office to drop the case against Hercules HS transteen Jewyles Gutierrez, who is being charged with battery for defending herself against three girls who were bullying her nonstop for several months .
And just in case you were wondering, outside of the three girls who bullied her being suspended from school for the fight, they aren't facing charges.
A Change.org petition calling on Contra Costa County DA Daniel Cabrera to drop the charges has garnered almost 200,000 signatures and sponsorship from Transadvocate, and GLSEN (Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network) as of this writing.
If you wish to add your name to that list of people outraged over what is increasingly appearing to be charges based on a recommendation from a transphobic cis female detective, you can follow this link to add your name to this petition.
The lengthening list of people speaking out against these unjust charges also includes San Francisco Supervisor David Campos, who along with four co-sponsors introduced on January 28 a non-binding resolution urging that the unjust charges be dropped.
"What happened to Jewlyes Gutierrez is reprehensible," Campos told the SF Weekly. "Prosecuting Jewlyes for defending herself merely stigmatizes and bullies her again, this time in an official capacity and by the institutions who's duty it is to act as her protector. It is important that as a city, we in San Francisco stand for what is right and acknowledge that we must commit to protecting the most vulnerable among us and demand the same of communities around the country, especially in the Bay Area."
Will be keeping an eye on this situation.
No comments:
Post a Comment