A Girl Like Me: The Gwen Araujo Story

After escaping an abusive relationship, Sylvia returns to California with her three children. A large family gathering for her father's birthday reveals mixed feelings about her decision to leave. The kids' prank by dressing Eddie in a frilly pink dress brings a rare moment of levity, but the adults glance away with disapproval.

The film cuts between the family’s daily life and the looming murder trial of two men for Gwen Araujo’s death. In the courtroom, a medical examiner describes the brutal beating, strangulation, and disposal, noting the victim's gender identity to highlight the prejudice at the heart of the case. The testimony anchors the narrative in the real consequences of intolerance.

Back at home, Sylvia's sister challenges the dress incident, pushing back against Eddie's gender expression. Sylvia deflects, insisting Eddie is well-behaved and shifts emphasis to securing a job for the family. The tension reveals the conflict between acceptance and practical fear within the extended family.

Days later, Eddie is seen wearing a bra and makeup, triggering a heated confrontation. Sylvia intervenes and makes Eddie promise it won’t happen again, signaling the start of a more contested path toward identity. The home atmosphere grows tense as boundaries around gender expression are tested.

Years pass and Eddie becomes a teenager starting his first day at a new high school. He wears lipstick as he is dropped off, which sparks a confrontation with Sylvia. In response, Sylvia dismantles parts of Eddie's room that she associates with femininity.

A session with a counselor from the Gender Identity Project becomes a turning point for the family. Gwen begins to feel seen, and Sylvia's fear softens as she considers supporting her daughter's identity. The dialogue shifts toward practical steps Gwen can take.

Back at home, Sylvia comforts Gwen when she feels like a freak, and she commits to supporting her daughter's identity. She starts helping with practical steps, such as enabling Gwen's social transition and providing cosmetics like waterproof mascara. The family begins to align around Gwen's truth.

At school, a friendly classmate, Lisa White, compliments Gwen’s makeup and stands by her. Gwen introduces herself as Gwen for the first time, signaling a new, visible openness at school. This moment marks a shift toward acceptance in the school community.

The courtroom drama intensifies as the defense tries to pry into Gwen's past, insinuating promiscuity or drug use. Lisa testifies as Gwen's best friend, correcting pronouns and supporting her, helping jurors see Gwen as a real person. The defense's strategy clashes with Gwen's truth as the trial unfolds.

Gwen grows her hair longer and wears a dress to Chita's wedding, shocking the extended family with her outward transformation. At the wedding, she meets Joey Marino, a former Marine who has recently moved to the area, and the two connect. The moment deepens Gwen and Joey's developing relationship.

Sylvia reveals Gwen's gender identity to Joey, which blindsides him and strains their budding relationship. He ends things, leaving Gwen distraught but determined to live as her true self. The moment tests the family's resilience and support.

Gwen attends a party with Tamara, a friend of Joey’s, and the next morning Gwen is found unconscious on the front lawn. Rumors and fear swirl as Tamara contemplates what happened and works to uncover the truth. The incident foreshadows the social hostility Gwen will confront.

The brutal discovery—that Gwen is biologically male—sparks a violent reaction from a group of boys who attack her in a closet; Tamara is horrified and begs them to stop before leaving in tears. Sylvia immediately reports Gwen missing, and when her body is found the family mourns. Protests erupt at the funeral as the community grapples with the tragedy.

In the trial's climactic moments, the defense tries to push societal blame for the murder, but Sylvia takes the stand to reject this notion and insists the killers chose to take Gwen's life. She holds them responsible every day of her life, and jurors respond with a pause as observers clap in relief for accountability and memory.

Across the film, the deep family bonds are tested and strengthened as they confront fear, prejudice, and loss. The narrative remains grounded in the human cost of hatred while honoring Gwen's journey toward living openly as her true self. The family continues to remember Gwen and support others facing similar struggles.