Jewlyes Gutierrez never imagined how her life would change last fall after she defended herself against one of her peers who had been bullying her.
The East Bay transgender teenager will be participating in Sunday's LGBT Pride parade as a community grand marshal and is thrilled with the honor. She became a familiar figure in local and national media outlets, and the widespread publicity about her case brought attention to the plight of LGBT students.
The events that occurred over the next six months set Gutierrez on a path that resulted in new supporters to help her navigate the criminal justice system in a way that allowed her to move on with her life.
The moment last November when the transgender teen slapped her bully and was chased down by the girl with two of her friends and beaten at Hercules Middle/High School sent her on an amazing journey. The incident was caught on video and went viral, catapulting her into the national spotlight.
About a month later, Gutierrez, 16, spoke out about her experience and her attempts to inform school administrators and faculty about the bullying she was experiencing to no avail at a special meeting of the West Contra Costa Unified School District board.
Then in January, the LGBT community rallied behind Gutierrez and expressed collective outrage when she was charged with misdemeanor battery by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's office while at the same time her alleged attackers faced no charges.
With the help of her attorney, public defender Kaylie Simon, and groups like the Transgender Law Center, a juvenile judge recommended Gutierrez participate in a restorative justice program rather than face the battery charge and a possible juvenile sentence. She successfully completed the program and the judge dropped the charge May 1.
A real reward
The real reward for Gutierrez wasn't having the charge against her dropped and some peace at school, but that she discovered a community that loved and supported her.
"I'm very appreciative and I'm very honored for the whole community to support me. They are like our second family in a way," said Gutierrez, thankful for the LGBT community's support over the past six months. "I have to thank them because without their help without them backing me up ...," the district attorney could have pursued the charge against her and she likely would still be in court right now.
Instead, Gutierrez completed her sophomore year and is looking forward to Pride weekend.
"I feel very shocked and very honored," said Gutierrez, humbled by the grand marshal recognition and excited about attending her first Pride event ever. Before the incident she said that she felt like a "freak" and "the only one who was like this," but now, "I feel that I get to finally be myself and it's okay."
Gutierrez hopes that her standing up for herself and accepting herself will inspire others to do the same.
"People shouldn't be afraid to come out. They should get the respect of being human, at least credit for being a person," said Gutierrez, who still gets "judged at school because I'm different."
Debra Gutierrez, Jewlyes's aunt and adoptive mother, agreed that people shouldn't be afraid to come out and be who they are. At the same time she understands that some LGBT kids don't have as loving and supportive families as Jewlyes does and that like her, they get bullied for expressing themselves.
This Sunday, June 29, Gutierrez will ride up Market Street before hundreds of thousands of people in San Francisco's Pride Parade. Joining her in the car ride will be Mark Snyder, senior manager, communications of the Transgender Law Center, and Simon, her attorney from the Contra Costa County Public Defender's office, two of the many people who supported her during her court proceedings.
It's a monumental weekend for the transgender community. Gutierrez is one of three trans grand marshals – others include celebrity grand marshal Janet Mock and community grand marshal Miss Major Griffin-Gracy.
Additionally, trans WikiLeaks leaker Chelsea Manning, who is currently in a military prison after being convicted of espionage, was named an honorary grand marshal, and although she will not be in attendance, the Chelsea Manning Support Group contingent will be in the parade on her behalf.
The Trans March is this year's organizational grand marshal.
Mock is the bestselling author of Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love and So Much More and the founder of the #GirlsLikeUs project.
[Read more about Griffin-Gracy and Manning elsewhere in this section and the Trans March in the news section.]
After Pride, Gutierrez expects to return to her normal life, focusing on completing high school and entering cosmetology school after she graduates, she said.