I am Vanessa Guillen

Factual America

Christy Wegener, director and producer of I Am Vanessa Guillen, joins Matthew Sherwood to tell the story of Private First Class Vanessa Guillen.

In 2020, after suffering from sexual harassment by a superior, Vanessa was murdered by a fellow soldier at Fort Hood army base outside Killeen, Texas. In the months that followed, her family refused to let either their grief or the weight of the military silence them, and started a campaign to win justice for their sister and daughter, and all victims of sexual abuse in the military. Their campaign took them to the halls of power in Washington DC, and ultimately, success.

How did they do it? As Christy tells Matthew, the Guillens are ‘an incredibly close-knit family’, one motivated by a desire to ensure that no one ever again is forced to suffer as they have done. This absolute determination, guided by expert help from their lawyer, Natalie Khawam, allowed them to weather the storm of grief and failure, and provided a springboard to their success. Today, it continues to inspire them as Vanessa’s sister, Mayra, leads the I Am Vanessa Guillen Foundation, which advocates on behalf of military sexual abuse victims.

As Matthew Sherwood discovers, the US military has tried hard to deal with claims of harassment and assault within its ranks, but the military system itself remains antithetical to the demands of justice. Christy shares how the presence of cameras can help hold politicians to account, and how the Guillens managed to unite in their cause an otherwise hopelessly divided Capitol Hill.

I Am Vanessa Guillen is the story of a tragedy, of enduring love and courage, and the breaking of a cycle of silence and pain.

Watch the episode at https://factualamerica.com

“... we were just with them, and they were so willing to be vulnerable on camera.,, they didn't really even acknowledge our presence, which was good... they were very focused on their mission.” – Christy Wegener