Director: Jacqueline Gares
Release Year: 2014
Synopsis:
Released in 2014, FREE CeCe! is a powerful documentary directed by Jacqueline Gares that chronicles the life of Chrishaun Reed “CeCe” McDonald, a trans woman of color who survived a violent attack, was incarcerated in a men’s prison, and became a symbol of resilience and advocacy for transgender rights. Through Gares' documentary lens, FREE CeCe! transcends the typical narratives of victimhood often imposed on transgender individuals. Instead, it focuses on McDonald's strength, her fight for justice, and her emergence as a leader within the larger movement for transgender rights.
The story of CeCe McDonald begins in June 2011 when she was attacked while walking with friends to a local store in Minneapolis. McDonald, a transgender woman, and her friends were confronted by a group of white men who hurled racial slurs and transphobic comments at them. One of the men, Dean Schmitz, made an aggressive move toward McDonald and her friends. In self-defense, CeCe defended herself with a pair of scissors, which led to Schmitz’s death. The incident was a tragic case of self-defense against a violent attack fueled by transphobia and racism.
In the aftermath of the confrontation, McDonald was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. Despite the clear evidence that she had acted in self-defense, she was coerced into a confession during a highly problematic interrogation. This was a case that immediately revealed the deep-seated systemic issues at play—not only regarding how trans people are treated by the legal system but also in the broader context of racial and gender-based violence.
