15 and dead (yet another gay bashing)

[dsc]

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1714214,00.html

Lawrence King, an eighth grader who identified as gay and wore makeup and nail polish, was 15 when he was declared brain dead on Feb. 13. The day before, he had been shot in the head in an Oxnard, Calif., classroom full of students. Police have charged a sweet-faced boy called Brandon McInerney, 14, with first-degree murder and with a hate crime. According to the Los Angeles Times and KTLA, McInerney and some other boys accosted King about his sexuality on Feb. 11. Students apparently often taunted King, who didn't even have a safe home to return to after school: he was living in a shelter for abused and troubled children.

end of quote

It seems life failed Lawrence pretty badly. At 15 he didn't even have a real home or real parents. Gay, 15, and in a home for abused kids. Now he is dead. Killed by another student. Fortunately it doesn't go this far very often. Usually it is only name calling or maybe a beating. Enough to kill your soul but not your body. I am glad I don't have to decide what to do with the killer but I do hope that Lawrence rests in peace, and his family finds peace as well. It is the absolute least he deserves.

[gateley]

1. This makes my heart cry. I wish I could take Lawrence into my home and

wrap him in love and support.

I send him my love, wherever he is.

[bluestateguy]

2. When will the Phelps Klan be arriving for the funeral?

And will the "Patriot Guard" be there to stop them? Or is that only for dead soldiers?

[Parche]

3. This Society

Something is wrong with this society when these things happen

Why cant people let other people live their lives in peace?

:cry: :cry:

:hi:

[hulklogan]

4. And according to that article, we're seriously overstating the anti-gay bullying in schools

To me, the fact that only 18% of gay kids has been physically assaulted at school for being LGBT isn't something to be happy about. It should be 100%, with no excuses.

RIP Lawrence King, if anyone deserves to go to heaven it's you.

[dsc]

6. Yeah I wasn't thrilled to use that article

Honestly I don't even know what to say to such illogic as that fool put in his opinion piece.

[hulklogan]

7. If you like this article, you'll love the one that talks about how all the gay kids

love going to the ex-gay PFOX roller skating nights with the cool, good looking, older ex-gay Christians who wear T-shirts. Same author.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1112856-1,00.html

:puke:

[dsc]

11. unflipping believable

I can't even read the whole thing.

[hulklogan]

30. I emailed TIME and scolded them for both articles

and if I subscribed to that rag, I'd cancel my subscription tonight. No wonder they've been in crisis mode for years about their declining subscription rates.

[dsc]

31. I don't think I could send them a lucid letter to the editor or I would

I just am angry and that isn't my best writing style.

[hulklogan]

33. I don't think mine wasn't lucid either, but I'm sure I got the rage across.

:mad: :mad: :mad:

[DesertRat]

5. That is heartbreaking

Rest in peace, Lawrence.
:cry:

[AlienGirl]

8. It is not surprising to me that he was "in the system"

I work with abused and abandoned children, and I have discovered that there is a truly nasty, hideous trend of gay children and teens being abandoned or kicked out by their parents. Many of them do end up in group homes, because there are not enough family foster homes willing to take teenagers and because their normal teen behaviors--writing love notes to a classmate or holding hands in the hall--are unnecessarily categorized as "sexual acting out" rather than as "normal teenage stuff."

:cry:

Tucker

[dsc]

10. It is very difficult for gay to take them in in many states as well

I doubt I would qualify as a foster parent.

[AlienGirl]

15. In my state, gay people can foster but not adopt

Most of my co-workers are constantly agitating to get the "gay/bi people can't adopt" law overturned, because many of our best foster families are gay. Sadly, there are lots of kids in foster care and in group homes who could go home to real families if the state would listen to reason and allow gay people to adopt. :-(

Tucker

[dsc]

16. well gay is part of my problem

but I am a recovering alchy, single, and work about 10 hours a day during the school year. In short, not exactly ideal.

[AlienGirl]

17. The working a ton of hours is the big problem there

Congratulations on your recovery! Have you thought about making the time to volunteer as a mentor or in another capacity to help kids?

Tucker

[AlienGirl]

18. The working a ton of hours is the big problem there

Congratulations on your recovery! Have you thought about making the time to volunteer as a mentor or in another capacity to help kids?

Tucker

[dsc]

19. I have thought about mentoring

and may well do that.

[AlienGirl]

22. Kids need you!

Even the fact that you are in recovery is a positive, as there are an unfortunate number of teenagers who start their recovery process when "the system" takes them from their drug- and drinking-buddy parents. They could use an adult who has been there and can show them that recovery can lead them to a better life.

Tucker

[dsc]

26. true

the whacky thing is I have always been upfront about the recovery while I haven't been about being gay until lately. Funny how that works.

[theHandpuppet]

12. Here's one way folks can help these youngsters

My partner and I are big believers in The Point Foundation and I hope everyone will help to spread the word. The Point Foundation "provides financial support, mentoring and hope to meritorious students who are marginalized due to sexual orientation or gender identity."

For more on how you can become a mentor or contribute to their scholarship programs, please see:

http://www.pointfoundation.org/

[dsc]

13. It sounds like a good organization

I may donate a bit but I don't think I am what they are looking for mentor wise. I am not quite a heavy enough hitter so to speak.

[theHandpuppet]

20. Every little bit will help

Many of these kids have been disowned/kicked out by their families and without programs like this would have little hope of ever geting a college education.

[dsc]

21. I know I am dealing with a junior now in this boat

I am hoping his parents will come around in time for this to be moot. If not, I am going to investigate what he can do.

[theHandpuppet]

25. Good on ya.

Might want to bookmark the URL for The Point Foundation then, in case the day comes he wants to apply for a scholarship.

[dsc]

28. I have already.

The kid is smart, a great singer, and seems very nice. He also is having a hell of a time at home. His younger brother, who is also gay, outed him. But apparently the parents don't know the brother is gay. Again, I am hoping they come around but it currently isn't looking to good.

[MadMaddie]

27. The other sad reality is that the families that are kicking out

these kids are "Religous Fundamentalist Families". They throw their kids away like garbage when they dont' fit into their perfect straight world.

In WA the Republicans fought a law for anti-bullying in the schools because it hindered the religous kids rights to basically bully the gay kids.

RIP

[dsc]

29. same here in NC

I am taking a day off in May to lobby my state senator.

[question everything]

9. This is horrible (nt)

[BeHereNow]

14. We are a sick society-

Workers torturing cattle, classmates murdering fellow students
a military budget that has swelled beyond accountability
and a culture that considers network television entertainment.

Collapse is very near.

BHN

[theHandpuppet]

23. You know what also gets to me?

We have a society that worships guys who pump themselves full of steroids (to the point of looking like grotesque comic book figures), paint their faces and wear absolutely ridiculous costumes only to climb into a wrestling ring. But a 15 year old kid puts on lipstick and heels and for that he gets his brains blown out.

[hulklogan]

32. I actually like pro wrestling but I can't stand all of the anti-gay slurs you hear in the crowd

One time, there was a family with two little girls, probably both about 10 years old, screaming "FAGGOT!!!" at one of the wrestlers. And the parents just sat there and laughed.

[dsc]

34. I admit to watching more than my share when I was little

and even a big kid. Baby faced men in tight pants all sweaty what was not to like? But when the plot lines started really exploiting anti gay and anti other bigotry I went off the train.

[cbayer]

24. I'm glad that this is being brought back up.

Events like this too quickly pass by without enough notice and outrage. They interviewed kids from his school on the radio the other day and it was absolutely heartbreaking. Kids who have risked so much to come out and speak up. And now they have to fear they will be shot? In a classroom? By a classmate?