King, School To Blame, Says Defense Lawyer

[JackBeck]

The debate over who’s to blame for Lawrence King’s death continues to rage two months after his murder.

For those of you living under a rock, 15-year old King died in February after a 14-year old classmate, Brandon McInerney, shot him in the head. King had reportedly asked McInerney to be his Valentine, which many say spurred the violent outburst. Thus, many claim that King only invited the explosive retaliation. Journalist Neil Broverman once mulled that theory, while a Mississippi State University student took it one step further: “King… may have gone too far by imposing his sexuality on others.” A pretty distasteful conclusion - and one that will no doubt be getting heavy play during McInerney’s murder trial…

Defense attorney William Quest doesn’t simply blame King’s queer ways -like dabbling in cross-dressing - for the shooting, but school administrators, who should have stepped in to stop King:

McInerney perceived King’s treatment as harassment, Quest said. Quest, however, declined to discuss any specific confrontations or issues between the boys. He also declined to say if McInerney ever sought help from an adult to deal with the issue.

Quest said he believes school administrators supported one student expressing himself and his sexuality — King — and ignored how it affected other kids, despite complaints. Cross-dressing isn’t a normal thing in adult environments, he said, yet 12-, 13- and 14-year-olds were expected to just accept it and go on.

Quest’s right. No, not about King being responsible. About how school administrators should have gotten involved. Surely they must have known other students wouldn’t understand King’s gay displays, so teachers, counselors and other staffers should have coordinated an effort to - gasp! - educate students on sexual difference. That could have made all the difference.

Meanwhile, lest you forget, this Thursday’s the annual Day of Silence, which commemorates victims of anti-gay violence. This year’s honors King.

http://www.queerty.com/king-school-to-blame-says-defense-lawyer-20080421/

[alarimer]

1. By that logic, every girl who gets asked out by someone she does not like has the right to shoot him

After all, he's imposing his sexuality on her. Good grief. Where do these people come up with this stuff?

[Ellen Forradalom]

3. No, only gays impose their sexuality

:sarcasm:

[MotorCityMan]

14. Right, the old "gay panic" defense

There have been some truly horrible, brutal, vicious murders of gay men, and all the suspects had to say was the victim made a pass/propositioned/touched them, and they would get some bullshit light sentence.

[JackBeck]

15. The defense lawyers tried that with Matthew Shepard's case.

Epic fail.

[MountainLaurel]

4. Damn, I'd wish I'd know that

When I used to be harassed about my poking-out nipples during science class my freshman year of high school, I could have just blown the fuckers away.

[JackBeck]

6. I swear I don't know how some lawyers sleep at night. n/t

[Deja Q]

17. Another reason why we should have school uniforms and discourage any fraternizing.

School is for education, first and foremost.



edited: Typos

[Ellen Forradalom]

2. Outrageous blame-the-victim bullshit

Yes, gays deserve to die because they "impose their sexuality on others." :sarcasm:

There were so many better ways to handle the situation. What a tragedy that it came to this.

[JackBeck]

10. I'm curious if this now gives us LGBT'ers

license to go on a rampage, since heterosexuality is constantly "imposed" on us on a daily basis?

[renate]

5. poor McInerney didn't have a choice

When a funny, sweet, cross-dressing kid asked him to be his Valentine, he really had no alternative but to shoot him in the head. And the school totally should have seen that coming.

(just to be sure: :sarcasm:)

That picture just breaks my heart. What a sweet face.

[PVnRT]

7. How dare those damn queers not stay in the closet!

It's too bad you can't disbar lawyers for being dipshits, unless they're incompetent.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

8. Disgraceful And Disgusting.

It's not like he touched him or made any physical advances. He asked him to be his valentine for chrissakes. It's intolerable to use his sexuality as an excuse. And furthermore, I agree with you 100% that the school should've educated the students on sexual difference. What a horrible story and what a disgraceful defense. Hopefully, the jury won't buy any of it for a second.

[Richard Steele]

9. Defense lawyer a "disgusting, shameless lowlife" says Dick. nm

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. Not only horrific, but

who gives a 14 year old access to a gun?

[varkam]

12. He's a defense lawyer - it's his job.

:shrug:

[Ellen Forradalom]

13. That doesn't mean we can't call bullshit

on his argument. Hope the jury sees it that way too.

[varkam]

16. No, it doesn't. eom