Lawrence King’s February murder continues to garner press. And, as we saw in The Advocate last month, some wonder whether King’s queer candor and flirtation invited gun man Brandon McInerney’s ire.
Consider Mississippi State University student Lazarus Austin’s recent op-ed:
By imposing his homosexuality on McInerney, he may have set McInerney off. McInerney may not have had an innate hatred of gay people. In fact, he may have tolerated homosexuality, while simultaneously thinking it was immoral, sinful or simply “uncool,” like many people do. King, however, may have gone too far by imposing his sexuality on others. Although King by no means deserved his fate, he may have unfortunately invited it.
So gross.
Meanwhile, a number of activists have signed a protest against The Advocate‘s aforementioned article, in which journo Neil Broverman posited a similar argument. The group, including PFLAG and the Triangle Foundation, write:
Rather than finding fault with them, we hope this incident will motivate everyone to work with us to change the climate in schools. Our unified message: This climate of fear must stop, so all youth learn to respect diversity rather than fear and hate it.
Lazarus Austin doesn’t agree. He thinks schools should eschew “tolerance” training in favor of stopping harassment. Promoting tolerance, he claims, encourages people to be gay. We hate to break it to you, Austin, but that’s not how it works.
How about we take this to the next level?
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oneway
One wonders whether such rationalizations — “invited it”?! — would ever be made if somebody, let’s say, evangelizing their religion creeped somebody out by bring up the Trinity to an uninviting atheist.
Shabaka
“…By imposing his homosexuality…” What a ignorant comment to make. Especially from a university student!
Bradley
If I follow this college student’s line of logic, then I would have had the legitimate right to shoot any girl who hit on me in high school; although, they knew I was gay. How insane is this logic? He should have done what I did. I was flattered and moved on. Well now, he will have plenty of time to practice this method behind bars with Big Bubba.
Dom
So, Mr. Austin, if a str8 man “imposes” his heterosexuality on me by bragging about how much he loves to perform oral sex on his girlfriend then, by your reasoning, I am perfectly in my rights to blow his brains out. Thanks for giving me permission! Now I don’t have to worry about suffering any guilt whatsoever. It’s so nice to have people like you around who are so reasonable and morally pure!
-M-
What about heterosexist media, churches and governmental institutions and bodies’ forceful and unwarranted, unquestioned and insensitive imposition of institutionalised and compulsory heterosexuality?
Mike
Now, now, let’s not bash the poor university student. He’s young and he does go to Mississippi State University. I don’t think he can help it. He’s the product of a disordered environment. It won’t get better until Congress actually bans all southern states from the Union. Thanks for nothing Lincoln!
Shaun Tom
As charming as the south is, with its sweet tea and red hat society, it’s alarming that a student from one of its universities could be so culturally and emotionally unaware.
Ironfox
No surprise here. Mr. Austin is a product of what passes for “education” in a state that ranks 50th in that area, as well as every other measure of a civil society. As they say in Texas, ” thank God for Mississippi”.
Lee
Rational, civil responses can be sent to the Mississippi State University Reflector at [email protected] .
Mr. Austin is studying history — which is good, because he has much to learn.
Qjersey
With that twisted logic, straight men better watch out because if every women shot a guy in the head who made unwanted advances…
CitizenGeek
It’s quite appalling that anyone could make comments like that university student. The fact he would even suggest that maybe King’s killer wasn’t homophobic before King admitted to a crush on him is even more bizarre.
Southern Decency
If someone gets a gun and shoots Lazarus Austin, I’ll write an op-ed saying “Austin, however, may have gone too far by imposing his heterosexism on others. Although Austin by no means deserved his fate, he may have unfortunately invited it.”
JENNIFER
HOW CAN PEOPLE SAY THIS ABOUT LARRY KING BRANDON WHATEVER IS HIS NAME IS DID FOR A REASON BECAUSE LARRY KING WAS PROUD OF WHAT HE WAS BRANDON WAS A GOD DAMN HATER AND SOME OF YA TAKE FUCKEN BRANDON SIDE YA ARE FUCKEN RIDICIOLOUS