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Sure, fighting for inclusive hate crimes law's ain't easy, but Shepard says it's worth it. "I'm just somebody's mom who got really angry at the system and felt I had the opportunity to make a change," Shepard said. Another thing she'll keep with her - a distaste for his killers. There's no forgiving and forgetting here: "It's not a part of my process… I don't blame them 100 percent. I sort of blame society for creating the environment to make them think they could get away with it." Wag that finger, mama! |
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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. |
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The piece definitely packs a punch and has some readers doubled over in pain, particularly this paragraph: If they didn’t see the execution coming, most of King’s peers at school knew he was being bullied for being proudly gay and flouting male conventions by accessorizing his school uniform with eye shadow and high-heeled boots. In the months leading up to that morning, King had undergone a metamorphosis. |
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It's absolutely super that Logo and these celebrities have come together, but they again raise a serious question: what makes one hate crime more notable than the next? Should one central figure be used to fight a universal campaign. We suppose the pros outweigh the cons on this one, but it's still something that should be considered. Watch the video, after the jump… |
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[Sid Gonzales] said he tried to be friendly and make small talk with the trio. But he said he was not trying to hit on the men, whom he described as straight-looking, well-dressed and college-aged. Gonzales went for security following the incident, but couldn't find them: apparently they were tied up with some other homos who had encountered the men and woman. The Dallas Police Department has yet to assign an officer to the case. Shocking, right? |
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Wait, are these rhetorical questions, because, if not, we'd like to answer yes to all. Or is it no? God, this political shit's confusing! |
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Anderson Cooper and his CNN team took a look at the Lawrence King murder last night. In addition to telling us what we already know - King was shot by a 14-year old class mate - the 360 journos point out that the shooter, Brandon McIrney, may have been "humiliated" by King's school yard crush. Do we smell a gay panic defense? |
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Broward County gay rights organizations are angry over Williams' death, of course but, as Equality Florida's Nadine Smith says, not surprised: "We can be horrified, but we cannot be surprised. Just 10 days ago, 15 year-old Lawrence King was gunned down in California." Isn't America supposed to be "the best" country in the world? Why, then, do we keep hearing stories of dead queer teenagers. This shit's really depressing! We've also included the official EF press release after the jump… |
» Problematizing Lawrence King
The Lawrence King murder raises more questions this morning. Time's John Cloud wonders whether gay groups like the Task Force should be politicizing the 15-year old's shooting death. Do we highlight his homosexuality as the alleged motive behind last weeks bloodshed. Cloud says "no," and points to evidence that suggests gay kids aren't as endangered as some would believe. He concludes, We may never know the real motivations for King's murder. …But [Brandon McInerney's] victim's heartbreaking life and death should be occasions for mourning, not legislation." [Time] |
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We knew it was coming, but that doesn't make it any easier to hear that 15-year old Lawrence King has been taken off the ventilator after being shot by a classmate last week. Sources speculate the alleged shooter may have shot King for being too effeminate. A hate crime charge has officially been filed against 14-year old Brandon McInerney. An estimated 1,000 people marched in Oxnard, California this weekend to pay their respects to King and raise public awareness of homophobic violence. Watch the AP death video after the jump. [Rainbow Alliance video via Joe.My.God] |
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» Charges In LA Shooting
A Los Angeles county filed charges against the teenager accused of shooting 14-year old Lawrence King. Prosecutors on Thursday charged a 14-year-old boy with attempted murder and said he committed a hate crime in the classroom shooting of an eighth-grader who was declared brain dead." The attempted murder rap will be upgraded when doctors take King off his ventilator, which is keeping his organs oxygenated for donation. [SF Chronicle] |
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» Hate Crime Charge For Virtual Offender
A Canadian man has been charged with hate crimes for posting nasty comments about gays, blacks, Jews and really anyone else who wasn't just like him. He'll spend four months in jail and have limited access to computers. We think they should let him have his computers, lest he decide to get physical. [AFP] |
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» Transcendence
Things are wild down in Australia: "Garrick Jacobson was in custody at Sydney's Surry Hills police station when he apparently discovered his girlfriend used to be a man. Within hours of being released on bail, he went to her apartment and started "belting the hell" out of her, Downing Centre Local Court heard yesterday. The two NSW police officers who allegedly revealed the information about his then partner's past are now charged with breaching privacy laws." Our lesbian friends are right: women are more trouble than men! |
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» Hate Crime Charges (Again) In Rochester Attack
What a difference a judge makes! Two Rochester women accused of attacking a lesbian duo last year will face hate crime charges, a New York Supreme Court appellate ruled. The ladies - Yalidsa Ortiz and Carmen Vega - were originally charged with hate crimes, but a lower judge gave them misdemeanor, instead. This most recent decision will insure stricter punishment if convicted during trial. |