Young, Gay and Murdered

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  • Posted By: gofor3 @ 07/22/2008 10:54:54 PM

    I am sorry for the double post and horrible grammar/spelling. I had a long rugby practice and my brain is a little tired.

  • Posted By: gofor3 @ 07/22/2008 10:46:26 PM

    I just want to add... 1) It is a tragedy and Larry K. was a victim and had no right to die. 2) He should not have been in the situation he was in. 3) He was 15 in the 8th grade, most kids are 13-14. 4) Most boys would have gotten kicked out of school for acting so inappropriately toward girls... as he was acting toward the boys. 5) Why would you let an openly and aggressively gay boy change clothes with much younger boys... especially if he is making VERY inappropriate comments/receiving inappropriate comments in sexual nature. I have worked with my state counseling at risk boys and girls... I see numerous uses of bad judgment. I also, can't help but to blame the asst. principal and teacher, who gave the boy a dress, for letting this escalate to this point. They were trying to protect his rights in an environment that is very unstable... the emotional psyche's of 12-14 yr old kids. Once again, if a straight boy was harassing girls in some of the ways Larry was, the inappropriate boy would have been sent to a place better equipped to handle the delicate needs and protect the children from unwanted and dangerous sexual advances. This is my .02. Also, it is really hard to label this your typical hate crime. I think the perp. murdered Larry because he felt victimized and tormented by Larry and wanted to exact revenge for that pain... not kill Larry because he was gay.

  • Posted By: gofor3 @ 07/22/2008 10:40:56 PM

    I just want to add... 1) It is a tragedy and Larry K. was a victim and had no right to die. 2) He should not have been in the situation he was in. 3) He was 15 in the 8th grade, most kids are 13-14. 4) Most boys would have gotten kicked out of school for acting so inappropriately toward girls... as he was acting toward the boys. 5) Why would you let an openly and aggressively gay boy change clothes with much younger boys... especially if he is making VERY inappropriate comments/receiving inappropriate comments in sexual nature. I have worked with my state counseling at risk boys and girls... I see numerous uses of bad judgment. I also, can't help but to blame the asst. principal and teacher, who gave the boy a dress, for letting this escalate to this point. They were trying to protect his rights in an environment that is very unstable... the emotional psyche's of 12-14 yr old kids. Once again, if a straight boy was harassing girls in some of the ways Larry was, the inappropriate boy would have been sent to a place better equipped to handle the delicate needs and protect the children from unwanted and dangerous sexual advances. This is my .02. Also, it is really hard to label this your typical hate crime. I think the perp. murdered Larry because he felt victimized and tormented by Larry and wanted to exact revenge for that pain... not kill Larry because he was gay.

  • Posted By: Ihateliars @ 07/22/2008 10:30:56 PM

    Well said Benjamin101. Dr Rod maybe the cliques should be the ones that stop. This article is tabloid at best. Stay tuned, there is much information to be released. Ramin is a pathetic trash reporter and needs to stay with the Hollywood gossip and not real life news.

  • Posted By: Xstreme76 @ 07/22/2008 5:11:58 PM

    Maria you missed the point completely He can dress the way he wants for school, it is our jobs as parents and teachers to teach all children that when you dont understand something or find it wierd you should ask questions and try to understand it if not at least learn to tolerate it.

    • Posted By: Dr_Rod @ 07/22/2008 8:45:45 PM

      True, but you also miss the point. It is equally the responsibility of parents to teach kids how to function in society. Allowing a 14 year old child who is naturally struggling with identity issues to go to Junior High in a dress, heals, etc. is irresponsible - no matter how you feel about issues of sexuality.

  • Posted By: CaraWinter @ 07/22/2008 10:35:40 AM

    It's a sad thing, to me, that the story isn't about how our society could create such a diabolical, cold-blooded, 15-year-old child-killer. Instead, it's a story about how Larry was "disruptive" in school, taunting and "harassing" other kids, weilding his sexuality, "like a weapon", -- implying that he provoked his own murder! If that is the case, than every 15-year-old girl in America should be locked up, for their own safety! Or be barred from flirting, or wearing low-rise jeans! Or else, they might be provoking their own rapes, or murders! It's lunacy, and it's disrespectful of the poor, dead child.

    NEWSWEEK, why aren't you talking about the murderer? He's an afterthought, in the story.

    Well, here are some afterthoughts: Why didn't this boy's parents know he was capable of something like this? Why wasn't he being seen by a shrink? Where did a 15-year-old get a HANDGUN? Why didn't anyone teach him kindness, respect, tolerance?

    • Posted By: informedteen @ 07/22/2008 7:33:59 PM

      I'll gladly tell you were a 15 year old got a handgun. illegally. thats why "gun control" is a moot point, the murderers will still find ways of getting guns, and the law abiders will lack a means of self defense. and besides, even without guns people will still die from knife-related murder. deal with it. there is also the fact that larry tried to flirt with the shooter, that he was stalking him. it even says he wielded it like a weapon. this isnt an issue of gay-or not gay. this isnt about homophobia. this is about a boy being bullied and having no-where to turn because if we take any action against gays its a hate crime, sorry, but treating minorties diffrently goes against the idea of equality those who advocat special treatment preach. larry's family doesnt want this being a big news story, and the two party system is seriously F*cking up the country, so lets all be reasonable and shut the hell up NOW!

    • Posted By: OnlyCureJGK @ 07/22/2008 1:15:36 PM

      There are two things society created here a murderer and a cross dressing homosexual both are just as wrong and unnatural

  • Posted By: benjamin101 @ 07/22/2008 7:33:19 PM

    When Ramin Setoodeh, in the July 28 edition of Newsweek, described the events surrounding Larry King???s murder, I could not help but think that here is another case of ???blaming the victim.??? The article explained that King ???flaunted his sexuality and wielded it like a weapon.??? Knives and guns are weapons, lipstick and women???s shoes are not. Larry was taunted on a daily basis, so he taunted back. Larry???s grand plan to teach his tormenters a lesson was to become famous. Brandon McInerney???s grand plan was to sneak a gun to school and shoot Larry in the back of the head, twice. Why? Maybe it was because Larry was flirting with him. Are you serious? What is the lesson that we want to take from this tragedy? That gay people need to stay in the closet until college? Or that perhaps our society needs to open its eyes to the still massive level of intolerance towards anyone who dares to be different. Don???t blame the victim. Don???t blame those who stood by in support of him. Blame intolerance.

    Ben Blevins

  • Posted By: benjamin101 @ 07/22/2008 7:32:50 PM

    When Ramin Setoodeh, in the July 28 edition of Newsweek, described the events surrounding Larry King???s murder, I could not help but think that here is another case of ???blaming the victim.??? The article explained that King ???flaunted his sexuality and wielded it like a weapon.??? Knives and guns are weapons, lipstick and women???s shoes are not. Larry was taunted on a daily basis, so he taunted back. Larry???s grand plan to teach his tormenters a lesson was to become famous. Brandon McInerney???s grand plan was to sneak a gun to school and shoot Larry in the back of the head, twice. Why? Maybe it was because Larry was flirting with him. Are you serious? What is the lesson that we want to take from this tragedy? That gay people need to stay in the closet until college? Or that perhaps our society needs to open its eyes to the still massive level of intolerance towards anyone who dares to be different. Don???t blame the victim. Don???t blame those who stood by in support of him. Blame intolerance.

    B. Blevins
    San Diego, CA

  • Posted By: Heather Job @ 07/22/2008 7:26:10 PM

    While I think it's terrible that a kid in junior high would be murdered for expressing his sexuality, I can't help but think he was kind of asking for trouble by showing up to school in heels and copious amounts of make up. That was a plea for attention, and he certianly recieved attention- negatively so. He should have waited to come out- or at least, to be so obvious about it- until he had some more friends with the same feelings. That way, they could handle the bumps in the road together. It's a shame Larry King never got that chance.

  • Posted By: Ihateliars @ 07/22/2008 7:14:47 PM

    Thank you Maeve Fox. Best of luck. I know you will do what is right.

  • Posted By: Maria57 @ 07/22/2008 7:14:41 PM

    MaeveFox u say dont believe everything you read, does that mean that your not going to charge Brandon as an adult, and that your not going to put a child in prison for the rest of his life? I read that the DA was doing just that ----trial as an adult that he is not. any child around or under 15yrs old is a minor not an adult. I hope u have lots of sleeping pills to help you sleep at night.

  • Posted By: MaeveFox @ 07/22/2008 6:16:23 PM

    I am the prosecutor in this case. I work for the District Attorney of Ventura County. Prior to publication, the author called me and ran several facts by me which I could not confirm for him. The story is rife with inaccuracies and feeds into the rumor mill swirling around this tragic case. Note the disclaimer at the end of the piece that many of the sources interviewed would only speak anonymously. The beauty of the criminal justice system is that it includes the 6th Amendment Confrontation clause which requires people to appear in front of the defendant, his attorney, the State's representative, the Judge and the Jurors and to testify under oath. Much of what these anonymous sources whisper into the ears of a complicit reporter will undoubtedly evaporate when and if they are called to the stand. Just goes to prove the old adage: Don't beleive everything you read.

    • Posted By: OnlyCureJGK @ 07/22/2008 6:34:28 PM

      The disfunctional justice system created these monsters by alowing guns to be owned by citizens, By allowing perverts to marry publicly.
      Look it up pervert in the dictionary.

  • Posted By: sbagliasignora @ 07/22/2008 6:03:41 PM

    I urge all of you who have written comments, as well as the writers of this article, and the editor, to read my response here: http://sbaglia.blogspot.com/

    The article, while it attempts to absolve Larry from being responsible for his murder, remains wrought with victim blaming. We need to look at the larger picture here, to learn from this school's and community's failure to protect and educate its students.

    Clearly, the depictions of Larry have brought out the usual God-fearing, homosexual-hating commentators, but perhaps their is hope for others who read in the absence of prejudice.

    • Posted By: OnlyCureJGK @ 07/22/2008 6:10:07 PM

      Hate is a negitive emotion that is similar to replusion.
      Only hate what is bad not the individual. You can not help an individual if you hate them.
      When a person is in denial of what is not acceptable behavior they will justify however they can.
      Homosexual acts are wrong. Murder is wrong.

      • Posted By: OnlyCureJGK @ 07/22/2008 6:15:11 PM

        yea i ment ???repulsion

  • Posted By: Xstreme76 @ 07/22/2008 5:06:37 PM

    P.S. To the writer of the article, You were very one sided i felt. You all but told everyone "hey a 14 year old GAY boy died cause he and those around him let him piss everyone off. Oh and he was a troubled trouble maker." You should be ashamed of yourself and I hope that next time you feel a certain way about something you will be more professional and give us the news not the reasons.

    • Posted By: OnlyCureJGK @ 07/22/2008 6:02:48 PM

      The reasons matter more than anything else. You would have them tickle your ears with what you want to hear.

  • Posted By: sbagliasignora @ 07/22/2008 5:57:49 PM

    I have posted a blog in response to this article. Despite the authors efforts to maintain that Larry was not responsible for his death, the writing suggests otherwise. Please read my opinion here: http://sbaglia.blogspot.com/

  • Posted By: Sarabei @ 07/22/2008 3:18:34 PM

    "Comment: The truth of the matter hurts people who live contrary to what is not perverted.

    The truth is cross dressing, homosexual behavior is a mental illness and becoming a social deseise.

    Mental health proffesionals need to stand up and address the issues with this and Murder in schools and with parents who permit and promote these behaviors.

    Will they do this probably not so the only cure is and will be God's Kingdom. "

    The truth of the matter is there is nothing wrong with people who are different, God made us ALL....even morons like you who spout rhetoric they can't even spell.


    • Posted By: OnlyCureJGK @ 07/22/2008 5:48:05 PM

      God did not make the homosexual. God made the individual who decided to become homosexual.
      Bad spelling is not a crime.

  • Posted By: MONCINIH @ 07/20/2008 10:20:56 PM

    THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS "ARE YOU SERIOUS" THOSE WHO THINK THAT BEING GAY IS A CHOICE OBVIOUSLY ARE AS IGNORANT AS THEY SOUND. YOU REALLY THINK PEOPLE CHOOSE TO BE HUMILIATED, DEGRADED AND LOOKED DOWN UPON BECAUSE OF THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATION. YOU CAN'T IGNORE YOUR FEELINGS. WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST..."SHOCK THERAPY" WHATEVER HAPPENED TO UNCONDITIONAL LOVE AND FORGIVENESS. LAST TIME I CHECKED "DO NOT BE GAY WASN'T ONE OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS" FOR ALL THOSE WHO AUTOMATICALLY BRING UP THE RELIGIOUS AGENDA. JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T AGREE WITH THE GAY LIFE STYLE, DOESN'T MEAN OTHERS SHOULD TOO. YOU ACT LIKE IT'S A DISEASE THAT YOU MIGHT CATCH IF YOU ARE AROUND THEM. LISTENING AND READING ABOUT THE INDIVIDUALS WHO GAY BASH SOUND A WHOLE HELL OF A LIKE THE SKIN HEADS OR OTHER RATICAL GROUPS THAT HATE OTHERS BECAUSE OF SOME CHARACTERISTIC. GIVE ME A BREAK. I HAVE A GAY SIBLING AND MY ONLY CONCERN FOR THEM IS FOR THEM TO BE HAPPY. I ALSO HAVE MANY GAY FRIENDS AND GUESS WHAT...THAT DOESN'T MAKE ME GAY. I AM MARRIED TO A MAN AND HAVE CHILDREN. THERE ARE MANY OTHER THINGS THAT A PARENT SHOULD BE CONCERNED WITH, NOT IS THE CHILD GAY. "HOW CAN YOU LET YOUR CHILD GO GAY" YOU PEOPLE SOUND LIKE IDIOTS. WE SHOULD WORRY ABOUT TEACHING THEM HOW TO BE SAFE WITH THEIR CHOICES AND THAT THEY HAVE A ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS, FOOD TO EAT, CLOTHES TO WEAR AND A GOOD EDUCATION. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE IT, DON'T LOOK. PEOPLE SPEND TOO MUCH TIME POINTING FINGERS. GET MORE EDUCATION ON ISSUES BEFORE YOU OPEN YOUR MOUTH.

    • Posted By: mariethomson @ 07/20/2008 11:09:16 PM

      Actually whether or not being "gay" is a choice, inherent in the makeup of a person or caused by circumstances of environment is still very much a question for research. There are good studies concluding nature and nurture theories. In the mean time, no one is obligated to like gay persons or behavior and those who fancy themselves as gay have no right to expect their behavior to be accepted by society at large. This is a PC issue, and we are, last I knew, still free to choose our friends and associations.

      A gay boy scout leader I know well ruined the lives of many of his scouts. He was always taking them on camping trips in the summer and everyone thought that was "swell." Then it all came out and he is in prison as well he should be. Don't expect the parents of those abused kids to be tolerant.

      Tolerance has its boundaries and when you are flying in the face of eons of societal values and traditions, you can expect push back. I think gays expect too much right now and should back off a little or they are apt to experience such serious push backs as the one which, sadly, cost the too flamboyant Larry King his life.

      • Posted By: KnowsLove @ 07/22/2008 5:15:49 PM

        It is quite ironic to me that your name happens to be Marie. Why? Well two of my best friends were beaten as children by their mother. They would show me all bruises they had from her. Their mom didn???t seem to be the type that was abusive, she was on the school board and well respected. So when I told my mom what was happening to my friends she didn???t want to believe it. No one wanted to believe it. It took one of my friends getting a broken arm before anything was done. She is in prison now herself, and my friends went to live with there dad in a different town. Why is this ironic? Well their mom???s name is Marie. To this day I can???t stand anyone named Marie. I think they are all terrible people and do evil things that hurt others.
        Tolerance has its boundaries and when you are flying in the face of eons of societal values and traditions, you can expect push back.
        Wow???I just realized how ignorant I am for generalizing???maybe I need to re-think my feelings toward Marie???s???nah look at you, you prove I am right not to like them.
        Now, can you read this with and tell me why it is wrong for me to think this way and to say these things? YES, well you are right, yes. Now all those reasons that make this way of thing flawed???use it on your way of thinking and you will find you are being hypocritical. I pray for you, that one day you will know what it is like to be loved completely for you are. Bless you!

  • Posted By: Xstreme76 @ 07/22/2008 4:29:45 PM

    It's sad that a 14 year boy was shot in cold blood, it's sad that children had to be witness to this horrible act, and it is terrible that people now are trying to either justifiy it or make it more then it is. Both CHILDREN!! are victims. One is dead and the other should spend a very long time in jail for his crime, But that one was gay and the other felt insulted by his advances is really not the problem. Why was a child able to get a gun in school and where did he get the gun. But the most puzzling question is what made Brandon think it was ok and justified to shoot Larry. Why didn't the teachers talk to Larry and other students about a right time and place. Larry could dress and wear whatever he wanted, just like the other kids but weather you are gay, straight or Asexual, you can not bother and insult other students. In other words "Where the hell are all the adults in this community?" People have rights, and how quickly we forget that means BOTH sides have rights. You can and people do abuse this right to say, weather in voice or in attire what you feel. When you start to affect anothers right to peace and quiet then you are doing the same thing you cry so loudly about. Forcing your beliefs onto another.
    I ask myself if Larry wasnt gay would people care as much? Would Brandon be such a villian to alot of people? I ask myself more is why does it matter? The fact he is gay or not 2 Children lost their lives that day. If the parents of Brandon raised with any shread of deceny, and tolerance of his fellow man, a gunshot to the back of Larry's head would not have been his answer to a innocent request to be his Valentine.

    • Posted By: Maria57 @ 07/22/2008 5:05:00 PM

      Yes i agree where were the caregivers when Larry walked out not dressed for school, and oh my the trauma that the other students must be going thru after watching the incident, my son saw his friend accidentally shoot himself and 15yrs later he still has nightmares, i feel sad for the all classmates, and wonder if they will ever get over the shock.

  • Posted By: Maria57 @ 07/22/2008 4:45:54 PM

    i had a neighbor that is a cross dresser. wears all kinds of womens clothes . paints his fingernails. wears make-up wears high hills and wears real tight short shorts that i thought one of these days his privates might get exposed, he is 55yrs old has a live-in g/f and was married before has children and grandchildren. when he is his normal self he is ok. he does use drugs, cant keep job and has multiple personalities but from what i seen he is not gay, just likes girls stuff.

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