Posted on 02/15/2008 10:29:06 AM PST by paltz
(CNSNews.com) - A 14-year-old California boy is charged with a hate crime as well as attempted murder for shooting a 15-year-old boy who "sometimes wore makeup, high heels and other feminine attire," as the Associated Press reported.
The victim, Lawrence King, is brain dead, and prosecutors expect this to become a murder case very soon. They want to try the young suspect as an adult.
King was shot in the head Tuesday morning while sitting in class at a junior high school in Oxnard, Calif.
California has some of the nation's most liberal anti-discrimination, anti-bullying and "diversity" laws, including several that apply to schools and took effect on Jan. 1.
Homosexual activists have seized on Lawrence King case.
"Ten years after Wyoming college student Matthew Shepard was brutally murdered because of his sexual orientation, a 15-year-old gay California student is brain dead after a student allegedly shot him because of his sexual orientation and gender expression," the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network said in a news release. (The group says it's main focus is ensuring safe schools for all students.)
According to GLSEN, the 14-year-old suspect was among a group of students known to bully and harass King, who reportedly told classmates he was homosexual.
"As a nation, we've had our heads in the sand for far too long," said Kevin Jennings, executive director of GLSEN. "We need to do everything we can to prevent something like this from happening again."
GLSEN says the problem of "anti-LGBT bullying" must be addressed in the nation's schools. "We must confront the fact that LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender] students are much more likely to be threatened with a weapon and much more likely to feel unsafe at school than other students," Jennings said.
Judy Shepard, executive director of the Matthew Shepard Foundation, said the attack on King "underscores the fact that we cannot let hate go unchecked in our schools and communities." She urged "all parents and teachers to educate their children and students about acceptance, understanding and compassion."
California leads on LGBT issues
As GLSEN itself noted, California is one of only 10 states that protect students from bullying and harassment based on sexual orientation. It is one of only five states that protect students from bullying and harassment based on gender identity/expression.
"Safe schools laws and policies are vitally important, but simply having a law is not enough," Jennings said on Thursday. "Schools need to implement staff development and training to address anti-LGBT bullying and harassment. Schools also need programs that teach young people respect and tolerance."
Too much emphasis on sex, some say
But some conservative groups say California has gone overboard when it comes to "sexual indoctrination" in the schools.
The California-based Campaign for Children and Families has just launched an appeal urging parents to removed their children from public schools.
The group argues that home schools and church schools "are the only way to rescue children from sexual indoctrination."
CCF points to two news laws, SB 777 (The Student Civil Rights Act) and AB 394 (The Safe Place to Learn Act), which took effect on January 1.
SB 777 bars any classroom instruction or school-sponsored activity that "promotes a discriminatory bias" against sexual orientation and gender. (According to CCF, the bill "functionally requires public school instructional materials and school-sponsored activities to positively portray cross-dressing, sex-change operations, homosexual 'marriages,' and all aspects of homosexuality and bisexuality, including so-called 'gay history.'")
AB 394 requires that school districts be monitored to ensure they are complying with laws regarding student safety and harraasment. (CCF said AB 394 "requires public schools to distribute controversial material to teachers, students, and parents which promotes transsexuality, bisexuality, and homosexuality, all under the guise of 'anti-harassment' training.")
"This is the type of gender-bending education which students may have to endure unless their parents rescue them from the increasingly negative public school environment," said Randy Thomasson, president of Campaign for Children and Families, at a news conference earlier this week.
CCF has set up a RescueYourChild Web site to help parents who are concerned about the new laws.
Don’t be hatin’. ;)
>>>>I am ashamed of these comments...I don’t want people to read them and judge all freepers by what they see here :-(
Agreed, it’s gone over the top.
One of the reasons IMO is that the article itself is badly written, and done so in a manner that dishonest and intended to elicit sympathy at the expense of simply telling the truth.
I’ll try to find the reference but I recall that one of the two men later (after the trial) stated that they knew Shephard and he had previously supplied drugs to both of them in exchange for sex.
He should be charged & tried & if found guilty punished to the max. But I despise this “hate crime” garbage.
Never in a million years would I enroll my children in this.
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The worst bullying my kids ever saw came from our church youth group. It got so bad at one point, the pastor had to intervene. The leaders of the group? A bunch of prissy, very wealthy, girls who were in a home-school co-op. Every week was a litany of how sinful the other kids were because they were in a public school. The Sunday school teachers did nothing to stop it, even when the girls set up a seating assignment so as to not be contaminated with sin from the public school kids. It came to a head when my daughter was stricken with cancer at 12 and the girls insisted on holding prayer groups to get her to turn away from her sinful nature as God was punishing her with cancer for her sins.
Easy to see why this experience made a permanent impression on our family - especially when it was the public school kids who were calling to check on her, sending cards, stuffed animals, coming by with treats, and helping her with make up work. The kids in her Sunday school class did nothing - she was told she was an unrepentant sinner.
Does this mean I don’t think bullying goes on in other places? Of course it does - but this is our experience, others will vary.
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How true!!!
Unfortunately, it is possible for some people to become so religious, they lose their humanity. They become so sanctimonious, they lose the ability for compassion. I believe some of the religious right actually drive people away, with their sanctimious ranting.
There are three rules, which are very important for civil conduct of society. The rules are:
1. “Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you.” This is a valid principle of social interaction, just the same as “For every reaction, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” is a valid rule for physical phenomena.
2. “Love one another...” That means caring about the welfare of others, unconditionally.
3. “Judge not, lest ye be judged.” That means being accepting of other people’s difference.
Where did those rules come from? Item 1 of course, comes from the Old Testament and also every other major religion. That means those who are sanctimonious in their dealings with others, will meet with hostility, just like those santimonious, prissy girls you mentioned.
Items 2 and 3, of course come from the New Testament. I do believe some individuals fail miserably in following those commandments. Some of the posts in this thread are examples of people failing to follow those commandments.
You made an excellent post.
sir, if you cannot tell the difference between a transsexual and a woman you probably should be worried...
Yes, because people generally associate anti-discrimination law with fascism. Hitler was certainly known for his demand for tolerance. Read a book you redneck...
Like I said, you guys all think that you are "invisible", but you're not.
Alas, the crudest comments have come from homosexuals and their enablers who think we shouldn’t notice when one of ‘em is cruising, even in a classroom
Well it was you who used the word “intimidate”...and when did I ever attempt to grab your crotch? Keep your fantasies to yourself.
But, maybe you don't and have yourselves carved out yet another niche for the display of extreme antinomianism.
Not really my business what the so-called trans-sexuals are up to, but I draw a pretty abrupt line at socializing in any manner with gay cruisers ~ no matter what they call themselves.
More to the point, it is seen as "OK" for the female to respond violently to harassment by a straight male
Like I said, you guys all think you are invisible, or that it takes some special "gaydar" talent to find you, but it doesn't.
Sound like a bunch of young Pharisees-in-training. And perhaps a sermon on how Jesus felt about the sanctimonious Pharisees would have been appropriate
Again keep your fantasies to yourself...you realize that most of your "gaydar" is nothing but projection right? I doubt most gay people have any interest in you whatsoever.
Isn't this death enough!
I see some people are hot and bothered by the hate charge but you still can’t shoot people just because you don’t like ‘em...
.......And the band plays on........
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