I know this isn't a new video but I just came across it. Ellen openly discusses Lawrence (Larry) King's death. Lawrence King is the 8th grade boy shot in the head by his 8th grade classmate because he was gay. This video is definitely worth the 2 minutes to watch.
Labels: ellen degeneres, hate crimes, video
From their press release:
Logo, a division of Viacom Inc.'s (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B) MTV Networks, today announced it is launching a public service announcement in response to the brutal murder of Lawrence King, a 15-year-old Oxnard, California boy who was shot at point blank range February 12th. King was allegedly shot by 14-year-old fellow student Brandon McInerney, who is being charged with a hate crime.
King, who died days after the shooting, had previously revealed to other students that he was gay and had worn makeup and feminine clothing just days before he was shot. The epidemic of hate crimes against the LGBT community continues, as evidenced by the murder of 17-year-old Simmie Williams in Florida just days after the King murder.
The 60-second PSA, which premiered this morning at LOGOonline.com, features community activist, writer and actress Calpernia Addams (Logo's Transamerican Love Story), Andre 3000 (OutKast), R&B artist Ashanti, singer/songwriter Sarah Bareilles, actress Portia de Rossi (Arrested Development, Nip/Tuck), international performer Estelle, singer/actress Janet Jackson, actor T.R. Knight (Grey’s Anatomy), R&B artist Little Sister, actor Darryl Stephens (Logo’s Noah’s Arc) and singer/songwriter Taylor Swift.
"One more murder, one more life lost, one more attempt to provoke fear and one more reason hate crimes must end. We hope this PSA will help inspire more people to join the fight against hate crimes," said Brian Graden, President, MTV Networks Music Group Entertainment; and President, Logo.
Logo will make the spot available – as well as a shortened 30-second version – to Logo's sister brands across MTV Networks as well as other networks that wish to air the spot. MTV Networks has a long history of educating about hate crimes including the production and airing of numerous PSAs as well as an event on January 10, 2001, when MTV replaced 18 hours of programming with nothing but the names and stories of hate crime victims.
Labels: hate crimes, video
After the shooting of Lawrence King in his 8th grade classroom last week in Oxnard, California, and subsequently taking the 15 year old boy off of life support, a vigil was held. King was shot in the head by his 14 year-old classmate because he was perceived to have been gay.
An estimated 1000 people gathered to send a message of tribute and tolerance.
From the LA Times:
The Goths in their black T-shirts were there. So were the punks with fluorescent hair and multiple piercings.
There were even a few adolescent boys carrying skateboards among the nearly 1,000 Oxnard youth and other supporters who turned out Saturday for a hastily organized peace march to pay tribute to Lawrence King, 15, the Oxnard student shot to death in a classroom last week.
"Larry, Larry, Larry!" the crowd chanted before marchers clasped hands in a moment of silence for the fallen student.
There were no bullhorns, no speeches and no politicians. Just a mass of mostly adolescents wearing bright clothing, carrying signs and singing John Lennon's "Imagine" and "Give Peace a Chance."
The size of the turnout surprised police, school officials and even the two Hueneme High School sophomores who put the event together just three days ago, spreading the word with fliers, cellphone calls and MySpace bulletins.
"We were expecting maybe 100 or 200 people," said Courtney LaForest, 16, as she gazed at a broad "peace circle" formed by march participants at Plaza Park in downtown Oxnard. "This is incredible."
Courtney said the turnout reflected a community's anguish over a senseless shooting that has destroyed the lives of two young men. It was also a public plea for tolerance on school campuses for those who are different, she said.
"I didn't know Larry. A lot of people here didn't know him," she said. "We are saying you don't need to accept people who are gay, but you should tolerate them."
King, an eighth-grader at E.O. Green Junior High School in south Oxnard, had revealed he was gay this school year. In recent weeks, he had begun accessorizing his school uniform with feminine items and was often teased by other students, several of his classmates said.
"What he did was really brave -- to wear makeup and high-heeled boots," said Erin Mings, 12, who hung out with King at the school. "Every corner he turned around, people were saying, 'Oh, my god, he's wearing makeup today.' "
Erin said King was an outgoing and funny boy who stood his ground.
"When people came up and started punking him, he just stood up for himself," Erin said.
Jeremiah, another student and friend of the victim, said King had recently told the 14-year-old boy who is alleged to have shot him that he had a crush on him.
"I see no point in shooting someone for telling them that you like them," said Jeremiah, who didn't want to give his last name.
Brandon McInerney, 14, who attended E.O. Green with King, has been charged with premeditated murder and will be tried as an adult. He is being held in Ventura County Juvenile Hall in lieu of $770,000 bail. McInerney could face 50 years to life in prison if convicted. Prosecutors added a hate crime allegation that could bring an additional one to three years.
Saturday's march began at Carty Park, adjacent to the junior high school where the shooting took place Tuesday. Students busily scribbled signs on poster boards, with such messages as "RIP Larry King," "Gay Pride" and "Support Love and Tolerance."
Melissa Crutcher, 16, who helped organize the march, said King's slaying infuriated her. Sporting pink-tinged hair, hot pink pants and multiple ear piercings, Melissa said she knew what it was like to get picked on for looking different.
"I know I stick out myself," she said. "And it's just appalling that just for being himself he got shot."
Jerry Dannenberg, superintendent of the Hueneme School District, of which E.O. Green is a part, joined the marchers. He had been told that an event was being planned by students and sent word that the school should support it, Dannenberg said.
"We forget the goodness that is in most of our kids," Dannenberg said. "This tremendous turnout by kids is an expression of their voices, their opinions."
Connor Sipes, 13, showed up with two of his buddies. They attend a different middle school, Connor said, but learned about the march through a posting on MySpace.
Connor wore a headband and a gold peace sign around his neck as the three boys walked the two miles from the school to the city park. He participated because what happened to King "wasn't right," he said. "It will be a better future if we are more tolerant."
Labels: california, hate crimes
Very unfortunate story.
Former 'Top Chef' constant Josie Smith-Malave is accusing police on Long Island of doing little to arrest the men she says beat her and two other women outside a bar in Sea Cliff.
Smith-Malave, who is openly lesbian and was featured on season 2 of the Bravo network show, said through her attorney that she and the other women had been asked to leave the bar on Sept 1 after a patron objected that two of the women were dancing together.
Attorney Yetta Kurland says that about 10 or 12 patrons, mostly young and some under age, followed the three women out of the club where the assault occurred.
Kurland says that the crowd began yelling anti-gay epithets, then spat on the women and threw debris on them.
At that point several in the crowd began beating the women. The three suffered bruises. One woman had a head injury, and Kurland says that a video recorder that one of the woman had was stolen from her.
When police arrived at the scene several of the attackers were still there but Kurland says there were no arrests, and police still have not laid any charges.
Labels: anti gay, entertainment, hate crimes
This is exactly why Federal Hate Crimes legislation is needed and President Bush fails to see why--and threatens to veto it. Thank God he is on his way out and we have strong candidates who will in fact stand up for all of America, not just those farthest to the right.
Labels: hate crimes, video
A vote in the U.S. Senate on a GLBT inclusive hate crimes bill was put on hold this week after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) abruptly withdrew a the controversial defense authorization bill to which the hate crimes measure was to be considered as an amendment.
From the WA Blade:
Sens. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) filed the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007 on the Senate floor on July 11 in the form of an amendment to the defense authorization measure. Gay and transgender activists were hoping the Senate would take a break from its heated debate on the war to vote on the Shepard hate crimes amendment late last week or early this week.
[...]
Supporters believe they have a filibuster-proof majority of more than 60 votes lined up for the hate crimes measure. The White House has said President Bush might veto a freestanding hate crimes bill, but supporters believe he would be much less likely to veto an important defense bill on which the hate crimes measure was attached.
Labels: federal, hate crimes
This story just makes my stomach go into knots. A brutal hate crime of Aaron Hall in Jackson County, Indiana where the barbaric murder of this young man took place. Police found Hall's body 10 days after his death wrapped in a tarp in the garage of Jackson County Deputy Coroner Terry Gray, whose son is one of the accused. The accused are only 18,19 and 21 years old.Two young men in Jackson County Indiana said they were so 'freaked out' when 'propositioned' by Aaron Hall on April 12th, that they proceeded to beat the 100 pound, 5'4 man for hours, using their fists, boots, dragging him down a staircase while his head slammed into each step, and then throwing him in a ditch and leaving. Aaron managed to crawl out of the ditch and out into a nearby field, where he died, alone and naked.
You see, the story is even stranger than it appears. Some contend that the young men made up the story about having been propositioned so as to use the 'gay panic defense,' in hopes of getting a more lenient sentence. Apparently the thinking was that exposure to homosexuality is so frightening that well... heck, anyone would go crazy and beat the hell out of a guy for hours, then toss him in a ditch to die.
A number of Hoosier bloggers have wondered at the lack of local coverage. In the interest of promoting this case, I thought I'd bring it out here for your perusal. This is a horrific crime, and while I don't promote the kind of overdone sensationalism (carried on for weeks at a time) evidenced on CNN and Fox News, this man's death should draw some notice. It should serve as a warning, at the very least. Whether Hall was or wasn't gay isn't the point. The fact that the teenagers used this as their defense... speaks volumes.
Labels: anti gay, crimes, hate crimes, violent
Sean William Kennedy, 20, was leaving Brew's Bar in Greenville County, South Carolina, when a car pulled up next to him. Deputies believe 18 year old Stephen Andrew Moller jumped out of the car, punched Kennedy, and then took off.
Labels: anti gay, hate crimes
Now that the U.S. Congress is in a much better state, a state in which it actually serves its citizens, anti-gay hate crimes in addition to emplyment non-discrimination are likely to pass in 2007. A major step forward for fairness for the nation. This would be the first major pro-equality bill in a long while to pass through Congress.Labels: bush, discrimination, gay rights, hate crimes
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