I read about this earlier today on MSNBC, and visibily cringed as I did so. I share many of your same sentiments in regards to placing the blame on how he choose to express himself to others.

The unfortunate thing is if this does get won based on this wording, I have to wonder what affect it may have on other GLBT youth, especially trans youth in their ability to express themselves at school in a way which may go against a dress code or open one up for oppression.

Not to mention, had he been not allowed to express himself in the manner in which he wished, who's to say he wouldn't be yet another number in the all too large suicide statstic that exists as well.

Thanks for sharing :)

Let's see... which one is worse, a dress code violation or murder?

"It's apparently a lot easier to get people to agree that his flaming ways caused his own death than to start with the assumption that he had the right to act the way he did and that other people's negative reactions to his gender and sexuality are their own fucking problems."
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Well, of course. People are always responsible for others violent actions. That's why I have no sympathy for those writers at the AP, The Advocate, Newsweek or McIrnerney's defense attorney should someone feel threatned by their statements and assualt them.

They deserve what happens if they make such provocative statements in front of millions of people - many of them are bound to be highly offended and have poor impulse control. Especially if they're queer teenagers feeling that such statements put their lives at risk.

They're just asking for it.

I really do feel for the parents because they lost a child however I hope that they loose this case. If they win it will mean that young trans youth will not be allowed to publicly express themselves. It will further entrench the idea that it is the fault of the trans person when they get assaulted instead of the bigotry and hate that is rampant in our society.

Alex, this is more that a case of a gay bashing and murder. This case is far more complicated that u think it is, including the events that lead to Kings death The failure of the school to stop the sexual harassment by King on McInnery.

I know the school would had stop that if Mcinnery was hitting on a another girl the same way the King hit on him. Another failure of the school is that they failed to prepare the staff and the teachers on how to deal with a gay student who is out.In regard to McInnery, in what way is he suppose to react to the to the advances of King when he is just discovering his own sexuality? How is Brandon suppose to react when his hormones are telling him that he is straight and getting attention form a boy who is famboyantly gay? Another scenario, supppose Brandon is gay, and he is terrified that he will be exposed? And further they are men who are deep in the gay closet and will kill or considered killing to prevent from being outed. How is a immature boy suppose to react? Look at this to supprt my arguement. According to the Brain Injury Association:"The bridge between the neo-cortex and the amygdala does not form in the brain until the age of 19 or so -- the parts of the brain govern logic and reason and emotions, respectively. Until the bridge is formed, emotions rule -- ask the parent of any teenager will tell you. " They were other way that Brandon could have dealt with Larry's advances, but is reacion was purely reactionary.

Was Larry King's murder wrong? Absolutely! That's not the question, though. The more relevant question is how, as a society, are we going to react to that murder.Labelling the action as "gay bashing" and ending the analysis at that point is not an adequate answer

"In regard to McInnery, in what way is he suppose to react to the to the advances of King when he is just discovering his own sexuality? How is Brandon suppose to react when his hormones are telling him that he is straight and getting attention form a boy who is famboyantly gay? Another scenario, supppose Brandon is gay, and he is terrified that he will be exposed?"

True - there's so few options between doing nothing & shooting someone. Call a teacher? Report it to a parent? Maybe even slap him for being forward.

If girls shot every guy who was ever hitting on them when they didn't want it - maybe that would change peoples perspective on these murders. If transwoman shot every unwanted person making advances - well - we'd all be executed preemptively. But - we need to give guys special consideration when it comes to their violence. Isn't that the definition of male priveledge?

Hey - I agree he shouldn't be tried as an adult - he was still a teenager. But I think we also need to look at why we're so ready to excuse violence by males. And why we're so ready to excuse violence against people who don't meet gender expectations. I mean - Brandon never shot anyone else when he was embarrassed by or when he had conflict with them. Even when he was less neurologically mature and might have been embarrassed by girls affection. When society keeps tacitly and explicitly making these excuses for this type of violence - this type of violence is sanctioned to some degree & more likely to occur.

And - wow - don't really care if he was in the closet. Makes no difference if he was straight & embarrassed by unwanted affection or some flavor of lgbt. He murdered someone due to his concern over how others might view him? That sounds like premeditation.