February 15, 2008
GLAAD Urges Media to Report on the Intersection of Anti-Gay Bullying and Violence Following California School Shooting
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Los Angeles, February 15, 2008 — Lawrence King, a 15-year-old student from Oxnard, Calif., died after he was shot February 12 by a classmate in what prosecutors have identified as a premeditated hate crime based on King’s perceived sexual orientation. The Los Angeles Times spoke to students who identified King as being gay.
King was shot in the head by 14-year-old Brandon McInterney, who was allegedly part of a group of students that regularly bullied King. King, who was being kept alive for organ donation, died Thursday night after being taken off a ventilator. Classmates said King had been harassed for wearing makeup and jewelry. King was in foster care at Casa Pacifica, a shelter for abused and troubled children in Camarillo.
“This senseless act of violence is deeply disturbing and a reminder of the climate of harassment, bullying and violence that so many gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students face across the country.” said Neil Giuliano, President of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). “It is imperative that the media shine a spotlight on bullying, violence and hate crimes based on real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. Calling attention to such issues is critical if we are to address the hostile and sometimes dangerous environment that LGBT students face all too often.”
Based on percentages from the 2001 California Healthy Kids Survey, more than 200,000 California students are harassed because they are gay or lesbian, or are perceived to be. The same survey indicated that one-third of students in 7th, 9th and 11th grade report having been harassed or bullied based on their actual or perceived race, ethnicity, religion, disability, gender or sexual orientation. The same survey shows that students who face this kind of harassment are more likely to miss school.
GLAAD is urging the media to address the issues of hate crimes against the LGBT community and LGBT student bullying in their coverage of this tragic story and to consult with leading student health authorities as other authorities on this kind of bullying and harassment.
For resources and tips on covering hate crimes with depth and accuracy, please refer to GLAAD’s Media Reference Guide. http://www.glaad.org/media/guide/infocus/crimes.php
Media Resources
American School Counselor Association
Kathleen Rakestraw, Director of Communication
703-864-8734Contact California Teachers Association:
http://www.nea.org/schoolsafety/glbt.htmlThe Ventura County Rainbow Alliance:
Jay Smith, Executive Director
805 339-6340Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network:
Daryl Presgraves, Media Relations Manager
646-388-6577Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund:
Jason Howe, Public Information Officer
415-595-9245Gay-Straight Alliance Network:
Carolyn Laub, Executive Director
415-235-4556For Additional Information:
Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)
Vaishalee Raja, Associate Director of Media Field Strategy
323-605-3728
raja@glaad.orgRelated Stories
Los Angeles Times
http://www.latimes.com/news/…Associated Press
http://ap.google.com/article/…KNBC
http://www.knbc.com/news/15282066/…
About GLAADThe Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is dedicated to promoting and ensuring fair, accurate and inclusive representation of people and events in the media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. For more information, please visit www.glaad.org.
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Filed under: California, Education/Schools, Hate Crimes, Homophobia, LGBT Organizations, Youth
