On February 12, 2008, in Oxnard, CA, a 15-year old gay middle school student named Lawrence King was shot and killed while in class. The 14 year old attacker, one of King’s classmates, has been charged with murder and a hate crime. Lawrence had recently told his classmates that he was gay, and it appears that the assailant might have been a source of his affections.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning students face significant verbal and even physical threats in most K-12 schools, according to GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network. According to GLSEN’s 2003 National School Climate Survey,
- 4 out of 5 LGBT students hear homophobic remarks often in their schools.
- 39% of LGBT students report being verbally or physically assaulted, often with a weapon; and transgender students report physical harassment 30% more than students that identified as lesbian, gay, or bisexual.
- Nearly 1 out of 3 LGBT students skipped school in the past month because they were simply too afraid to go.
Larry’s murder and the broader hostility that LGBT people face should prompt UR community members to ask what the climate is here for our LGBT staff, faculty, and students. How often do you hear anti-gay slurs on campus? What is the effect of those comments on those of us who are gay, or whose parents, roommates, siblings, and friends are gay? What work remains for us to become a truly inclusive community for LGBT members? If not, what can and should we be doing to make it more so?
We invite our LGBT and straight peers to weigh in with their thoughts on this important issue.
For more information on Lawrence King’s story, we offer the following articles and clips:
New York Times
Ellen DeGeneres Show
Lisa Miles and Glyn Hughes
