LIFamilies.com - Long Island, NY


RSS
Articles Business Directory Blog Real Estate Community Forum Shop My Family Contests

Log In Chat Index Search Rules Lingo Create Account

Quick navigation:   

Is it the school's fault?

Forum Opinion Poll
Yes 1 1.59%
No 58 92.06%
Maybe, I'm not sure... 4 6.35%
 

Family of gay teen slain in Calif. blames school - Allowing boy to wear makeup and feminine clothes led to death, they say

Posted By Message
Pages: [1] 2

HoneyBadger
YourWorstNightmare.

Member since 10/06

15979 total posts

Name:
BahBahBlackJeep

Family of gay teen slain in Calif. blames school - Allowing boy to wear makeup and feminine clothes led to death, they say

updated 40 minutes ago

VENTURA, Calif. - The family of a gay teenager who was fatally shot in class blames the school district for allowing their son to wear makeup and feminine clothing to school — factors the family claims led to the death.

The parents and brother of 15-year-old Larry King of Oxnard filed a personal injury claim against the Hueneme school district seeking unspecified damages for not enforcing the dress code.

King, an eighth-grader at E.O. Green Junior High School, was shot in February. Classmate Brandon McInerney pleaded not guilty to the shooting last week. He was charged as an adult and also faces a charge of a committing a hate crime.

The family's claim, filed last week in Ventura County Superior Court, said administrators and teachers failed to enforce the school's dress code when King wore feminine clothing and makeup to school.

His parents, Dawn and Gregory King, said faculty members knew their son had "unique vulnerabilities" and was subject to abuse because of his sexual orientation.

A call for comment to district Superintendent Jerry Dannenberg was not immediately returned.

State law requires individuals to file a claim before proceeding with a lawsuit against a public agency.

***************
Am I missing something? How is it the responsibility of the SCHOOL to tell this kid what he can or cannot wear if it's not outright offensive? When is it not the school's fault and the blame falls on the parent's sholders? Thoughts?

Posted 8/15/08 11:27 AM
 

TheWhiteRabbit
Thru the rabbit hole!

Member since 7/06

4412 total posts

Name:

Re: Family of gay teen slain in Calif. blames school - Allowing boy to wear makeup and feminine clothes led to death, they say

I say NO, because honestly, I feel if the school DID enforce it, there would be a lawsuit against the school for discriminating against his sexual orientation and violating his civil liberties or something.

Posted 8/15/08 11:34 AM
 

leighdvm
My golden boys!

Member since 3/06

4419 total posts

Name:
Michele

Re: Family of gay teen slain in Calif. blames school - Allowing boy to wear makeup and feminine clothes led to death, they say

I really don't agree with the school being blamed for this......if they told him he couldn't dress like a girl, couldn't be they sued for some kind of discrimination then? It's like, damned if they do, damned if they don't...

Posted 8/15/08 11:35 AM
 

MeNBobs
*****

Member since 4/07

3765 total posts

Name:

Re: Family of gay teen slain in Calif. blames school - Allowing boy to wear makeup and feminine clothes led to death, they say

That si so stupid if the school told him he couldn't wear his makeup they would be sueing them for that,

If they really want to blame someone they should blame themselves for naming the kid LARRY KING!

Posted 8/15/08 11:35 AM
 

MsSissy
xoxoxo

Member since 3/07

39159 total posts

Name:

Re: Family of gay teen slain in Calif. blames school - Allowing boy to wear makeup and feminine clothes led to death, they say

And if they enforced the dress code, the parents would be suing for discrimination for not letting their gay son wear what he feels comfortable in.

This is just wrong!Chat Icon

Posted 8/15/08 11:36 AM
 

Arieschick29
aries+cancer= pisces&gemini

Member since 3/06

4268 total posts

Name:
Jen

Re: Family of gay teen slain in Calif. blames school - Allowing boy to wear makeup and feminine clothes led to death, they say

Seriously??? I know they are upset over losing their son but COME ON!!!

You can't blame the school because they were tolerant of this boy's choices- if the family had problems with it, THEY should have taken care of it!

Posted 8/15/08 11:36 AM
 

Bxgell2
Perfection

Member since 5/05

16438 total posts

Name:
Beth

Re: Family of gay teen slain in Calif. blames school - Allowing boy to wear makeup and feminine clothes led to death, they say

If the kid who shot him had been harassing him, then I could see a lawsuit filed against the District for not intervening and addressing the harassment.

But to file suit on the basis that their son was shot because the District didn't enforce the dress code? That's fairly ridiculous in my opinion...

Posted 8/15/08 11:37 AM
 

AmyG13
LIF Infant

Member since 12/07

159 total posts

Name:
Amy

Re: Family of gay teen slain in Calif. blames school - Allowing boy to wear makeup and feminine clothes led to death, they say

Posted by Bxgell2

If the kid who shot him had been harassing him, then I could see a lawsuit filed against the District for not intervening and addressing the harassment.

But to file suit on the basis that their son was shot because the District didn't enforce the dress code? That's fairly ridiculous in my opinion...



I agree. It actually sounds to me like the family is homophobic and probably wasn't very tolerant of the boys style. They are blaming the school, but also their own son, basically saying he deserved to be shot for his clothing!

Posted 8/15/08 11:42 AM
 

HoneyBadger
YourWorstNightmare.

Member since 10/06

15979 total posts

Name:
BahBahBlackJeep

Re: Family of gay teen slain in Calif. blames school - Allowing boy to wear makeup and feminine clothes led to death, they say

Posted by Bxgell2

If the kid who shot him had been harassing him, then I could see a lawsuit filed against the District for not intervening and addressing the harassment.

But to file suit on the basis that their son was shot because the District didn't enforce the dress code? That's fairly ridiculous in my opinion...



I agree, if he was being harrassed, yes then the school would be at fault for not stepping in but in this case it is ridiculous.

Posted 8/15/08 11:42 AM
 

HoneyBadger
YourWorstNightmare.

Member since 10/06

15979 total posts

Name:
BahBahBlackJeep

Re: Family of gay teen slain in Calif. blames school - Allowing boy to wear makeup and feminine clothes led to death, they say

Posted by AmyG13

I agree. It actually sounds to me like the family is homophobic and probably wasn't very tolerant of the boys style. They are blaming the school, but also their own son, basically saying he deserved to be shot for his clothing!



Interesting... I hadn't thought of it that way!!!

Posted 8/15/08 11:43 AM
 

nrthshgrl
It goes fast. Pay attention.

Member since 7/05

57538 total posts

Name:

Re: Family of gay teen slain in Calif. blames school - Allowing boy to wear makeup and feminine clothes led to death, they say

Posted by Bxgell2

If the kid who shot him had been harassing him, then I could see a lawsuit filed against the District for not intervening and addressing the harassment.

But to file suit on the basis that their son was shot because the District didn't enforce the dress code? That's fairly ridiculous in my opinion...




I agree. As a parent, I'm responsible for what my kid wears - even as a teenager. Granted, they may sneak out wearing something I'm not comfortable with, but it's my issue to address.

Posted 8/15/08 11:45 AM
 

Jax430
Hi!

Member since 5/05

18919 total posts

Name:
Jackie

Re: Family of gay teen slain in Calif. blames school - Allowing boy to wear makeup and feminine clothes led to death, they say

I agree with what everyone has been saying. Parents are responsible for what their children wear to school. If he was flagrantly violating the dress code, that would be one thing, but if they told Larry King (and why did his parents name him that?!) that he couldn't dress a certain way b/c of his gender, they would have had a lawsuit on their hands for bias!

Posted 8/15/08 11:55 AM
 

Kidsaplenty
Sister love

Member since 2/06

5971 total posts

Name:
Stephanie

Re: Family of gay teen slain in Calif. blames school - Allowing boy to wear makeup and feminine clothes led to death, they say

Um, wouldn't it be the job of the parents to enforce that? How ridiculous.

Posted 8/15/08 12:01 PM
 

lucyloo
nope

Member since 1/06

9758 total posts

Name:

Re: Family of gay teen slain in Calif. blames school - Allowing boy to wear makeup and feminine clothes led to death, they say

A kid was killed in school, the dress code has nothing to do with it IMO. The school is to blame for the weapons getting into the school.

Posted 8/15/08 12:03 PM
 

MrsPJB2007
MBA at your service!

Member since 7/06

12020 total posts

Name:
MJ

Re: Family of gay teen slain in Calif. blames school - Allowing boy to wear makeup and feminine clothes led to death, they say

I'm sorry for their loss--but the parents are looking for someone to blame and really its not whether the school let their son wear what he wanted---he was discriminated against by the boy who shot him....why is that the school's fault?

nope--school isn't at fault. the boy who pulled the trigger is.

Posted 8/15/08 12:18 PM
 

AmyG13
LIF Infant

Member since 12/07

159 total posts

Name:
Amy

Re: Family of gay teen slain in Calif. blames school - Allowing boy to wear makeup and feminine clothes led to death, they say

I hadn't heard about this before so I just looked it up and read a very long article about it. It's a really interesting and very sad story.

Apparently Larry King was adopted and was living in a group home for troubled teens at the time, so his parents had no control over what he wore. But the family actually believes Larry was sexually harassing the boy that shot him. They also believe he wasn't really gay and just wanted attention. He was notorious in school for showing up in outrageous outfits and taunting all of the boys.

And Brandon, the boy who shot him, came from pretty messed up household. Mom was a drug addict and dad a wife beater. He started hanging out with a bad crowd and obsessing over Nazi history. Larry had a crush on him and asked him out on a dare in front of all his friends.

There's definitely no justification for the shooting, but it's a really interesting case.

source

Posted 8/15/08 12:39 PM
 

HoneyBadger
YourWorstNightmare.

Member since 10/06

15979 total posts

Name:
BahBahBlackJeep

Re: Family of gay teen slain in Calif. blames school - Allowing boy to wear makeup and feminine clothes led to death, they say

Posted by AmyG13

I hadn't heard about this before so I just looked it up and read a very long article about it. It's a really interesting and very sad story.

Apparently Larry King was adopted and was living in a group home for troubled teens at the time, so his parents had no control over what he wore. But the family actually believes Larry was sexually harassing the boy that shot him. They also believe he wasn't really gay and just wanted attention. He was notorious in school for showing up in outrageous outfits and taunting all of the boys.

And Brandon, the boy who shot him, came from pretty messed up household. Mom was a drug addict and dad a wife beater. He started hanging out with a bad crowd and obsessing over Nazi history. Larry had a crush on him and asked him out on a dare in front of all his friends.

There's definitely no justification for the shooting, but it's a really interesting case.

source



Ok, but then why would Larry King's family be blaming the school?

I could see the family of the kid who shot him (Brandon) maybe having a lawsuit against the school for not dealing with this kid who was harrassing their son, but why would the "gay" kids family be suing?

Posted 8/15/08 12:43 PM
 

AmyG13
LIF Infant

Member since 12/07

159 total posts

Name:
Amy

Re: Family of gay teen slain in Calif. blames school - Allowing boy to wear makeup and feminine clothes led to death, they say

Posted by Jennie0898


Ok, but then why would Larry King's family be blaming the school?

I could see the family of the kid who shot him (Brandon) maybe having a lawsuit against the school for not dealing with this kid who was harrassing their son, but why would the "gay" kids family be suing?



There seems to be alot around the story. A few teachers tried to stop how he was dressing (wearing make up, stilettos, knee-high pink boots, etc..) because it was distracting, which is against the dress code. But the school had an openly gay assistant principal who the family, and several teachers, think was encouraging Larry to be outrageous to "further her agenda". And when the parents and teachers complained that he was getting away with too much she turned it into a political thing and the staff was instructed not to interfere with his self expression.

Basically, I think they feel that by not enforcing the dress code the school was allowing Larrys bad behavior to escalate knowing that it was instigating problems and harrasment with other students. And if they had forced Larry to dial it down the incident would never had happened.

Posted 8/15/08 12:50 PM
 

HoneyBadger
YourWorstNightmare.

Member since 10/06

15979 total posts

Name:
BahBahBlackJeep

Re: Family of gay teen slain in Calif. blames school - Allowing boy to wear makeup and feminine clothes led to death, they say

Posted by AmyG13
There seems to be alot around the story. A few teachers tried to stop how he was dressing (wearing make up, stilettos, knee-high pink boots, etc..) because it was distracting, which is against the dress code. But the school had an openly gay assistant principal who the family, and several teachers, think was encouraging Larry to be outrageous to "further her agenda". And when the parents and teachers complained that he was getting away with too much she turned it into a political thing and the staff was instructed not to interfere with his self expression.

Basically, I think they feel that by not enforcing the dress code the school was allowing Larrys bad behavior to escalate knowing that it was instigating problems and harrasment with other students. And if they had forced Larry to dial it down the incident would never had happened.



Hmmm... I can understand where they're coming from to some extent but I still kind of think the parents should have done more. This was their son, adopted or not, it sounds to me like they dropped the ball a bit.

Not necessarily with what happened in school, but in general with this kid.

ETA: What you're saying, though, DOES put this story in a different light.

Thank you for sharing!

Message edited 8/15/2008 12:55:58 PM.

Posted 8/15/08 12:55 PM
 

Googlie
LIF Adolescent

Member since 3/06

532 total posts

Name:

Re: Family of gay teen slain in Calif. blames school - Allowing boy to wear makeup and feminine clothes led to death, they say

Posted by leighdvm

I really don't agree with the school being blamed for this......if they told him he couldn't dress like a girl, couldn't be they sued for some kind of discrimination then? It's like, damned if they do, damned if they don't...



I totally agree...this year I had a student that was physically sick for two months because he was afraid to come out to his parents...he then came out and by the end of the year he was wearing tiaras and makeup....because we are a private school I could tell him to take off the tiara, but that's it...he was made fun of, but he was getting counseling to deal with his new lifestyle as well as other issues he had...the school can only do so much to protect the students...every individual is different and with the freedom of expression and thought that everyone has, you can't stop a boy from dressing like a girl or visa versa.... I know I just tried to talk to the students that had a problem with my other student to try to make them understand what is going on..

Message edited 8/15/2008 1:00:03 PM.

Posted 8/15/08 12:58 PM
 

MrsPJB2007
MBA at your service!

Member since 7/06

12020 total posts

Name:
MJ

Re: Family of gay teen slain in Calif. blames school - Allowing boy to wear makeup and feminine clothes led to death, they say

well after reading that long article---it seems as though Larry was removed from his parent's home and living in a group home when all the cross-dressing began. at least that's how it seems to be explained. so if that was the case--the parents had no control over what their son was wearing.

its a bit of a stretch--but i still don't think the school is necessarily at fault for what happened. i mean the victim was violating a dress code as his clothing was "distractive" to others. but that's not reason for murder. and the fact that Larry was "taunting" some of the other boys....its almost as if the article is slightly saying "well he was flaunting his sexuality to the boys in school and making them uncomfortable...he was asking for what happened." What about all the times that those boys were horrible and mean to Larry?? I'm not saying 2 wrongs make a right, but since Larry was "giving it back to them" at times, since he was gay, its wrong, but their torture of him was okay? Chat Icon

The whole thing was just something that got way out of hand no matter what.

Posted 8/15/08 1:10 PM
 

donegal419
St. Gerard, pray for us.

Member since 7/07

7650 total posts

Name:
K

Re: Family of gay teen slain in Calif. blames school - Allowing boy to wear makeup and feminine clothes led to death, they say

Posted by leighdvm

I really don't agree with the school being blamed for this......if they told him he couldn't dress like a girl, couldn't be they sued for some kind of discrimination then? It's like, damned if they do, damned if they don't...



Exactly!

And I'm sorry, but where were the parents in all of this? If they were so concerned about him getting teased, shouldn't they have the conversation with him at home about what he should wear/not wear.

it's a tragedy either way, but i don't think it's the school's fault.

Posted 8/15/08 2:17 PM
 

MrsPJB2007
MBA at your service!

Member since 7/06

12020 total posts

Name:
MJ

Re: Family of gay teen slain in Calif. blames school - Allowing boy to wear makeup and feminine clothes led to death, they say

Posted by donegal419

Posted by leighdvm

I really don't agree with the school being blamed for this......if they told him he couldn't dress like a girl, couldn't be they sued for some kind of discrimination then? It's like, damned if they do, damned if they don't...



Exactly!

And I'm sorry, but where were the parents in all of this? If they were so concerned about him getting teased, shouldn't they have the conversation with him at home about what he should wear/not wear.

it's a tragedy either way, but i don't think it's the school's fault.




At the time he began dressing like a girl---he was not living with his parents--he was in a group home. So I have to say, they had no control over what he was wearing.

Posted 8/15/08 2:21 PM
 

melbalalala
Little Lady

Member since 5/07

5014 total posts

Name:
Melissa

Re: Family of gay teen slain in Calif. blames school - Allowing boy to wear makeup and feminine clothes led to death, they say

This is all so silly and shouldn't even be given media attention.

Posted 8/15/08 2:28 PM
 

MichLiz213
Life is Good!

Member since 7/07

7979 total posts

Name:

Re: Family of gay teen slain in Calif. blames school - Allowing boy to wear makeup and feminine clothes led to death, they say

Posted by MrsPJB2007

I'm sorry for their loss--but the parents are looking for someone to blame and really its not whether the school let their son wear what he wanted---he was discriminated against by the boy who shot him....why is that the school's fault?

nope--school isn't at fault. the boy who pulled the trigger is.



ITA

Posted 8/15/08 4:24 PM
 
Pages: [1] 2
 

Potentially Related Topics:

Topic Posted By Started Replies Forum
Does Firehouse Nursery School have a two year old program? ckone 8/15/08 0 Parenting
Girls who wear contacts HarleyGirlFLA 8/15/08 14 Pregnancy
What to get for someone when there is a death in their family? diva7531 8/15/08 9 Families Helping Families ™
Christian Bale Will Not Be Charged over Family Feud GossipQueen 8/15/08 0 Celebrities & Entertainment
Toys for school...advice needed msrsfeb 8/15/08 7 Parenting
 
Quick navigation:   
Currently 538612 users on the LIFamilies.com Chat
New Businesses
1 More Rep
Carleton Hall of East Islip
J&A Building Services
LaraMae Health Coaching
Sonic Wellness
Julbaby Photography LLC
Ideal Uniforms
Teresa Geraghty Photography
Camelot Dream Homes
Long Island Wedding Boutique
MB Febus- Rodan & Fields
Camp Harbor
Market America-Shop.com
ACM Basement Waterproofing
Travel Tom

      Follow LIWeddings on Facebook

      Follow LIFamilies on Twitter
Long Island Bridal Shows