When people ask me what i will do with my college degree, or my general career plans, i begin by saying, "public policy." Most of my work outside of the classroom has been in the field of education, so i've developed a great sense of advocacy for k-12 grade students. If my college years have taught me anything, it is that we must unlearn a lot of our early education, to begin thinking critically. Changing and expanding curriculum in the k-12 grades to ensure that students have a more accurate understanding of national and international history, as well as current societal issues, will best prepare them for adulthood.
Passing laws to protect civil and human rights is not the sole solution to the problem of ignorance and intolerance. Education, public awareness, and understanding must accompany any change of the Constitution.
Newsweek Magazine has written a story about the events leading up to the death of Larry King. Larry, a 15 year-old middle school student from Oxnard, California, was shot and killed in his classroom earlier this year. The article discussed Larry's being gay and crossdressing at school. Larry was bullied and tormented by kids he went to school with, be it in the locker room, at his own home, or a la the movie, Mean Girls, slandered in a "burn book."

However, Newsweek repeatedly highlighted the instances wherein Larry taunted his classmates and drew attention to himself with his wardrobe. Larry is depicted as a constant distraction, a harasser, who contributed to his death. If kids are coming out earlier and earlier, as Newsweek suggests, but schools and families are not prepared for this, more violence is bound to occur. If kids are coming out earlier and earlier, then shouldn't it be schools' and parents' responsibility to educate and counsel their kids? At the end of the article, on the last page, Newsweek explains the community's feelings surrounding Larry's murder.

For them, the issue isn't whether Larry was gay or straight---his father isn't convinced his son was gay---but whether he was allowed to push the boundaries so far that he put himself and others in danger. They're not blaming Larry for his own death---as if anything could justify his murder---but their attitude toward his assailant is not unsympathetic.

First of all, Newsweek, let's not mince words, his murderer, not his "assailant." Now, i feel sympathy for Brandon McInerney, the boy who murdered Larry. This comes from Brandon being raised by abusive and irresponsible parents, and from obviously not being adequately schooled in equality or acceptance. i am not saying that i do not believe that Larry teased or taunted fellow classmates. But let's think about why he did so. It must be some sort of defense mechanism, or way for him to feel powerful in an otherwise powerless situation, being an out middle school student. Yes, you could argue that Brandon acted out in a similar way, although Larry never harmed another student.
The school was not doing their job to protect and educate their students. Whether Larry wore "boy's" clothes or "girl's" clothes, or teased boys or girls, he is not to be blamed for his death. If students were filing complaints about Larry harassing them, then the faculty and staff should have dealt with Larry, just as they would with a straight boy taunting girls. The same goes for anyone who was bullying Larry. Nothing in the article mentioned how students who had bullied Larry were dealt with (aside from Larry being moved out of his boys' physical education class). And if you have a gay principal, and at least one known gay student, perhaps the school should be addressing homosexuality and (i hate the word, but it is what institutions so frequently use) tolerance. Newsweek actually reported that only 110 middle schools have gay-straight alliances, while high schools have over 3,600.
Larry King did not "push the boundaries so far that he put himself and others in danger." He pushed the boundaries in terms of social norms, and in his behavior towards those who did not accept him. His school, community, and classmate, Brandon, all contributed to his death. When the press writes an article attempting to discuss kids coming out at earlier ages, and their communities reactions/acceptance, they should try to remain objective (not sound like one of the homophobic parents from Larry's school).