Lawrence King Died Because He Was Different

When young Lawrence King was shot Tuesday morning it was more than just a random school shooting it was a hate crime. The eighth grader had never been in the closet about his sexual orientation. For that he lost his life.

King would sometimes wear jewelry and makeup to E.O. Green Junior High School in Oxnard, California. He had told his classmates that he was gay. He was not ashamed that he was different from the others that attended his school. He knew of bullying. Kids who are different have always had to deal with those who rather harass than be tolerant. School isn't a safe place for kids who walk to a different beat. It's not a new story at all. Kids who have a different sexual orientation are often physically assaulted in the buildings that are for education. GLSENs 2005 National School Climate Survey showed that over a tenth of LGBT students had been the victims of violence at school. Only ten states in the U.S. protect students from bullying and harassment based on sexual orientation. King lived and died in one of those states. Because of that his murderer will face hate crimes. It shouldn't take the death of a young boy though to notice that bullying is a problem. Lawrence King's body is being kept alive to give organs to those who need them.