Ellen Torn Up Over Gay Murder

496. It's very likely that this kid is gonna have a lot more guys "coming on to him" now that he's probably going to spend a lot of time in prison. Especially if he's charged as an adult, as he should be. Not little small cute guys coming on to him, but big burly guys that will be yelling, "Guapo! Guapo! as he is paraded down the corridor in front of them. And the first time he's in the shower with those big guys learing and smiling at him. That valentine from Lawrence King might not seem so bad. There's lessons to be learned for everybody, not just the gay kids.

Posted at 7:37PM on Mar 3rd 2008 by Johnny Cardenas

497. Thank you TMZ and Ellen DeGeneres for bringing this news to national attention. No other media has covered this story perhaps because human life has no value if you are gay. The premature death of a gay youth should hold the consciousness of us all accountable as a community. This should not be an issue because of Lawrence King's sexuality, but about the devaluation of human life. Does it make it more news worthy that Larry King died because someone thought he was such a threat by expressing his attraction to the same sex that the shooter questioned his own sexuality? How could it be a threat if someone of the same gender expressed his or her admiration if you know who you are as a person? It is fear that induces ignorance that 15-year-old Larry King died. If someone of the opposite sex shared, their adoration for someone that did not share the same laws of attraction would the outcome been different. How would the other person react to the indifference? Is the answer to murder that person because he felt threatened? How do we value human life? Is life less valued because of sexual orientation, color, gender, religion or political indifference? How do we value human life? Do we have the right to take life away? Does someone have the right to take your life away?

Critics are questioning whether Ellen DeGeneres have the right to bring this issue to a public platform in which she is passionate. The answer is yes, not because it is a personal issue to her, but because as part of a community we have the responsibility to educate, mentor and nurture misguided individuals. I had mixed reservations on whether Ellen should have expressed her views on Lawrence King's murder on her talk show as a public platform, but it has generated a dialog of basic civil rights we are all entitled. Ms. DeGenenres should not be criticize or hated because she has voice her views on the subject of hate crimes against gays. Ms. DeGeneres’ rights to share her thoughts regarding hate crimes should not be revoke because she is a celebrity. Yes, she held back tears, but she was visibly empathetic to the victim of this senseless crime. Clearly, Ms. DeGeneres is aware she walks a very thin line because of the infamous “Iggy Gate,” Ms. DeGeneres was widely criticized for being overly emotional over an adopted puppy named Iggy (she’d gifted to her hairstylist’s daughter later was taken away by the animal adoption agency) on her national TV talk show, (The Ellen DeGeneres Show). Many questioned her ethics of bringing the Iggy issue up on her TV talk show as inappropriate with her own personal agenda as being narcissistic. Ms. DeGeneres is now being highly criticized for not displaying tears for the hate crime resulting in the death of 15-year-old Lawrence King. Please excuse my idiosyncratic views, but when basic civil rights are infringe on based on an individual sexual orientation we as a society must ask ourselves by what principles are democracy measured? Perhaps Ms. DeGeneres has a tear for all of us misguided souls. We do not have the rights to devalued human life, this is a tragic incident with the lost of two young spirits.

Posted at 8:10PM on Mar 3rd 2008 by clueuin

498. This young man's murder was tragic, but so is every murder. I believe that all murders are hate crimes, no matter who the victim is. Multiple murders at schools, colleges, businesses and even fast food places seem to be getting so frequent that they are almost seen as normal. But the worst are those involving young children. Many die every day from starvation, disease, etc., but the ones that really tear me up are those dear babies that are murdered by parents who are tired of hearing them cry, or those killed in drive-by shootings while they play in the "safety" of their own yard. Don't ask why God would do this, because He didn't. All of it can be blamed on one bad boy named Satan. Face it folks - when your times up you're outta here. Just be ready.

Posted at 12:28AM on Mar 4th 2008 by Spanky

499. I have read the child was in a home etc....who in the hell lets a child,a male child at that wear high heels to school????????????

Posted at 4:51AM on Mar 4th 2008 by Mom

500. Plenty of women get asked out by men they have no interest in, either because they are gay or otherwise involved. What is wrong with simply being flattered that someone finds you appealing? Why does that threaten who you know yourself to be? Being asked to be someone's valentine or being asked out is not a reason to kill. If that were the case, there would be a lot of dead men!

Posted at 10:21PM on Mar 19th 2008 by miranda

501. For the idiot that said there is no forgiveness or purgatory. No, you are thinking of yourself. That kind of speech belongs in the dark ages, where it was just that kind of Bible-based hatred that caused the Crusades and the Black Plague, among other things. Furthermore, in the olden days before civilization, men who refused to take the life of another man were often jailed, executed, or else they had no choice but to become priests or ministers. I am thankful that the 21st century America is so much more civilized.
For your info, Paul's letters directly speak of forgiveness for all sins, including homosexuality. No, I will not tell you what page or book or verse. If you even touched a Bible, you'd probably die on the spot due to all your other sins you don't repent of.(drunkenness, carousing, taking bribes, blackmail, oppressing the poor to name a small fraction of your wickedness). If you would like to prepare for your next home, I can take you to shopping to buy some SPF 500,000.

Posted at 5:06PM on Mar 5th 2008 by Jesus

502. I fill 4 that poor guy and his loved 1s. Brandon had 2 learn that hatetrid, problly at home. What a shame.

Posted at 7:28PM on Mar 5th 2008 by Regina Gale

503. First off none of you seem to know the truth here. Brandon was constantly harrassed by Larry whom was gay. He asked him to stop constantly...........then his friends began teasing him. HOW HARD is that mentally on a 14 year old straight boy. And he was only 14 for three weeks........
Larry went to school in blue eyeshadow and highheels..... At some time the school should have intervened and stopped this. No Larry didn't deserve to die. But Brandon probably had as much mentally as he could handle and cracked mentally also. They were both victims in my eyes....
I pray for both the familys.

Posted at 5:56PM on Mar 6th 2008 by VIckie

504. First off none of you seem to know the truth here. Brandon was constantly harrassed by Larry whom was gay. He asked him to stop constantly...........then his friends began teasing him. HOW HARD is that mentally on a 14 year old straight boy. And he was only 14 for three weeks........
Larry went to school in blue eyeshadow and highheels..... At some time the school should have intervened and stopped this. No Larry didn't deserve to die. But Brandon probably had as much mentally as he could handle and cracked mentally also. They were both victims in my eyes....
I pray for both the familys.

Posted at 5:54PM on Mar 6th 2008 by VIckie

505. This IS a very sad story. There is no amount of embarrassment or diapproval of a lifestyle that can warrant taking a HUMAN life. I personally don't believe in homosexuality but that doesn't change the way I feel about a person. I have friends and family members that are/were gay and I would never treat them different because of that, though I don't approve of it. I appreciate that Ellen brought this to public attention, and understand that it was done because it hit close to home for her..

.but kids are dying everyday not just because of sexual orientation but because they're black, or white, or hispanic, or middle eastern etc....EVERYDAY... what about them?

Our nation, as a whole needs to realize where we are, READ THE BIBLE, time is short.

The USA is a spoiled nation, and if the only time that we will fall on our knees is in the middle of a crisis then we need to pray 'cause we're in trouble.

Posted at 6:30PM on Mar 6th 2008 by celastro

506. That is extremely horrible! I just came out to a few people who I trust. Nobody should be killed b/c they are gay, lesbian, bi, whatever the case may be. Some gay people cannot help having feelings for a straight person. I know from experience. As they saying goes"The heart desires what it desires" This Brandon kid could have simply said" I'm sorry, but I'm straight" He did not have to go off of the deep end and kill Lawrence!

Posted at 6:54PM on Mar 6th 2008 by RayRay

507. There are so many things wrong with many of the comments here it's hard to know where to start. First, the term "gay lifestyle" is moronic. Homosexuality is an innate, biological trait over which people have no control. There is a gay culture, yes, but by definition, gay people live the same "lifestyles" as everyone else as determined by omic status, geography, and education level.

Second, please stop using one of the two Bible verses that condemn Homosexuality as justification for hatred of gays until you are willing to stone women who wear pants to death, outlaw foot ball games (Man shall not touch the skin of a dead pig on the Sabbath) and shoping on Sundays (God prohibits working on a Sunday b/c it is a day of rest) etc,. etc,.

It seems to me you might, in fact, be more concerned about the Commandment: Thou shalt not kill than some obscure reference to man lying with man as he does with woman.

Finally, kudos to Ellen for bringing this incident to the attention of millions of people. Ellen makes some effort not to make her own sexual orientation a factor in her show. That she raised it in such a direct way indicates how importan this is to her. No one deserves to be killed for who they are. This boy was killed because for an act of affection and perhaps kindness. A gentle soul who took a risk to reach out to another human being to say "ney, I think you're cool."

Oh, and to the woman who thinks that voting for John McCain somehow is a vote against homosexuality, think again., He is a PRO-GAY Republican. If you really want to vote against Homosexuality, vote for Obama. His record on the issue is hit or miss and his stated posiiion is murky at best. Hillary or McCain are much more solidly gay-friendly.

Posted at 8:31PM on Mar 6th 2008 by James Millner

508. I am a straight female, I think I am most offended by those who say that the Gay population needs to be careful who they are expressing their feelings too. I know that there has been many a times when a "smooth" talking straight male has approached me and whether I appreciated his comments or not, he had no problem laying his lines on me... How did he know I wasn't gay ... If I was, then shouldn't I be annoyed or offended that a straight person was hitting on me and breathing my air?! It is just plain stupid and ignorant to say that gay people should becareful who they express feelings towards. Maybe if people in America would show more kind feelings , whether it be towards a gay person or straight person....then maybe our 15 year old children wouldn't be walking around with guns killing other children!

Posted at 11:16AM on Mar 7th 2008 by MEmommy

509. Nor Cal Reader poster...your're obviously cynical...and hello...Ellen IS gay....Gay issues are close to her heart. Also check your pulse.

Good for you Chris poster for making this a learning lesson to your sons. Every parent needs to take a proactive role in teaching their children tolerance and compassion for people different from them. It is the responsibility of parents to educate their children on moral issues. There are no courses in the schools for this. While I don't go to church now, I did most of time under 18 and that was good. While many may not agree with organized religion, it does provide a basis for instilling values so I say take your kids to church.....and if hating gay people is a tenet of your religion, change to another ....cause that religion is messed up. A religion that teaches hate is just plain wrong. I am, by the way, GAY.

Posted at 12:33AM on Jun 1st 2008 by StPeteFLRealtor

510. For those of you who think that Christ's sacrifice does not cover ALL sin. Guess what? You will be judged by your own measure. A promise to you br Christ Himself. READ the book of JAMES!!! Get a clue people, its about loving your neighbor as your self! This poor child was in the 8th grade! and the other poor child who was taught that hate is ok, well I feel so sorry for him too! What the @#$%^* is the matter with his parents to teach such hate? I praise God that Ellen has the courage to speak out. I thank God that she has 100s of people every day in her studio,millions watching her on TV, that are coming to an understanding that the only difference between straight and gay is the flesh we were born in. The LOVE is the SAME!! How in the world can a gay person ruin a straight person's marriage??? You straight people ruin your own marriages!!! Don't blame us gays. We ALL want to be loved, even the haters want to be loved. "Love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you", said Jesus Christ. I'm praying for you all!

Posted at 3:16PM on Mar 12th 2008 by Babznme