Hearing postponed in King murder case

(Oxnard, California) The preliminary hearing for a 15-year-old charged with murder in the killing of openly gay student Lawrence King has been postponed until July.

The hearing, where the prosecution is required to prove there is enough evidence to proceed with a trial, was to have begun this week, but is …

King murder hearing delayed by death of defendant’s dad

(Oxnard, California) The preliminary hearing for Brandon McInerney, the 15-year old accused of killing gay classmate Lawrence King, has been put on hold following the sudden death of McInerney’s father.

The preliminary hearing, to determine if there was enough evidence to bind the teen over for trial, was to have begun …

Judge refuses to delay hearing in Lawrence King murder

(Oxnard, California) A move to delay the preliminary hearing of Brandon McInerney, the 15-year-old accused of killing gay classmate Lawrence King, was rejected Tuesday.

McInerney’s attorneys are fighting to have the case moved from adult to juvenile court. The issue is now before the California Supreme Court after being rejected by …

Scholarship named for Lawrence King

(Los Angeles, California) A four-year scholarship for LGBT students will be named for Lawrence King, the 15-year-old gay male murdered in an Oxnard, California classroom in February 2008.

The scholarship was announced Tuesday by the Point Foundation in partnership with Jeffrey Fashion Cares. It will begin in the 2009/2010 academic year.

“It …

Scholarship named for Lawrence King

(Los Angeles, California) A four-year scholarship for LGBT students will be named for Lawrence King, the 15-year-old gay male murdered in an Oxnard, California classroom in February 2008.

The scholarship was announced Tuesday by the Point Foundation in partnership with Jeffrey Fashion Cares. It will begin in the 2009/2010 academic year.

“It …

Equality California Remembers Lawrence King One Year after the Teen’s Shooting Death

SAN FRANCISCO – Equality California honors and remembers the life of Lawrence King, a gay junior high school student from Oxnard, CA, who was shot in the head one-year-ago by his classmate at E.O. Green Junior High School. The 15-year-old died of his injuries last February 13.

Brandon McInerney, King’s shooter, is being tried on first-degree murder and a hate crimes charge. According to reports from friends of Lawrence King, who self-identified as gay, King sometimes wore make-up and feminine jewelry and was the target of ridicule by some of his classmates.

Last year, EQCA sponsored AB 3015 (Brownley), the Foster Youth School Education Act, which was introduced to better protect LGBT foster youth like Larry from violence at school and was signed into law by Governor Schwarzenegger.

“As we remember the tragic, senseless killing of Lawrence King, we must continue to take the appropriate steps to ensure that no one else becomes a victim to homophobia in our schools,” said Geoff Kors, executive director for Equality California. “On the anniversary of this tragedy, we stand committed to defending safe schools laws that EQCA lobbied to enact to prevent any young person from being bullied, harassed or worse because of their sexual orientation or gender identity and expression.”

Equality California-sponsored legislation, the Student’s Civil Rights Act, SB 777 (Kuehl), which was implemented in 2008 and reinforces existing prohibitions of discrimination in publicly funded schools and activities, including discrimination based on religion, race, disability, gender and sexual orientation, has been challenged by a failed referendum and an ongoing federal lawsuit.

EQCA works to achieve equality and secure legal protections for LGBT people. To improve the lives of LGBT Californians, EQCA sponsors legislation and coordinates efforts to ensure its passage, lobbies legislators and other policy makers, builds coalitions, develops community strength and empowers individuals and other organizations to engage in the political process. www.eqca.org