Sunday, March 02, 2008

Ellen on Murder of Gay 15 Year Old By Fellow Student



For those of us who are hearing impaired:

"...I need to talk to you about something that's really serious and really sad and if you know me, it's hard to talk about sad stuff without getting emotional but this is really important to talk about. On February 12th an openly gay 15-year-old boy named Larry who was an 8th grader in Oxnard, California, was murdered by a fellow 8th grader named Brandon. Larry was killed because he was gay. Days before he was murdered, Larry asked his killer to be his Valentine.

I don't wanna be political, this is not political, I'm not a political person but this is personal to me. A boy has been killed and a number of lives have been ruined and somewhere along the line, the killer Brandon got the message that it's so threatening and so awful and so horrific that Larry would want to be his Valentine that killing Larry seemed to be the right thing to do. And when the message out there is so horrible, that to be gay you can get killed for it, we need to change the message (audience enthusiastically claps; Ellen is very choked up and overwhelmed by the the audience clapping. She's fighting back the tears, takes a deep breath - the audience is still clapping).

Larry was not a second-class citizen, I am not a second-class citizen. It is okay if you're gay (audience erupts in cheers and clapping to show their love and support). I don't care what people say, I don't care what people think, and I know there are entire groups of people who face discrimination every single day and we're a long way from treating each other equally - all of it is unacceptable, all of it!


This is what hate speech does. It creates the environment where those who are easily confused or led think it is OK to act out their hatred. Ellen is right, this boy Brandon will now have to live with the shame he killed this boy for the rest of his life. That's not to mention all the other people who will be effected by what has happened. Where are the good Christians who should come forward and denounce such violence? I'll tell you where they are, they're sitting quietly waiting for responsible leadership from their spiritual leaders. They are waiting to stand up and say this is wrong, but they don't want to stand alone knowing how volatile the subject of homosexuality is in the Church. Good people, it is time to ask yourselves, where are our heroes? Where are those people who impassioned us to be better Christians and be the living example of Christ others can find hope in?

There is a saying that we get the government we deserve. Is that also true about the Church? It's time we started raising our standards and started acting like Christians again. Talk about this boy who was killed and let people hear you say how wrong it is for people to act like this. We don't have to see eye to eye with our neighbors to live in peace, and we definitely don't have to promote an atmosphere where children are killing children.

11 comments:

John said...

Thank you for providing a transcript.

I am in your debt.

Fannie Wolfe said...

Ellen's right. Even though we all have free speech, those who speak out and preach that being gay is wrong and unnatural need to realize that their words have consequences.

Anonymous said...

What Ellen said is so very true, we can all live in peace. Live and let live. No one is hurt by anothers choice to live the way they choose and the Church should get off their high horse and realize that!!! The Catholic Church has more money than they need and live in luxury when they are always crying poverty!! Does the Pope need to live like he does? Do they need to spend $600.00 or more for a pair of shoes? Why don't they spend money where it would do good instead of on themselves and educate the people on different issues like this. God does not want us to kill one another just because of a difference in preference. All this hate needs to stop and the hierarchy needs to step up to the plate and start this change.

Jane Know said...

thanks for posting this. such a sad story.

John Hosty said...

It is an extremely sad story, but one we can make great changes in the name of. His memory will live on in this blog always, and in new legislation being enacted as we speak.

In a positive light I have also posted a YouTube video from a boy about the same age who stepped forward to condemn the act. His courage and compassion are an inspiration. Those who have time should find that article and tell him so. I've been communicating with him back and forth via emails and he is blown away by how many people have told him how thankful they are he stopped to say his thoughts.

KatieKat said...

I actually had not heard about this until today - I don't think I've been living under a rock, I read/watch the news, but I hadn't seen anything about this until I saw your post. After googling, I discovered that the story had been covered by the NY Times, the article was very well written. I'm having a really hard time even thinking about this without crying, though. Why do parents think it's okay to teach their children to hate? Why? *sigh* I'm really having a 'what is this world coming to' kind of day.

Paul Jamieson said...

No Fannie - I only call names when I am called names.

When you slander the memory of the civil rights movement.

When you compare the opposition to the Nazi's

And when you corrupt the democratic voting process to give special rights to individuals

this is where my disgust lies

Mocking a person's hatred is sometimes the only way to show them their own hate

As you can see, John is already learning as he writes;

"Paul, and anyone else who cares to listen, my point is that... "

Well John, my point is why not make the argument that way from the onset?

Why did it have to be:

" Goddamn it the hell, when will the bastards learn that they have blood on their hands? Even the so-called "reasonable" opponents are guilty"

John Hosty said...

Paul, let's have a reality check. Since the comparison was used it is you hands down that has used the Nazi comments more than anyone else. Practice what you preech sir and you'll be better respected.

You say that having our representatives stand up for us in a vote was undemocratic, well so is stealing people signatures to pass a petition. Again, you need to own up to what you do before pointing any fingers.

Also, equal rights do not equate to special rights. We have the same, no better, no worse. That is what our government promises, and that's all I've ever fought for. The myth of special rights is just that, a myth.


One thing I will agree with that you've said is that sometimes people mock someone's hate in order to get them to see it. We did that with you, but I'm trying to steer clear of that because I know all it causes is a spiral downward of mutual disrespect. We can do better than that.


If we continue to try and to remember that we will all benefit from our triumphs the world will be a better place at least in our corner of it.

Paul Jamieson said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
John Hosty said...

Paul, please keep your comments on topic, and try to be sensitive to the fact that this is a volitile subject much like Jacob Robida was. Emotoions are running high right now with a lot of people, please, please try to give a little compassion here. After all, it's love the sinner hate the sin, right? This kid didn't even have a chance to sin, he was too young, and i'm sure you wouldn't say anyone deserves what he got, I know you are a better man than that.

I've moved your comment to a thread of it's own so it can still be discussed. Thank you in advance for your co-operation.

Paul Jamieson said...

"Emotoions are running high right now with a lot of people, please, please try to give a little compassion here"

oh please

when are you going to realize that you and your ilk (liberals) have helped to create a society where emotion mean nothing and everything is fair game.

I mean, you are posting a murdered boy's picture and making a martyr out of him.

Did you ask his parents if they mind?