ABSTRACT
In February of 2008, 15-year-old Latisha (“Larry”) King was fatally shot in the head by 14-year-old Brandon McInerney in a school classroom. The case drew media attention, not just due to the horrific nature of the murder but because Latisha, who was assigned male at birth, identified as gay and had recently begun to dress and accessorize as a girl. Multiple press outlets reported on the “gay student” who was killed. LGBTQ activists spoke out. Documentaries such as Valentine Road (2013) told the story in depth. This chapter explores the case by examining the culture of homophobic bullying in schools as well as the rigid expectations for heteronormative gender conformity when it comes to gender expression. As Latisha was mixed race and identified as Black, her case allows for an examination of homophobic bullying and gender expression through the lens of intersectionality. Additionally, considerations are given to how her case, as representative of victimization of LGBTQ youth, operates at the micro, meso, and macro levels. The chapter concludes by addressing initiatives that can be taken to benefit LGBTQ students, as well as discussing recently passed laws which are discriminatory.
