Think Pink Radio

This has not been a good week for the queer kids around the world: There was a shocking school shooting at Oxnard Junior High School in California, where a student walked into a computer lab and shot fellow student Lawrence King. Lawrence later died of his injuries, and at this time a motive is unclear. However, it is believed that the shooting was a direct result of the student’s queerness. Classmates said that Lawrence identified as gay, and frequently came to school in heels, jewelry and makeup.

The news of another death this time came later on in the week, this time on the other side of the world. In South Yorkshire, a ten year old hung herself. *  Cameron McWilliams’ mother said that her child had expressed a desire to be a girl, had been caught wearing the undergarments of a stepsister, and requested permission to wear makeup.

Both of these children are gone, the casualties of a homophobic and transphobic society. Following the news of these stories this week, I was left wondering who they would have grown to be, and what responsibility we as a community have to protect kids like this. Perhaps the time has come to reevaluate our goals and shift focus away from military inclusion and the struggles for gay marriage. Instead we should turn our attention and resources towards saving the lives of our future.

*I have used female pronouns for Cameron because she expressed a desire to live and be referred to as a girl before death.

–Sassafras Lowrey