News and Events => Opinions & Editorials => Topic started by: Shana A on August 01, 2011, 09:05:37 AM Return to Full Version
Title: If Larry King Had Been A Girl
Post by: Shana A on August 01, 2011, 09:05:37 AM
Post by: Shana A on August 01, 2011, 09:05:37 AM
If Larry King Had Been A Girl
Filed By Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | August 01, 2011 8:00 AM
http://www.bilerico.com/2011/08/if_larry_king_had_been_a_girl.php (http://www.bilerico.com/2011/08/if_larry_king_had_been_a_girl.php)
As I discussed on Friday, the trial of Brandon McInerney is demonstrating all the signs of a successful "gay panic" defense. It is also a classic demonstration of how a potent mix of heterosexist assumptions and latent homophobia can turn the truth topsy-turvy, painting a bullied victim as a villainous aggressor. All it takes is a witness or two with achingly rigid beliefs about the social roles of men and women, a defense attorney who knows how to cunningly exploit those stereotypes, and a compliant media willing to peddle the poison. A jury in a conservative area is a big plus. We have all four of those at work in the Larry King case.
As I detailed on Friday, there has been testimony in the case that is meant to suggest that Larry King was an angry young man who dressed extremely provocatively, acted in an unwanted and sexually aggressive manner towards other young men in the school, stalked Brandon McInerney in a manner calculated to make McInerney feel shame and anger, and that King was encouraged in this by the school and by one of his teachers.
Filed By Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | August 01, 2011 8:00 AM
http://www.bilerico.com/2011/08/if_larry_king_had_been_a_girl.php (http://www.bilerico.com/2011/08/if_larry_king_had_been_a_girl.php)
As I discussed on Friday, the trial of Brandon McInerney is demonstrating all the signs of a successful "gay panic" defense. It is also a classic demonstration of how a potent mix of heterosexist assumptions and latent homophobia can turn the truth topsy-turvy, painting a bullied victim as a villainous aggressor. All it takes is a witness or two with achingly rigid beliefs about the social roles of men and women, a defense attorney who knows how to cunningly exploit those stereotypes, and a compliant media willing to peddle the poison. A jury in a conservative area is a big plus. We have all four of those at work in the Larry King case.
As I detailed on Friday, there has been testimony in the case that is meant to suggest that Larry King was an angry young man who dressed extremely provocatively, acted in an unwanted and sexually aggressive manner towards other young men in the school, stalked Brandon McInerney in a manner calculated to make McInerney feel shame and anger, and that King was encouraged in this by the school and by one of his teachers.