Forum strives to end hate crimes
The forum was based on the death of Lawrence King.
March 11, 2008
Triangle Coalition president Josh Barton and Gamma Rho Lambda sorority president Ashley Price brainstorm ways to respond to and prevent hate crimes Friday in the Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center. Following the shooting of Lawrence King, Triangle Coalition and Gamma Rho Lambda held an open forum to discuss the importance of being proactive in educating the public about homosexuality.
Following a vigil on Thursday, the Triangle Coalition and Gamma Rho Lambda sorority hosted a forum Friday to discuss hate crimes and possible resolutions.
Both the forum and the vigil were based around the death of Lawrence King, a 15-year-old boy who was shot by a classmate last month at his middle school in Oxnard, Calif.
According to the Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network, a classmate shot King because he told classmates he was gay and occasionally wore women’s clothing and accessories.
The forum broadly discussed all types of hate crimes, including discrimination based on gender, sexuality, race, religion and ethnicity. Throughout the forum, the audience considered ways hate crimes could be prevented at the university and in the community. With these ideas, the audience created a model that gave suggestions on how to fight hate crimes, including steps such as prevention, involvement and response. The model will be referred to continuously throughout the year, especially when a hate crime has been committed.
The audience also discussed stereotypical identities in society, how these stereotypes are created and what social responses result when an individual breaks the norm. At the end of the forum, several people, including Gamma Rho Lambda President Ashley Price and Triangle Coalition President Josh Barton, read a joint letter of grievances on King’s death.
Barton said he felt the forum went well and was impressed with the turnout.
“I think the forum was very successful,” Barton said. “The attendance was a lot more than I expected, and I was really excited that a lot of students came out.”
Barton said the audience at the forum created a model that can be used on and off MU’s campus.
“The model has a lot of potential and is very flexible, so it can serve as a model on our campus and on other campuses,” Barton said.
Freshman Gamma Rho Lambda member Mari Moseley said she felt the forum was very successful.
“I think we should have more in the future, because the more information available and the more awareness the better,” Moseley said. “As part of the LGBTQ community, I want to get this awareness out.”
Many MU students, faculty and community members participated in the forum.
Two counselors from MU’s Counseling Center attended the vigil and the forum. Anne Meyer, a licensed psychologist at the center, said the center decided to participate for several reasons.
“As this event may impact students at MU, we want to be available to provide support if needed, and our staff frequently serve in a support capacity at events on campus that may evoke emotional responses,” Meyer said.
Meyer said the Counseling Center also wanted to help raise awareness about hate crimes.
“As the nature of this tragedy was very likely a hate crime, we feel it is important to support efforts that raise awareness about the importance of respecting everyone and embracing our differences,” Meyer said.
Price said King’s death shows alarming stereotypes within society, especially because children are exhibiting violent behaviors and prejudices towards LGBTQ individuals.
“When you’re dealing with children, you think of children as being innocent and learning from everything and everyone around them,” Price said. “The boy that killed Lawrence King didn’t come to those conclusions on his own.”
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