Gay Groups Urge
D.A. to Try McInerney as Minor

A group of LGBT activist groups is petitioning the Ventura County, Calif., district attorney not to try a 14-year-old boy accused of murdering his gay classmate as an adult, according to a press release from the coalition. Brandon McInerney, who is being brought to trial for the fatal shooting of Lawrence King, may be tried as an adult, but the groups wrote in their statement that he should be treated as a juvenile.

"The alleged perpetrator, who turned 14 years old less than three weeks before the shooting, should be held accountable for his actions," the group wrote to the D.A. "But we support the principles underlying our juvenile justice system that treat children differently than adults and provide greater hope and opportunity for rehabilitation."

Twenty-seven organizations signed the letter, including Lambda Legal, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, the Transgender Law Center, several chapters of the American Civil Liberties Union, and the Human Rights Campaign. They cited research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that found that children tried as adults are more likely to commit another crime than those tried as juveniles.

"Prosecuting the alleged perpetrator as an adult will not bring Lawrence King back nor will it make schools safer for LGBT youth," the letter read. "We must respond to this tragedy by strengthening our resolve to change the climate in schools, eliminate bigotry based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression, and hold schools responsible for protecting students against discrimination and physical harm." (The Advocate)