09/18/2008
16-Year-Old Attempts Murder of Fellow Teen Because He's Gay
A 16-year-old broke into the home of a high school classmate, in rural Tribune, Kansas and assaulted him with intent to kill, authorities say, because he thought his fellow student was gay.
KSN reports: "In Tribune, Kansas, with a population of nearly 800 people, everyone knows each other and as you can imagine the crime rate is low. So when a 16-year-old boy was beaten inside his home, it made a big impact on the surrounding community. Authorities say the beating happened early Sunday morning at Greeley County High School, when a 16-year-old suspect broke into the home of another student. The sheriff says the suspect heard rumors that his classmate was gay, and severely beat him. Authorities allege the suspect brought a small explosive device intending to kill the student."
The family is denying that the victim is gay. The suspect was scheduled to appear in court today. Few other details are available.
Posted 2:24 PM EST by Andy Towle in Crime, Gay Youth, Kansas, News | Permalink
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So what are the parents saying? If he were gay beating him up would have been just fine?
Posted by: David Ehrenstein | Sep 18, 2008 2:45:18 PM
I think so.
Posted by: anon | Sep 18, 2008 2:57:53 PM
No, they are just saying that he is not gay.
Posted by: misquowoti | Sep 18, 2008 3:00:39 PM
"Authorities say the beating happened early Sunday morning at Greeley County High School, when a 16-year-old suspect broke into the home of another student"
This doesn't make sense. Was it at home or at the school?
David - I thought the same thing!
Posted by: JP | Sep 18, 2008 3:01:17 PM
We're likely to not find out, but who wants to bet that the victim and his attacker recently had a tete a tete (probably just a mutual jo session or something)? Then the attacker got home and freaked about it. Regardless, because the children in this (most assuredly) Christian community are taught to hate fags, both of their lives have been turned upside down, and the attacker's life is probably ruined.
Posted by: Kyle Childress | Sep 18, 2008 3:12:16 PM
David, I thought the same thing too. Unfortunately, I can see my parents saying it if it were me. :(
Posted by: Michael W. | Sep 18, 2008 3:16:48 PM
A friend of mine was gay-bashed. If a police investigator had asked me whether I believed my friend was gay, I would have said no. Not because I condone violence against gays, but because (as far as I know) my friend is straight.
Posted by: misquowoti | Sep 18, 2008 3:42:00 PM
Let's just say for a second that the victim is indeed straight. If so, this incident shows how homophobic violence affects EVERYONE, gay or straight.
If for no other reason than self-protection and self-interest, straights should fight homophobia as well. It affects them too!!!
Posted by: Marc in Chicago | Sep 18, 2008 4:19:54 PM
I smell a Jenny Jones coming on.
BTW, Lawrence King's father didn't believe his son was gay, either.
Posted by: John in Manhattan | Sep 18, 2008 4:20:56 PM
I think KYLE might be onto something here. The info doesn't pass the smell test. You don't break into someone's house and beat him up because of a rumor he's gay... unless you 'know' he is. Or it could be a meth rage, either one.
Posted by: kansastock | Sep 18, 2008 5:13:55 PM
Nazi-Religious-Republicans MUST BE HAPPY, they live for this. Well, Sucks for the 16yo...I hope he goes to jaill and rotten...NO i can't feel sorry for idiots who want to harm someone for being gay...IGNORANCE is not a bliss nor a reason to feel sorry.
Posted by: bosie | Sep 18, 2008 5:20:35 PM
It's a shame no family members were there to kill the attacker.
Posted by: DCN | Sep 18, 2008 5:42:16 PM
Boise, what do you think of policies that aim to rehabilitate prisoners (especially those in their teens)?
DCN, do you support the death penalty?
Posted by: misquowoti | Sep 18, 2008 5:47:05 PM
Is this guy insane or what?
(If he is then get him the help he need's and if he's not then give him the death penalty or life.)
Posted by: Dawnell_do | Sep 18, 2008 6:37:54 PM
Maybe the parents are just trying to deal with the fact that his life was in danger rather than yeah, "He's gay too". Also, this part of Kansas could be so backwards as far as equal rights are concerned, the family could be trying to protect themselves as a whole. It's sad, totally, but it's reality when you're in rural areas.
Posted by: Jockwriter | Sep 19, 2008 10:38:42 AM
This is what the republicans mean by small town values. Very scary if you are gay! This is Sally Kern's district, that bitch is indirectly responsible and should be held accountable.
Posted by: Tyler | Sep 19, 2008 1:26:54 PM
I have a feeling the attacker is probably a self-loathing, closeted gay boy. He's sounds like he's on the way to becoming a serial killer. Like the ones that kill hot young men who make them all tingley in the trousers. 'Cause that hot little slut made him think unclean, un-Christian thoughts.
Posted by: Weezy | Sep 20, 2008 12:57:13 AM
Posted by: bosie | Sep 18, 2008 5:20:35 PM It's a shame no family members were there to kill the attacker.
It's a shame the kids dad killed himself in March, in the same house he was attacked in.
Posted by: Jockwriter | Sep 19, 2008 10:38:42 AM
This is what the republicans mean by small town values. Very scary if you are gay! This is Sally Kern's district, that bitch is indirectly responsible and should be held accountable.
Small town values...where you don't lock your house or your car. Small town Tribune, in 120 years-1 murder investigation, less than a hand full of suicides, high school graduation rates of 98%, yah sucks to live in small towns.
And this is the first incident that has anything to do with sexual orientation, and we do have more that a few gay people, but guess what except for the 2 people who wanted this crime committed, no one really cares who is attracked to whom or why. Small towns rock and very few of them are raising little Nazis this is a very very rare incident.
Posted by: Thatchic | Sep 25, 2008 10:12:12 PM