Valentine Road Summary + Review

This documentary follows the life and death of Lawrence, "Larry", King a fifteen year old gender nonconforming gay boy. After telling a fellow student, Brandon McInerney, he had a crush on him, he was shot and killed by him in the school's computer lab. McInerney was said to have felt uncomfortable at Larry's advances and his feminine appearance. The film includes interviews of residents in the town, some of which expressed homophobic sentiment and blamed Larry for his own murder. The film also explores Larry and Brandon's backgrounds and childhoods.

I really enjoyed this movie, I thought it was very engaging and moving. I liked that the movie had interviews of real people from the town and students rather than just have it be a reenactment of the murder. It was disheartening and shocking to see that some people believed Larry's murder was justified because the way he dress "confused" Brandon. I also thought it was interesting to look into the background of Brandon, such as how he had white supremacist ideologies and was abused by his father, however I think these can explain why he acted how he did, but it in no way excuses his actions and he should face the consequences. It is very sad to think that some people are so offended by someone expressing themselves that they would resort to extreme acts of violence. The fact that this shooting occurred in 2008 is shocking and reveals that homophobia is still deeply ingrained in America. But it was also uplifting to see Larry's friends and family who mourned him and came to his defense.

Resources:
https://www.glsen.org/sites/default/files/FINAL%20Valentine%20Road%20Viewing%20Guide%20V114.pdf

https://www.glsen.org/valentineroad

http://www.tolerance.org/sites/default/files/general/valentine%20road%20discussion%20guide%5B1%5D.pdf

https://www.tolerance.org/magazine/publications/responding-to-hate-and-bias-at-school

https://www.stopbullying.gov/sites/default/files/2017-09/lgbtyouthtipsheet.pdf

https://srlp.org/resources/fact-sheet-transgender-gender-nonconforming-youth-school/

https://www.glsen.org/supporting-trans-and-gnc-students

http://www.georgerogersclarkes.org/ourpages/auto/2018/1/18/53963587/Lesson%208-%20Gender%20Expression%20and%20Sexual%20Orientation%20Lesson%20Plan%20Final.pdf

http://pridenet.ca/wp-content/uploads/the-gender-spectrum.pdf