GLSEN Statement on Brandon McInerney Plea Bargain

NEW YORK, Nov. 21, 2011 - The following is a statement from GLSEN Executive Director Eliza Byard about today's announcement that a plea bargain was reached and Brandon McInerney pleaded guilty to second degree murder and voluntary manslaughter with use of a weapon for the death of 15-year-old Lawrence "Larry" King at E.O. Green Junior High School in Oxnard, Calif., on Feb 12, 2008. McInerney will serve his 21-year sentence in both juvenile facilities and prison.

The retrial was previously announced on Oct 5, 2011 after a mistrial was declared a month earlier as a result of the jury being unable to reach an agreement on whether to find McInerney guilty of first-degree murder, second-degree murder or manslaughter.

"The plea deal announced today ends a tragic chapter in Ventura County. Holding Brandon McInerney accountable for his actions is necessary and right, but putting him behind bars does not solve the problems that led a boy to become a bully, and then a murderer. Homophobia and transphobia, compounded by the lack of counseling and other supports for struggling young people, resulted in Larry King's death and the effective end of Brandon McInerney's life. As adults and as a society, we must find the resolve to fix the broken systems that lost two young lives to hate and fear. The end to this painful chapter must now serve as a new beginning. Ventura County along with communities and school districts everywhere must come together to promote a culture of respect and nurture the true potential found in every individual regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression."

About GLSEN
GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network, is the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for all students. Established in 1990, GLSEN envisions a world in which every child learns to respect and accept all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. GLSEN seeks to develop school climates where difference is valued for the positive contribution it makes to creating a more vibrant and diverse community. For information on GLSEN's research, educational resources, public policy advocacy, student organizing programs and educator training initiatives, visit www.glsen.org.