When I saw that two lesbian teenagers had been found in a Portland, Texas park, both shot in the head, my stomach sank and my brain went immediately to an empty field in Laramie, Wyoming 14 years ago. Yes, I thought of Matthew Shepard. How could I not?
Like Shepard, Mollie Judith Olgin, 19, and Mary Christine Chapa, 18, were young. Homosexual. Brutalized. Left to die. And yet, as the Internet jumps to the conclusion that the fatal shooting of Olgin and the serious injuries sustained by Chapa are the result of a hate crime, I can't help wondering if we're missing the real story.
The why matters here, sure. If these girls were indeed attacked because of their sexuality, it marks yet another sad sign that society has a long way to go until people are all treated as people. If police determine the shooting of these lesbian teenagers is a hate crime -- as yet they haven't given any motive, so again, I say "if" -- this case could be added to a list a mile long of reasons why laws should exist outlawing discrimination in every state of the nation, not just a few.
But that's just half of the story, isn't it? Let's talk about the who here for a moment.
Two young women were shot. One is dead at just 19 years old. The other is in serious condition in a hospital at just 18 years old. They were kids! Shot! In the head!
These girls, these women really, have families and friends who love them. Olgin's family now has a lifetime of grief ahead of them, Chapa's a long battle that hopefully will lead to recovery but will still be tinged by trauma.
To people in their small Texas community, these teenagers are more than representatives of a cause. They are people. Let's not forget that.
What do you think happened in that park?
Image via CarbonNYC/Flickr
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Comments 25
Mollie and Mary were a fun-loving couple and hadn't encountered any resistance to their relationship in the small community.
Clearly, given the circumstances, we have no choice. We must speculate, fly off the handle, and jump to baseless conclusions.
So, what would make the most interesting and entertaining narrative?
What would make the best pretense for a righteous indignation party?
And by the way, were they carrying Skittles?
At this point what should be covered is that two teenage women were brutally shot in the head. Their sexual orientation just gives everyone a jumping off point into the speculation pool.
Anytime a gay couple is killed, I can't help but think of Matthew Shepherd too.
#1. Have you not heard of Casey Anthony? That monstrous woman murdered her own chola and there was NEVER any man involved. That was all her.
#2. This article doesn't even say a man shot these young girls. Bible thumping women can be just as sick in the head and be extreme homophobes too.
Your biased crap towards men is EXTREMELY annoying. You need to come out from under your rock and you'll meet hundreds of nice, wholesome men.
wow... both trolls have hit this post....
I totally meant casey anthoney murdered her own child.... not chola.... stinking autocorrect.
Very sad that one woman lost her life and the other one is fighting for it but I really wish you wouldn't jump on the "hate" bandwagon unless there is proof of it. Unfortunately, people are murdered every day just because. Look at Chicago, in the past month they have had at least 100 people shot (can't remember how many of them died but a lot) but for some reason, that barely made headlines. So, please don't just assume.