Demagogue

An article in the Newark Star-Ledger referred to "a large population of gay teenagers in Newark, which had been largely invisible." Now why would gay teens stay invisible? The rest of the article suggests a possible answer.

Shortly before a judge sentenced him to 20 years in prison yesterday for the stabbing death of a 15-year-old lesbian in downtown Newark, Richard McCullough felt the wrath of the victim's family....

The Newark teenager was stabbed to death about 3:20 a.m. on May 11, 2003, as she and four friends were waiting for a bus at Broad and Market streets after coming home from a club in New York's Greenwich Village.

McCullough, also of Newark, killed Gunn during a dispute that began when he and a friend, Allen Pierce, were driving by and asked the girls if they wanted to party. The girls responded that they were gay and not interested.

That's one fewer instrinsically morally evil teenager for Newark to worry about, invisible or otherwise. As a father, I personally find 30-year-old men who ask 15-year-old girls if they want to party more morally problematic, even when they don't back up the invitation with lethal force.