It’s more than a movie – it’s a movement.

 

This film has the potential to plant the seed for a powerful change in our understanding of

difference. Through relationships with child advocacy groups against the cruel and unusual

punishment of Proposition 21, as well as mentorship and outreach programs for LGBTQ youth,

this film has the potential to continue it’s life beyond the screen in a practical and hands-on way;

with expanded resources for youth in need.

 

When I first read about Lawrence King and Brandon McInerney, I realized how layered

the injustices were that were being committed not by the youth but by the adults within the

community where these boys lived. It was clear to me that both victim and perpetrator had

experienced extremely difficult childhoods, and that this informed the tragic outcome of their

story. The media’s depiction of two boys who were complete opposites (one ostracized, multi-
racial, and exploring his gender expression, the other popular, white, and straight) struck me as

over-simplistic and by playing to stereotypes and looking for kids to blame, let us off the hook.

As I explored the similarities in their stories I witnessed how the systems that were designed to

serve them had failed to protect either of them, or to prevent an avoidable tragedy.

 

Our country’s juvenile justice system has reached the limit of it’s power to punish and detain,

while unwittingly scapegoating one child for the shortcomings of a wider society, and in so doing

distract us from looking deeper at the causes of this kind of hatred. I believe that Brandon is fully

responsible for his actions, but I ask myself, and the audience this question: is putting a 14 year-
old boy in adult prison for the rest of his life the best our society has to offer?

 

We are failing our children. It’s our responsibility as adults, as parents, as educators, as citizens

to teach acceptance and understanding - to widen our circle of empathy and awareness and

embrace the change that It’s our gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual kids yearn for. For

them to feel safe just being who they are we are required to be more than bystanders.

I made this film so that we can all feel empowered to make a difference for the future of our

youth, so that tragedies of this kind are recognized for what they are. Until then, we cannot say

that justice has been truly served. We must demand change in our communities, our schools

and our institutions. The time to act is now.

 

- Marta Cunningham, Director/Producer of "Valentine Road"