Media Makes Death Row Inmate Who Murdered and Raped Girlfriend a Trans Martyr

To Tell the Truth is Human Events News’ press analysis series. These stories will be about “news” The New York Times and The Washington Post reported the story. These established mainstream platforms still influence the majority American citizens and their political views, despite 24-hour cable broadcasts and untold numbers of internet sources.

The “news” These press outlets are better regarded than the ones that generate them. “opinion” The content was designed to discourage critical thinking and skepticism on the part of the audience. To Tell the Truth will be Human Events News’ periodic effort to help address this bias and restore the skepticism necessary on the part of all Americans to maintain a free society.

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An Associated Press An article this week lamented the fact that “Unless Missouri Gov. Mike Parson grants clemency, Amber McLaughlin, 49, will become the first transgender woman executed in the U.S.”

This article was republished by The Washington Post, ABC News, CBS NewsThis and many other words refer to Scott McLaughlin’s 2006 conviction for stalking, sexual assault, and the murder of Beverly Guenther.

Mclaughlin was actually the one who started it all. “transitioning” Three years ago, according the AP report– while incarcerated, and with the help of another transgender inmate.

The piece begins with an appeal to McLaughlin’s plea for clemency rather than McLaughlin’s undisputed heinous crime.

McLaughlin will die Tuesday by an injection. Despite the media’s angling, Gov. Parson insists it will happen as planned. 

“McLaughlin’s culpability in Ms. Guenther’s murder has never been in question,” Parson said Make a statement. “McLaughlin’s conviction and sentence remains after multiple, thorough examinations of Missouri law. McLaughlin stalked, raped, and murdered Ms. Guenther. McLaughlin is a violent criminal. Ms. Guenther’s family and loved ones deserve peace. The State of Missouri will carry out McLaughlin’s sentence according to the Court’s order and deliver justice.”

“McLaughlin waited outside Beverly Guenther’s workplace, where McLaughlin brutally raped and violently stabbed her as she walked to her vehicle to go home,” the Governor’s office explained.

“McLaughlin terrorized Ms. Guenther for months prior, to the point where Ms. Guenther had an order of protection against McLaughlin after McLaughlin broke into her home. McLaughlin’s culpability in Ms. Guenther’s murder has never been in question. Missouri courts have found no issue in the application of Missouri law to McLaughlin, and federal appellate courts have maintained as much.”

Many headlines from America’s trusted news sources read as if perhaps McLaughlin is being put to death For being transgender. [CNN: Missouri is scheduled to carry out first US execution of an openly transgender person today]

And quite nearly All McLaughlin is one of the most prominent. “transgender woman” Who unsuccessfully tried to get clemency. CNN’s report is framed around McLaughlin’s lawyer’s claims that he “has shown genuine remorse and has struggled with an intellectual disability, mental health issues, and a history of childhood trauma.”

The same lawyers also believe that “Ms. McLaughlin’s” Execution would have to be extremely cruel, as it would be “the first use of the death penalty on a woman since the US supreme court reinstated capital punishment in 1976.”

To Tell The Truth: Our current reality is almost absurd. A man can stalk, murder, and rape a woman, then be sentenced to death. He is also portrayed as a martyr in support of women’s rights, because he began wearing lipstick while waiting for his execution. 

Celine Ryan Ciccio is an American journalist, specializing in coverage of political bias in media, business, tech, higher education, and the intersections thereof. Follow her on Twitter @CelineRCiccio.
 

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