Matthew Shepard died om severe juri he staed a gay-related hate crime attack. His ath set off a natnwi bate about hate crim and homophobia that ultimately led to the Matthew Shepard and Jam Byrd, Jr. Hate Crim Preventn Act (2009).
Contents:
- THE TTH BEHD AMERI’S MOST FAMO GAY-HATE MURR
- GUNNSHOTS: TOP 10 GAY CRIME FILMS
- MATTHEW {LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:600;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:0.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.25REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}} A{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:HER;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;} A:HOVER{LOR:#A00000;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}MATTHEW SHEPARD DIED OM SEVERE JURI HE STAED A GAY-RELATED HATE CRIME ATTACK. HIS ATH SET OFF A NATNWI BATE ABOUT HATE CRIM AND HOMOPHOBIA THAT ULTIMATELY LED TO THE MATTHEW SHEPARD AND JAM BYRD, JR. HATE CRIM PREVENTN ACT (2009).{MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;} SPAN{LE-HEIGHT:1.6;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;}{FONT-STYLE:NORMAL;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;LOR:#323232;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}{DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;MARG-LEFT:0.625REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}UPDATED: OCT 7, {DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;}{MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 64REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(100VW - (1REM * 2));MARG-LEFT:1REM;MARG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(-1 * 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - (LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 2 * 1REM)) / -2);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 90REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / 2);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / -2) - 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 2);MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 + 1REM)) / -2) - LC(2 * 1REM));}[DATA-HAS-SPONSOR] {MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);MARG-RIGHT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);}}{JTIFY-SELF:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG-LEFT:-50VW;MARG-RIGHT:-50VW;WIDTH:100VW;LEFT:50%;RIGHT:50%;}}{HEIGHT:TO;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO LC(50% - 50VW);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO;}}{POSN:RELATIVE;HEIGHT:TO;}{POSN:RELATIVE;--POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:TO;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;} A{POSN:ABSOLUTE;}{POSN:RELATIVE;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;VERTIL-ALIGN:TOP;}{BACKGROUND:#C92228;BOTTOM:0;PADDG:.5REM;RIGHT:0;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG:0.39REM;}}{DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:1REM;WIDTH:1REM;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:1.063REM;HEIGHT:1.063REM;}}{LE-HEIGHT:1;MARG-TOP:0.3125REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0;}}{PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}PHOTO: GA VAN HOOF - ALL RIGHTS {FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:3.5REM;PADDG-RIGHT:3.5REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MAX-WIDTH:45.25REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 100REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}{CLEAR:BOTH;NTENT:" ";DISPLAY:BLOCK;FONT-SIZE:0.7REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.5REM;HEIGHT:0REM;VISIBILY:HIDN;}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;}(1976-1998){LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:800;LETTER-SPACG:0.02EM;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;MARG-TOP:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;}WHO WAS MATTHEW SHEPARD?IN 1998, TWO MEN, AARON MCKNEY AND RSELL HENRSON, ABDUCTED MATTHEW SHEPARD AND DROVE HIM TO A REMOTE AREA WHERE HE WAS TIED TO A SPL-RAIL FENCE, BEATEN SEVERELY AND LEFT TO DIE THE LD OF THE NIGHT. SHEPARD DIED JT A FEW DAYS LATER ON OCTOBER 12, 1998, AT THE AGE OF 21. HIS BTAL AND GOME ATH HAS BEE ONE OF THE MOST NOTOR ANTI-GAY HATE CRIM AMERIN HISTORY AND EVENTUALLY LED TO THE MATTHEW SHEPARD AND JAM BYRD JR. HATE CRIM PREVENTN ACT (2009).EARLY LIFEBORN ON DECEMBER 1, 1976, THE OIL BOOMTOWN CASPER, WYOMG, TO JUDY AND DENNIS SHEPARD, MATTHEW WAYNE SHEPARD, THE ELR OF TWO SONS, WAS A SENSIVE, SOFT-SPOKEN AND KD YOUNG BOY. HE WENT TO PUBLIC SCHOOL CASPER UNTIL HIS JUNR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL WHEN SHEPARD MOVED WH HIS FAY TO DHAHRAN, SDI ARABIA, WHERE HIS FATHER WORKED OIL SAFETY ENGEERG. HE PLETED HIGH SCHOOL AT THE AMERIN SCHOOL SWZERLAND WHERE HE STUDIED GERMAN, ITALIAN AND THEATER AND ENJOYED MIC AND FASHN.DURG HIS SENR YEAR, SHEPARD TOOK A VATN WH THREE CLASSMAT TO MOROC. DURG THIS TRIP, SHEPARD WAS RAPED, BEATEN AND ROBBED BY A GANG OF LOLS. SOME ASSERT THAT SHEPARD'S PET STATURE (HE WAS ONLY 5’ 2” AND 100 POUNDS) MA HIM PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO VICTIMIZATN. ALTHOUGH THE POLICE ATTEMPTED TO ASCERTA WHO MTED THE ATTACK, THE PERPETRATORS WERE NEVER UGHT. AFTER THE ASSLT, SHEPARD SOUGHT THERAPTIC TREATMENT BUT HAD FLASHBACKS, PANIC ATTACKS AND NIGHTMAR. HE NTUED TO EXPERIENCE PERDS OF PARANOIA, PRSN, ANXIETY AND SUICIDAL IATN FOR THE REMAR OF HIS SHORT LIFE.COLLEGE CAREERAFTER GRADUATG HIGH SCHOOL, SHEPARD BRIEFLY ATTEND A SMALL LIBERAL ARTS SCHOOL, CATAWBA COLLEGE, SALISBURY, NORTH CAROLA, PURSU OF A THEATRE REER. ALTHOUGH SHEPARD KNEW HE WAS GAY OM A YOUNG AGE, HE ME OUT TO HIS MOTHER ONLY AFTER HIGH SCHOOL; SHE REASSURED HIM SHE HAD KNOWN ABOUT HIS SEXUAL INTY FOR YEARS. HE THEN MOVED TO RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLA, BEFORE MOVG BACK HOME TO ATTEND MUNY LLEGE AT CASPER COLLEGE.AT CASPER, A TEACHER TRODUCED HIM TO ROMAE PATTERSON, AN OUTGOG LBIAN WHO BEME ONE OF SHEPARD’S CLOSE IENDS. THE TWO MOVED TO DENVER, COLORADO, AND SHEPARD WORKED A STRG OF PART-TIME JOBS BUT ALWAYS KNEW HIS PASSN WAS HELPG PEOPLE. IN 1998, HE MOVED TO LARAMIE AND ENROLLED AT THE UNIVERSY OF WYOMG, HIS PARENTS’ ALMA MATER, BEE HE FELT THAT LIVG A SMALL TOWN WOULD HELP HIM FEEL SAFE. AS A 21-YEAR-OLD HMAN, SHEPARD STUDIED POLIL SCIENCE AND TERNATNAL RELATNS AND WANTED TO PURSUE A FOREIGN SERVICE REER. KNOWN TO BE POLE, THOUGHTFUL AND A GREAT NVERSATNALIST, SHEPARD QUICKLY BEME ACTIVE ON MP AND JOED THE UNIVERSY’S LBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENR (LGBT) STUNT ALLIANCE.ABDUCTN AND MURRJT A FEW MONTHS AFTER ARRIVG LARAMIE, ON OCTOBER 6, 1998, SHEPARD ENUNTERED AARON MCKNEY AND RSELL HENRSON AT A LOL PUB, THE FIRI LOUNGE. MCKNEY AND HENRSON SAW SHEPARD AS AN EASY TARGET AND MA PLANS TO ROB HIM. IN THE EARLY HOURS OF OCTOBER 7, THE PAIR LURED HIM AWAY OM THE BAR AND DROVE HIM TO A RAL AREA WHERE THEY TIED HIM TO A SPL-RAIL FENCE, BEAT HIM SEVERELY WH THE BUTT OF A .357 SMH & WSON PISTOL AND LEFT HIM TO DIE THE NEAR-EEZG TEMPERATUR OF THE EARLY MORNG HOURS.MCKNEY LATER STATED HE ASSUMED SHEPARD WAS AD WHEN THEY LEFT. SHEPARD WAS DISVERED 18 HOURS LATER BY A BICYCLIST, AARON KREIFELS, WHO AT FIRST THOUGHT HE WAS A SRECROW. STILL ALIVE BUT A A, SHEPARD WAS SHED TO POUDRE VALLEY HOSPAL FORT COLLS, COLORADO. FOR FOUR DAYS, SHEPARD LAY ATOSE A HOSPAL BED JT DOWN THE HALL OM MCKNEY (WHO WAS THERE AS THE RULT OF A HAIRLE ACTURE OF THE SKULL THAT HE RECEIVED A BRAWL HE HAD STIGATED JT A FEW HOURS AFTER ATTACKG SHEPARD). IN ADDN TO NUMERO BIS, WELTS AND LACERATNS, SHEPARD’S BRA STEM WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED AND HE ALSO WAS SUFFERG OM HYPOTHERMIA. HE WAS PRONOUNCED AD AT 12:53 A.M. ON OCTOBER 12, 1998. SHORTLY AFTER, POLICE FOUND THE BLOODY GUN AS WELL AS SHEPARD'S SHO AND WALLET MCKNEY’S TCK. MCKNEY AND HENRSON WERE ARRTED AND WERE NVICTED OF FELONY MURR AND KIDNAPPG. BOTH RECEIVED TWO NSECUTIVE LIFE TERMS.FUNERAL AND PUBLIC RPONSSHEPARD’S MEMORIAL SERVICE WAS HELD AT ST. MARK'S EPISPAL CHURCH CASPER, WYOMG ON OCTOBER 16, 1998, AND WAS ATTEND BY OVER 700 PEOPLE (MANY HAD TO STAND OUTSI THE SNOW), CLUDG IENDS AND FAY OM AROUND THE WORLD. ALSO PRENT WERE NOTOR PROTTORS OM THE WTBORO BAPTIST CHURCH, CLUDG FRED PHELPS HIMSELF, WHO PICKETED THE FUNERAL WH HOMOPHOBIC SIGNS. TO BAT THEIR BIGOTRY, SHEPARD’S IEND PATTERSON ANIZED A GROUP, NOW LLED ANGEL ACTN, TO BLOCK THE PROTTORS BY WEARG WHE ROB AND LARGE ANGELIC WGS. BEE HIS BTAL ATTACK ATTRACTED SO MUCH MEDIA VERAGE, SHEPARD'S ATH WAS ONT AND CENTER OF THE OUTCRY AGAST ANTI-GAY HATE AND VLENCE. MATTHEW SHEPARD-BYRD ACTDPE THE ANTI-GAY RHETORIC SPOUTED BY MCKNEY AND HENRSON THROUGHOUT THE TRIALS THAT ULTIMATELY LED TO THEIR LIFE SENTENC FOR SHEPARD’S MURR, THEY WERE NOT CHARGED WH A HATE CRIME. AS A RULT, SHEPARD’S HIGH-PROFILE MURR SE SPARKED PROTTS, VIGILS AND LLS FOR FERAL LEGISLATN TO PROTECT LGBT VICTIMS OF VLENCE.ON OCTOBER 28, 2009, OVER ELEVEN YEARS AFTER SHEPARD’S MURR, PRINT {-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:#A00000;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;}{LOR:#595959;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}BARACK OBAMA, WH JUDY SHEPARD BY HIS SI, SIGNED TO LAW THE MATTHEW SHEPARD AND JAM BYRD JR. HATE CRIM PREVENTN ACT. THE NEW LEGISLATN EXPAND THE FN OF THE FERAL HATE CRIME LAW BY CLUDG CRIM STIGATED BY AN DIVIDUAL'S PERCEIVED GENR OR GENR INTY (WHICH WERE PREVLY NOT CLUD FBI HATE CRIME DATA) AND REVISG THE LLECTN STANDARDS FOR BIAS MOTIVATED BY SEXUAL ORIENTATN, RACE, AND ETHNICY. THE SHEPARD/BYRD ACT GIV THE DEPARTMENT OF JTICE THE POWER TO VTIGATE AND PROSECUTE BIAS-MOTIVATED VLENT CRIM AGAST LGBT VICTIMS. MATTHEW SHEPARD FOUNDATN SHEPARD’S LIFE AND UNTIMELY ATH HAVE SERVED AS AN SPIRATN FOR ACTIVISM AGAST HATE. FOLLOWG HIS ATH AND SPIRED BY SHEPARD’S PASSN TO FOSTER A MORE RG AND JT WORLD, SHEPARD’S PARENTS CREATED THE MATTHEW SHEPARD FOUNDATN WHOSE MISSN IS FOR "DIVIDUALS TO EMBRACE HUMAN DIGNY AND DIVERSY" AND "TO REPLACE HATE WH UNRSTANDG, PASSN AND ACCEPTANCE." SHEPARD HAD A YOUNGER BROTHER, LOGAN, WH WHOM HE HAD A CLOSE RELATNSHIP. LOGAN IS CURRENTLY A STAFF MEMBER OF THE MATTHEW SHEPARD FOUNDATN AND OVERSE S DAILY OPERATNS.'THE LARAMIE PROJECT AND' 'CONSIRG MATTHEW SHEPARD'SHEPARD’S ATH AND LIFE HAVE ALSO BEEN CHRONICLED THE PLAY THE LARAMIE PROJECT AND THE 2016 MIL CONSIRG MATTHEW SHEPARD, AS WELL AS FEATURE-LENGTH FILMS, DOCUMENTARI AND SONGS. {BORR:0;BORR-BOTTOM:TH SOLID BLACK;MARG:1.875REM 0;CLEAR:BOTH;}QUICK {FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;MARG:0.9375REM 0 0 0.625REM;PADDG:0 0 0 1.25REM;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:0.9375REM 0;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;} LI{PADDG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} LI::MARKER{LOR:#323232;}BIRTH YEAR: 1976BIRTH DATE: DECEMBER 1, 1976BIRTH STATE: WYOMGBIRTH CY: CASPERBIRTH COUNTRY: UNED STATGENR: MALEBT KNOWN FOR: MATTHEW SHEPARD DIED OM SEVERE JURI HE STAED A GAY-RELATED HATE CRIME ATTACK. HIS ATH SET OFF A NATNWI BATE ABOUT HATE CRIM AND HOMOPHOBIA THAT ULTIMATELY LED TO THE MATTHEW SHEPARD AND JAM BYRD, JR. HATE CRIM PREVENTN ACT (2009).ASTROLOGIL SIGN: SAGTARISCHOOLSCASPER COLLEGEUNIVERSY OF WYOMGCATAWBA COLLEGENACNALIAMERINDEATH YEAR: 1998DEATH DATE: OCTOBER 12, 1998DEATH STATE: COLORADODEATH CY: FORT COLLSDEATH COUNTRY: UNED STATFACT CHECK
- DALLAS MAN SENTENCED PLOT TARGETG GAY MEN FOR VLENT CRIM G A DATG APP
THE TTH BEHD AMERI’S MOST FAMO GAY-HATE MURR
Disver all facts and statistics on Homosexualy (gays and lbians) the U.S. on ! * gay date crime *
Acrdg to the FBI data, of the nearly 1, 200 cints targetg people due to their sexual orientatn, the majory targeted gay men (roughly 60 percent), while approximately 12 percent targeted lbians, 1. 4 percent of all reported hate crime cints last pared to 2017, the number of reported cints targetg the LGBTQ muny creased om 1, 217 to 1, 347, jumpg om roughly 17 percent to 19 percent of each year's total number of reported hate crime particular, reports of anti-trans vlence is growg: Between 2017 and 2018, the number of the reported cints creased 34 lbian, gay, bisexual, transgenr and queer muny is timated by Gallup to prise 4.
The horrific killg of Matthew Shepard 1998 is wily seen as one of the worst anti-gay hate crim Amerin history.
GUNNSHOTS: TOP 10 GAY CRIME FILMS
When iends, cludg mystery wrers, learned that I was pilg my list of the ten bt gay film mysteri, several exprsed surprise that I uld fd that many. * gay date crime *
They pistol whipped him wh a gun then tied him to a fence eezg ndns and set fire to him before leavg him to attack beme a e célèbre: precipated a natnal backlash agast hyper-macho culture and tac tolerance of homophobia. As a rult of Matthew’s ath, many good thgs have happened for the gay muny. Policians and celebri pledged support and fundg to bat anti-gay hate crime.
The Shepard fay have bee mpaigners for gay rights. Jimenez has been acced of beg a revisnist, a cricism ually rerved for extreme rightwg iologu that ny the Holot, and labelled a homophobe. When he started he was nvced that Matthew died at the hands of homophob, but he soon disvered that Matthew’s tragedy began long before the night he was killed.
“This do not make the perfect poster boy for the gay-rights movement, ” says Jimenez. But this is not the Matthew Shepard who beme a celebrated figure for the gay-rights movement Ameri. But the town also has a number of mobile home parks at the edg, some more ndown than the eveng of 6 October 1998, Matthew went to the Firi bar, a lol hangout that was purportedly gay-iendly.
MATTHEW {LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:600;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:0.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.25REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}} A{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:HER;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;} A:HOVER{LOR:#A00000;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}MATTHEW SHEPARD DIED OM SEVERE JURI HE STAED A GAY-RELATED HATE CRIME ATTACK. HIS ATH SET OFF A NATNWI BATE ABOUT HATE CRIM AND HOMOPHOBIA THAT ULTIMATELY LED TO THE MATTHEW SHEPARD AND JAM BYRD, JR. HATE CRIM PREVENTN ACT (2009).{MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;} SPAN{LE-HEIGHT:1.6;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;}{FONT-STYLE:NORMAL;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;LOR:#323232;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}{DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;MARG-LEFT:0.625REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}UPDATED: OCT 7, {DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;}{MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 64REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(100VW - (1REM * 2));MARG-LEFT:1REM;MARG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(-1 * 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - (LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 2 * 1REM)) / -2);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 90REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / 2);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / -2) - 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 2);MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 + 1REM)) / -2) - LC(2 * 1REM));}[DATA-HAS-SPONSOR] {MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);MARG-RIGHT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);}}{JTIFY-SELF:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG-LEFT:-50VW;MARG-RIGHT:-50VW;WIDTH:100VW;LEFT:50%;RIGHT:50%;}}{HEIGHT:TO;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO LC(50% - 50VW);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO;}}{POSN:RELATIVE;HEIGHT:TO;}{POSN:RELATIVE;--POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:TO;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;} A{POSN:ABSOLUTE;}{POSN:RELATIVE;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;VERTIL-ALIGN:TOP;}{BACKGROUND:#C92228;BOTTOM:0;PADDG:.5REM;RIGHT:0;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG:0.39REM;}}{DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:1REM;WIDTH:1REM;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:1.063REM;HEIGHT:1.063REM;}}{LE-HEIGHT:1;MARG-TOP:0.3125REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0;}}{PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}PHOTO: GA VAN HOOF - ALL RIGHTS {FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:3.5REM;PADDG-RIGHT:3.5REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MAX-WIDTH:45.25REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 100REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}{CLEAR:BOTH;NTENT:" ";DISPLAY:BLOCK;FONT-SIZE:0.7REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.5REM;HEIGHT:0REM;VISIBILY:HIDN;}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;}(1976-1998){LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:800;LETTER-SPACG:0.02EM;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;MARG-TOP:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;}WHO WAS MATTHEW SHEPARD?IN 1998, TWO MEN, AARON MCKNEY AND RSELL HENRSON, ABDUCTED MATTHEW SHEPARD AND DROVE HIM TO A REMOTE AREA WHERE HE WAS TIED TO A SPL-RAIL FENCE, BEATEN SEVERELY AND LEFT TO DIE THE LD OF THE NIGHT. SHEPARD DIED JT A FEW DAYS LATER ON OCTOBER 12, 1998, AT THE AGE OF 21. HIS BTAL AND GOME ATH HAS BEE ONE OF THE MOST NOTOR ANTI-GAY HATE CRIM AMERIN HISTORY AND EVENTUALLY LED TO THE MATTHEW SHEPARD AND JAM BYRD JR. HATE CRIM PREVENTN ACT (2009).EARLY LIFEBORN ON DECEMBER 1, 1976, THE OIL BOOMTOWN CASPER, WYOMG, TO JUDY AND DENNIS SHEPARD, MATTHEW WAYNE SHEPARD, THE ELR OF TWO SONS, WAS A SENSIVE, SOFT-SPOKEN AND KD YOUNG BOY. HE WENT TO PUBLIC SCHOOL CASPER UNTIL HIS JUNR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL WHEN SHEPARD MOVED WH HIS FAY TO DHAHRAN, SDI ARABIA, WHERE HIS FATHER WORKED OIL SAFETY ENGEERG. HE PLETED HIGH SCHOOL AT THE AMERIN SCHOOL SWZERLAND WHERE HE STUDIED GERMAN, ITALIAN AND THEATER AND ENJOYED MIC AND FASHN.DURG HIS SENR YEAR, SHEPARD TOOK A VATN WH THREE CLASSMAT TO MOROC. DURG THIS TRIP, SHEPARD WAS RAPED, BEATEN AND ROBBED BY A GANG OF LOLS. SOME ASSERT THAT SHEPARD'S PET STATURE (HE WAS ONLY 5’ 2” AND 100 POUNDS) MA HIM PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO VICTIMIZATN. ALTHOUGH THE POLICE ATTEMPTED TO ASCERTA WHO MTED THE ATTACK, THE PERPETRATORS WERE NEVER UGHT. AFTER THE ASSLT, SHEPARD SOUGHT THERAPTIC TREATMENT BUT HAD FLASHBACKS, PANIC ATTACKS AND NIGHTMAR. HE NTUED TO EXPERIENCE PERDS OF PARANOIA, PRSN, ANXIETY AND SUICIDAL IATN FOR THE REMAR OF HIS SHORT LIFE.COLLEGE CAREERAFTER GRADUATG HIGH SCHOOL, SHEPARD BRIEFLY ATTEND A SMALL LIBERAL ARTS SCHOOL, CATAWBA COLLEGE, SALISBURY, NORTH CAROLA, PURSU OF A THEATRE REER. ALTHOUGH SHEPARD KNEW HE WAS GAY OM A YOUNG AGE, HE ME OUT TO HIS MOTHER ONLY AFTER HIGH SCHOOL; SHE REASSURED HIM SHE HAD KNOWN ABOUT HIS SEXUAL INTY FOR YEARS. HE THEN MOVED TO RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLA, BEFORE MOVG BACK HOME TO ATTEND MUNY LLEGE AT CASPER COLLEGE.AT CASPER, A TEACHER TRODUCED HIM TO ROMAE PATTERSON, AN OUTGOG LBIAN WHO BEME ONE OF SHEPARD’S CLOSE IENDS. THE TWO MOVED TO DENVER, COLORADO, AND SHEPARD WORKED A STRG OF PART-TIME JOBS BUT ALWAYS KNEW HIS PASSN WAS HELPG PEOPLE. IN 1998, HE MOVED TO LARAMIE AND ENROLLED AT THE UNIVERSY OF WYOMG, HIS PARENTS’ ALMA MATER, BEE HE FELT THAT LIVG A SMALL TOWN WOULD HELP HIM FEEL SAFE. AS A 21-YEAR-OLD HMAN, SHEPARD STUDIED POLIL SCIENCE AND TERNATNAL RELATNS AND WANTED TO PURSUE A FOREIGN SERVICE REER. KNOWN TO BE POLE, THOUGHTFUL AND A GREAT NVERSATNALIST, SHEPARD QUICKLY BEME ACTIVE ON MP AND JOED THE UNIVERSY’S LBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENR (LGBT) STUNT ALLIANCE.ABDUCTN AND MURRJT A FEW MONTHS AFTER ARRIVG LARAMIE, ON OCTOBER 6, 1998, SHEPARD ENUNTERED AARON MCKNEY AND RSELL HENRSON AT A LOL PUB, THE FIRI LOUNGE. MCKNEY AND HENRSON SAW SHEPARD AS AN EASY TARGET AND MA PLANS TO ROB HIM. IN THE EARLY HOURS OF OCTOBER 7, THE PAIR LURED HIM AWAY OM THE BAR AND DROVE HIM TO A RAL AREA WHERE THEY TIED HIM TO A SPL-RAIL FENCE, BEAT HIM SEVERELY WH THE BUTT OF A .357 SMH & WSON PISTOL AND LEFT HIM TO DIE THE NEAR-EEZG TEMPERATUR OF THE EARLY MORNG HOURS.MCKNEY LATER STATED HE ASSUMED SHEPARD WAS AD WHEN THEY LEFT. SHEPARD WAS DISVERED 18 HOURS LATER BY A BICYCLIST, AARON KREIFELS, WHO AT FIRST THOUGHT HE WAS A SRECROW. STILL ALIVE BUT A A, SHEPARD WAS SHED TO POUDRE VALLEY HOSPAL FORT COLLS, COLORADO. FOR FOUR DAYS, SHEPARD LAY ATOSE A HOSPAL BED JT DOWN THE HALL OM MCKNEY (WHO WAS THERE AS THE RULT OF A HAIRLE ACTURE OF THE SKULL THAT HE RECEIVED A BRAWL HE HAD STIGATED JT A FEW HOURS AFTER ATTACKG SHEPARD). IN ADDN TO NUMERO BIS, WELTS AND LACERATNS, SHEPARD’S BRA STEM WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED AND HE ALSO WAS SUFFERG OM HYPOTHERMIA. HE WAS PRONOUNCED AD AT 12:53 A.M. ON OCTOBER 12, 1998. SHORTLY AFTER, POLICE FOUND THE BLOODY GUN AS WELL AS SHEPARD'S SHO AND WALLET MCKNEY’S TCK. MCKNEY AND HENRSON WERE ARRTED AND WERE NVICTED OF FELONY MURR AND KIDNAPPG. BOTH RECEIVED TWO NSECUTIVE LIFE TERMS.FUNERAL AND PUBLIC RPONSSHEPARD’S MEMORIAL SERVICE WAS HELD AT ST. MARK'S EPISPAL CHURCH CASPER, WYOMG ON OCTOBER 16, 1998, AND WAS ATTEND BY OVER 700 PEOPLE (MANY HAD TO STAND OUTSI THE SNOW), CLUDG IENDS AND FAY OM AROUND THE WORLD. ALSO PRENT WERE NOTOR PROTTORS OM THE WTBORO BAPTIST CHURCH, CLUDG FRED PHELPS HIMSELF, WHO PICKETED THE FUNERAL WH HOMOPHOBIC SIGNS. TO BAT THEIR BIGOTRY, SHEPARD’S IEND PATTERSON ANIZED A GROUP, NOW LLED ANGEL ACTN, TO BLOCK THE PROTTORS BY WEARG WHE ROB AND LARGE ANGELIC WGS. BEE HIS BTAL ATTACK ATTRACTED SO MUCH MEDIA VERAGE, SHEPARD'S ATH WAS ONT AND CENTER OF THE OUTCRY AGAST ANTI-GAY HATE AND VLENCE. MATTHEW SHEPARD-BYRD ACTDPE THE ANTI-GAY RHETORIC SPOUTED BY MCKNEY AND HENRSON THROUGHOUT THE TRIALS THAT ULTIMATELY LED TO THEIR LIFE SENTENC FOR SHEPARD’S MURR, THEY WERE NOT CHARGED WH A HATE CRIME. AS A RULT, SHEPARD’S HIGH-PROFILE MURR SE SPARKED PROTTS, VIGILS AND LLS FOR FERAL LEGISLATN TO PROTECT LGBT VICTIMS OF VLENCE.ON OCTOBER 28, 2009, OVER ELEVEN YEARS AFTER SHEPARD’S MURR, PRINT {-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:#A00000;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;}{LOR:#595959;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}BARACK OBAMA, WH JUDY SHEPARD BY HIS SI, SIGNED TO LAW THE MATTHEW SHEPARD AND JAM BYRD JR. HATE CRIM PREVENTN ACT. THE NEW LEGISLATN EXPAND THE FN OF THE FERAL HATE CRIME LAW BY CLUDG CRIM STIGATED BY AN DIVIDUAL'S PERCEIVED GENR OR GENR INTY (WHICH WERE PREVLY NOT CLUD FBI HATE CRIME DATA) AND REVISG THE LLECTN STANDARDS FOR BIAS MOTIVATED BY SEXUAL ORIENTATN, RACE, AND ETHNICY. THE SHEPARD/BYRD ACT GIV THE DEPARTMENT OF JTICE THE POWER TO VTIGATE AND PROSECUTE BIAS-MOTIVATED VLENT CRIM AGAST LGBT VICTIMS. MATTHEW SHEPARD FOUNDATN SHEPARD’S LIFE AND UNTIMELY ATH HAVE SERVED AS AN SPIRATN FOR ACTIVISM AGAST HATE. FOLLOWG HIS ATH AND SPIRED BY SHEPARD’S PASSN TO FOSTER A MORE RG AND JT WORLD, SHEPARD’S PARENTS CREATED THE MATTHEW SHEPARD FOUNDATN WHOSE MISSN IS FOR "DIVIDUALS TO EMBRACE HUMAN DIGNY AND DIVERSY" AND "TO REPLACE HATE WH UNRSTANDG, PASSN AND ACCEPTANCE." SHEPARD HAD A YOUNGER BROTHER, LOGAN, WH WHOM HE HAD A CLOSE RELATNSHIP. LOGAN IS CURRENTLY A STAFF MEMBER OF THE MATTHEW SHEPARD FOUNDATN AND OVERSE S DAILY OPERATNS.'THE LARAMIE PROJECT AND' 'CONSIRG MATTHEW SHEPARD'SHEPARD’S ATH AND LIFE HAVE ALSO BEEN CHRONICLED THE PLAY THE LARAMIE PROJECT AND THE 2016 MIL CONSIRG MATTHEW SHEPARD, AS WELL AS FEATURE-LENGTH FILMS, DOCUMENTARI AND SONGS. {BORR:0;BORR-BOTTOM:TH SOLID BLACK;MARG:1.875REM 0;CLEAR:BOTH;}QUICK {FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;MARG:0.9375REM 0 0 0.625REM;PADDG:0 0 0 1.25REM;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:0.9375REM 0;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;} LI{PADDG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} LI::MARKER{LOR:#323232;}BIRTH YEAR: 1976BIRTH DATE: DECEMBER 1, 1976BIRTH STATE: WYOMGBIRTH CY: CASPERBIRTH COUNTRY: UNED STATGENR: MALEBT KNOWN FOR: MATTHEW SHEPARD DIED OM SEVERE JURI HE STAED A GAY-RELATED HATE CRIME ATTACK. HIS ATH SET OFF A NATNWI BATE ABOUT HATE CRIM AND HOMOPHOBIA THAT ULTIMATELY LED TO THE MATTHEW SHEPARD AND JAM BYRD, JR. HATE CRIM PREVENTN ACT (2009).ASTROLOGIL SIGN: SAGTARISCHOOLSCASPER COLLEGEUNIVERSY OF WYOMGCATAWBA COLLEGENACNALIAMERINDEATH YEAR: 1998DEATH DATE: OCTOBER 12, 1998DEATH STATE: COLORADODEATH CY: FORT COLLSDEATH COUNTRY: UNED STATFACT CHECK
* gay date crime *
It was fairly well known the Laramie muny that McKney wouldn’t be one that was strikg out of a sense of homophobia. They ntacted the Associated Prs and a number of lol gay anisatns that same day.
Stephen Jimenez is an award-wng journalist and gay man.
So why has he put such time and effort to attemptg to prove that Matthew’s murr was not a hate crime, pecially as has seen him acced of beg an ally to the rightwg Christian fundamentalists who ny the realy of homophobia?
DALLAS MAN SENTENCED PLOT TARGETG GAY MEN FOR VLENT CRIM G A DATG APP
“The view was that homophobic rednecks walked to a bar and saw an obvly gay man wh money and targeted him and beat him to ath for that reason, ” says Jimenez. That plit the origal story of two strangers walkg to a bar and targetg Matthew – someone they did not know – bee he was gay. “Rsell Henrson ed to hang around wh gay people, ” Johnson told me.
“Laramie had a big gay populatn. I knew what people’s sexual orientatn was bee my bt iend’s son was gay. ”The police did not vtigate the killers’ relatnship to the gay days after the attack, on 12 October, Matthew died.