The tth behd Ameri’s most famo gay-hate murr | LGBTQ+ rights | The Guardian

Contents:

• MATTHEW SHEPARD: THE LEGACY OF A GAY LLEGE STUNT 20 YEARS AFTER HIS BTAL MURR
• THE TTH BEHD AMERI’S MOST FAMO GAY-HATE MURR
• GAY LYNN SHEPARD
• GAY SHEPARD
• 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
• MATTHEW SHEPARD, VICTIM OF ANTI-GAY HATE CRIME, DI
• GAY SHEPARD SMYRNA
• MASS EFFECT LEGENDARY EDN LETS GAYS BE THEMSELV WH NEW ROMANCE MOD
• GAY MAN DI FROM ATTACK, FANNG OUTRAGE AND DEBATE

MATTHEW SHEPARD: THE LEGACY OF A GAY LLEGE STUNT 20 YEARS AFTER HIS BTAL MURR

Twenty years ago, Matthew Shepard was a "smart, funny" 21-year-old, no different than any other young man that was an "ordary kid who wanted to make the world a better place, " his parents October 1998, that all changed, when the openly gay llege stunt was abducted, beaten and tied to a fence life end a few days later, and wh me a wispread awarens of the dangers that members of the LGBTQ muny face every day. The homophobic btal killg also served as a talyst for progrs Ameri's laws and the two s that have passed, however, remas batable how far the untry has e sce the shock of that crime.

(MORE: 'Gay panic' fense still ed vlence s may be banned by new feral bill)McKney h Shepard about 20 tim the head and face wh the end of the pistol, Marsn said, before the two stole Shepard's sho, got their tck and drove back to town.

Agast the gay muny until after he grew up to bee very terted ternatnal human rights, particularly women's rights the Middle East and Asia, and he studied polil science, said Marsn.

THE TTH BEHD AMERI’S MOST FAMO GAY-HATE MURR

Members of the Wtboro Baptist Church protted the funeral, picketg wh anti-gay Fred Phelps and his parishners traveled om Kansas to Laramie for the funeral and trial, prottg wh brightly lored signs and spewg hatred. McKney has cled to speak to ABC News while Henrson did not immediately rpond to a requt for WashgtonShepard's murr shed a light on the spe of feral hate crime laws, which at the time did not clu sexual orientatn or genr gay activists monstrate the streets of North Hollywood to prott agast the ath of Wyomg Universy stunt Mathew Shepard, Oct.

GAY LYNN SHEPARD

"Beyond the feral hate crime law, the years sce Matthew Shepard's ath, among the most substantive legislative ws for the LGBTQ muny were the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell 2010, so gay ary members n serve openly whout fear of beg dismissed, and the legalizatn of same-sex marriage across the untry 2015. Michael Loccisano/Getty Imag, FILEFor Judy Shepard, one of the bt signs of cultural progrs is seeg Gay Straight Alliance groups rampg up schools. "WARNING: This feature ntas language that some rears may fd nights earlier, on Tuday 6 October 1998, Matthew Shepard walked alone to a dive bar ptn, Judy and Dennis Shepard at the Matthew Shepard Foundatn Denver last weekThe openly gay Universy of Wyomg hman had jt met up wh iends to plan LGBT awarens week on the town's he uldn't persua them to jo him for a beer the Firi Lounge, the 21-year-old somehow end up chattg to two roofg workers, Rsell Henrson and Aaron McKney, both the same age as pair saw an easy mark the 5ft 2, slightly built County Sheriff Dave O'Malley, who was lead vtigator the se, says: "McKney's own statement said he and Rsell went to the bathroom at the Firi bar and they planned to act like they were gay to try to ga Matthew's nfince.

It is a momento honour not even acrd to another proment gay martyr, Harvey Milk, the San Francis polician assassated the Denver cy centre offic of the LGBT rights foundatn named after her son, Judy Shepard, 66, is fightg back predicted Friday's ceremony would probably be more emotnal for her than the funeral bee she felt so "numb" immediately after her son's source, Getty ImagImage ptn, A vigil for Shepard New York Cy 1998The origal service, amid snow flurri the fay's hometown of Casper, Wyomg, on 16 October 1998, was picketed by an anti-gay preacher om Kansas. Reverend Fred Phelps of Wtboro Baptist Church and his flock, who clud children, held plards dbed wh homophobic slurs and shouted to mourners that the ad stunt was burng Shepard, 69, remembers law enforcement makg him wear a bullet-proof vt to step outsi the Epispal church, which had been sured by bomb-sniffg dogs. Shepard's murr stoked the perceptn of Cowboy Country and flyover stat general as a danger zone for gay at his office the cy of Cheyenne, McKney trial lawyer Dn Ctis matas was a robbery gone bad, even while he accepts sexual orientatn was a factor.

GAY SHEPARD

"However, McKney's own gay-bashg rhetoric damns him the ey of source, Getty ImagImage ptn, Thoands gathered outsi the US Capol for a vigil after Shepard's athDurg a police nfsn, he said he began to attack Shepard bee the stunt had put his hand on his leg durg the r ri. " Yet another statement to police, he said Shepard simply looked like he was about to grope the jailhoe after his arrt, McKney reportedly wrote to another mate's wife: "Beg a verry [sic] dnk homofobick [sic] I flipped out and began to pistol whip the fag wh my gun, ready at hand. "At trial, McKney's lawyers argued that Shepard had ma their client fly to a rage by touchg his the judge dismissed this "gay panic" a legal strategy - where crimal fendants s of vlent asslt argue they were provoked by an unwanted same-sex sexual advance - is still admissible all but three US stat, acrdg to the Williams Instute at UCLA School of Law.

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

Sheriff O'Malley rejects any attempt to downplay the anti-gay element the source, Getty ImagImage ptn, Rev Fred Phelps and his flock prott Laramie 1999"We have never disunted ever that the ial motivatn was robbery, " he says. The moment was re-enacted as a climactic scene 2002 HBO movie The Laramie the angel actn, was replited two years ago Orlando, Florida, when Wtboro Baptist Church tried to dispt the funerals of gay people killed a mass shootg at the Pulse nightclub. "All of them are that circle of faiary of extreme right-wg relig attus, " she says of the print's bet, " particular to the gay muny, to anybody who's not straight whe Christian.

MATTHEW SHEPARD, VICTIM OF ANTI-GAY HATE CRIME, DI

However, Sheriff O'Malley mak clear that theory is not supported by the source, Getty ImagImage ptn, Judy Shepard (L) at the Whe Hoe 2009 for the passage of the anti-hate crim bill named after her son and a black man killed by whe supremacistsThe Old Buckhorn Bar & Parlor Laramie has a mirror pocked by a bullet hole, and walls that bristle wh mounted antelope, buffalo and patron, Jt Bmmet - who proudly scrib himself as "third class whe trash" - says US progrs on gay rights sce Shepard's ath is to be mend. " Back at the end of the last lennium, many Wyomg apparently thought gay people were as rare on the high plas as jackalop, the state's mythil antlered ptn, (L-R) Universy of Wyomg LGBT stunts Js Fahlsg, Carlos Gonzal and Rihanna KelverShepard's murr - together wh the 2005 gay wboy love story Brokeback Mounta - helped dispel that Connolly, a Universy of Wyomg genr and women's studi lecturer, explas. She reunts facg a "horrific" backlash last year om angry voters when she troduced a gay rights source, Getty ImagImage ptn, A dirt road near where Shepard was left to dieA Democrat, she is one of a handful of female lawmakers Wyomg.

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. 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. 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.

GAY SHEPARD SMYRNA

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? “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.

”Wypijewski thks the reason some sectns of the gay muny are so angry about the Jimenez book is obv: “Jimenez has taken away their angel, and there is the reflexive sense that as a muny s sufferg was beg at last regnised.

MASS EFFECT LEGENDARY EDN LETS GAYS BE THEMSELV WH NEW ROMANCE MOD

“Keepg Matthew as the poster boy of gay-hate crime and ignorg the full tragedy of his story has been the agenda of many gay-movement lears, ” he says. Henson told me he believ that The Book of Matt is “nothg more than the tth” and that he was “never certa” that the murr was an anti-gay hate crime. Photograph: Evan Agosti/Getty Imag Photograph: Evan Agosti/Getty ImagOn 16 September the Casper Star Tribune, the lol paper Matthew’s home town, published an edorial claimg that an award Jimenez had recently received for his book “serv rejectn”, sayg: “From the begng there have been those who want to ignore the sadistic homophobic motiv of Shepard’s attackers and stead sist the matter was a dg al gone bad.

But the mystery remas – not so much why Matthew died, but why the gay muny, after almost five s of mpaigng for equal rights, reli so fundamentally on the image of the perfect martyr to reprent the e.

GAY MAN DI FROM ATTACK, FANNG OUTRAGE AND DEBATE

In January 2008, Mass Effect famoly beme a talkg pot on Fox News, The work famoly ed the fact that the game has tasteful sex scen as an opportuny to both slg mud at the medium, and to voice their homophobic “ncerns” about lbian sex scen the fact that Mass Effect endured such harsh scty monstrat the bravery BWare showed wh s first entry the seri.

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