General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHe would have been 38 in a month and a half were it not for murderous homophobes.
Remembering Matthew
Today marks 16 years since the day we lost Matt Shepard. I know from the conversations Ive had with many of you that those terrible days in October 1998 echo in your memories: where you were, how it felt, the fears, the outrage and the questions you were left with.
In a cold October not so long ago in a sparse and misunderstood place, one of the few things that a senseless act of violence could not take from Matthew Shepard was his honor. In living openly as himself, Matthew encountered a terrible force that countless thousands like himself have faced before and since. The force of hatred. He lost his life to it. But he and we did not lose what was true about him he had honored himself by being authentic, and honored those few of us fortunate enough to have known him, by being honest.
http://www.matthewshepard.org/
[hr]
Matthew Shepard: His Legacy Continues
Even after 16 years the name and story of Matthew Shepard, whose murder, carved into American history, represented a watershed moment that forever changed the conversation about the LGBT experience, not only still resonate but continue to have an impact.
When Matt died in 1998, I was an advocate working for GLAAD. My story and my connection to his death are well documented, most recently in a TEDx talk at Claremont College. The memories and lessons of all I have ever done in relation to Matt's death, and of all subsequent work I've done with regard to hate crimes and so many other issues, inform, inspire and motivate me every day. Legacy.
My experience changed me forever and carries with it a deep responsibility to continue to tell the stories of LGBT people. October is forever bittersweet for me: I celebrate National Coming Out Day with both pride and painful memories of being in Laramie and mourning Matt's death with his friends and fellow students and community advocates, not only bearing witness to moments that were shared around the world though the media but knowing that, in the best way we could, we tried to ensure that the media coverage was as fair and accurate as possible. Legacy.
As Dennis Shepard said at Russell Henderson's plea bargain hearing (Henderson is one of Matt's killers, now spending the remainder of his life in prison), "good is coming from evil." And after 16 years that good continues. Yes, his murder sparked a national conversation not only about hate crimes but about LGBT lives in general. Yes, it began a process where our experience as LGBT people suddenly had more context in the broader culture. (It followed the coming out of Ellen DeGeneres in 1997, making the late '90s a very influential time for the cultural visibility of LGBT people.) In October 2009 I stood feet away from President Obama at a reception following the signing of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. Legacy.
more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cathy-renna/matthew-shepard-his-legacy-continues_b_5965980.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices
[hr]
Homophobia kills!
shenmue
(38,506 posts)Solly Mack
(90,764 posts)Rhinodawg
(2,219 posts)Thanks for posting.
bigwillq
(72,790 posts)blkmusclmachine
(16,149 posts)irisblue
(32,973 posts)LoisB
(7,203 posts)ReRe
(10,597 posts)nomorenomore08
(13,324 posts)ColesCountyDem
(6,943 posts)herding cats
(19,564 posts)Hate and bigotry are a lethal mix.
TBF
(32,056 posts)in the mid 90s doing social security claims for AIDS patients. As someone who grew up in a very small town and didn't have much experience with this type of thing it was very eye-opening. Families who would completely shut out the patients' loving partners - wouldn't let them visit in the hospital or attend the inevitable funerals. We at least could do the legal work to get their SS denials overturned and write wills. I will never forget that.
Little Star
(17,055 posts)hopemountain
(3,919 posts)Rhinodawg
(2,219 posts)Liberal_in_LA
(44,397 posts)Spider Jerusalem
(21,786 posts)the state of California is the first state to explicitly disallow the "gay panic" defence in murder cases...and that law was only enacted a few weeks ago. And meanwhile the LGBT community continue to experience disproportionate levels of violence (especially gay and transgender people of colour). NB that hate crimes against transgender people are not covered by Federal hate crime laws and aren't included in FBI reporting statistics; the stats they have are those reported from local police agencies and may understate the scope and extent of the issue.
KinMd
(966 posts)the two scumbags that killed Matthew Shepard are doing life without parole. Gay Panic would seem such a ludicrous defense anyway, like one you'd use when you've got nothing else
sheshe2
(83,751 posts)For dear Mathew~ and all the love in my heart for his sweet soul.
Bohunk68
(1,364 posts)of The Laramie Project and Ten Years After, last year. I read several of the parts including Dennis' testimony at sentencing and the partof the 52 year-old gay man at the Pride parade. It was a heavy read and the audience was in tears when I finished Dennis' testimony. I had to stop several times during it because I choked up as I read it.
Matthew died before he could love or be loved and that is the real tragedy.
Scarsdale
(9,426 posts)What are straight people afraid of - being "converted"? Live and let live. This was a very dark period in this country, and unfortunately it is not over yet. Will it EVER be? Bigots always think they are right in every instance.
Stargazer99
(2,585 posts)fundamentalism is the American ISIS, both kill (in spirit also...not just the body) if you do not believe as they do. think about it
raven mad
(4,940 posts)Alaska's ban on same-sex marriage has just been overturned by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Burgess.
Matthew, your legacy is not forgotten.
fizzgig
(24,146 posts)i was in high school and remember the sorrow, the tears and the vigils. my mom used to run into him at the gay bar in town and said he was a very nice young man.
no peep about it from the local rag this weekend. shocking
sdfernando
(4,935 posts)A truly sad day for me. I was a total wreck the day he passed, not being able to work I went home and cried. I never knew or met Matt and to this day I don't know why his death affected me so much but I still tear up at the mention of his name.
SidDithers
(44,228 posts)Sid