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Matthew Shepard (1976 - 1998)
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 Losing
Matt Shepard by Beth Loffreda
Laramie, Wyoming, is a
complicated town that has only become more so since the infamous
murder of a gay University of Wyoming student named Matt Shepard
on a lonely dirt road in October 1998. A university town in the
middle of one of the country's most rural, poor, and conservative
states, it was unwittingly thrown into the middle of the nation's
debates over homosexuality and hate crimes. While "Laramie
didn't kill Matt," as University of Wyoming professor Beth
Loffreda writes, "It might let us see how the politics of
sexuality--perhaps now the most divisive issue in America's
'culture wars'--plays out in a forgotten corner of the
country." As an insider and an outsider (she is the straight
advisor to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Association
and a state newcomer clearly in love with her surroundings),
Loffreda approaches the complex questions the media, with their
pack mentality, overlooked or shied away from using her own local
but not provincial perspective. Why did Matt's death, which was
one of 33 anti-gay murders that year, grip the nation? Why did
none of the seven bias crimes bills proposed in Wyoming after the
murder pass? What is the experience of being homosexual in a state
with not a single gay gathering place to speak of and most people
too afraid to be out? What happens when emotion--rather than
action--is the only response to a hate crime? And how should Matt
be remembered?
Leaving the media assumptions about the
"hate state" in the dust, Loffreda deftly portrays a
people deeply affected by what has happened in their midst,
replete with the daily contradictions, political clashes, and
halting transformations that defy sound bites. She introduces us
to those the media never thought to interview--a jaded gay
American Indian as well as Mexican American university students
with their own stories of bigotry--and those making the real
change in Laramie: people like Mike, who came out after Matt's
death and has found the courage to become an activist, and the
gays and lesbians who dressed as angels during the murderers'
trials, blocking defrocked minister Fred Phelps and his virulent
anti-gay messages with their enormous wings. Loffreda's nuanced,
perceptive, and graceful discussion reminds us that the
inheritance of Matt's death is far from settled for any of us. --Lesley
Reed
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Matthew Shepard, a former Denver resident, died
in the early morning of Monday, October 12, from severe injuries
due to a brutal beating and torture in Laramie, WY. This web site
was put together as a central source of information; to allow you
to find a way of expressing your grief and condolences; to find a
way of getting involved in human rights efforts: something close
to Matthew's own heart.
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As Matt's murderers are now in jail, this Web
site is no longer being updated, but will remain as a resource,
and memorial, to Matthew Shepard and all who have been murdered
simply because of who they are.
This site hosts extensive information about the
trials.
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Excerpt:
Your honor, members of the Jury, Mr. Rerucha:
I would like to begin my statement by addressing the jury. Ladies
and gentlemen, a terrible crime was committed in Laramie thirteen
months ago. Because of that crime, the reputation of the city of
Laramie, the University of Wyoming, and the State of Wyoming
became synonymous with gay bashing, hate crimes, and brutality.
While some of this reputation may be deserved, it was blown out of
proportion by our friends in the media. Yesterday you, the jury,
showed the world that Wyoming and the city of Laramie will not
tolerate hate crimes. Yes, this was a hate crime, pure and simple,
with the added ingredient of robbery. My son Matthew paid a
terrible price to open the eyes of all of us who live in Wyoming,
the United States, and the world to the unjust and unnecessary
fears, discrimination, and intolerance that members of the gay
community face every day. Yesterday’s decision by you showed
true courage and made a statement. That statement is that Wyoming
is the Equality State; that Wyoming will not tolerate
discrimination based on sexual orientation; that violence is not
the solution. Ladies and gentlemen, you have the respect and
admiration of Matthew’s family and friends and of countless
strangers around the world. Be proud of what you have
accomplished. You may have prevented another family from losing a
son or daughter...
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This is the official Web memorial for Matthew Shepard owned by Mrs. Judy Shepard.
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The Matthew Shepard Foundation was created in
December 1998 by Dennis and Judy Shepard to honor the memory of
their son. The goals of the Matthew Shepard Foundation include
supporting diversity programs in education and helping youth
organizations establish environments where young people can feel
safe and be themselves.
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Excerpt:
Matthew Shepard was a 21 year-old student at the
University of Wyoming in Laramie, Wyoming, U.S.A. On the night of
October 6, 1998, or in the early morning hours of October 7th, he
was kidnapped, robbed and beaten. Matt died on October 12th. Four
suspects were charged, two with kidnapping, robbery and murder;
the other two with being accessories.
Both of the suspects accused of the kidnapping,
robbery and murder originally pleaded not guilty. Two separate
trials were scheduled. Jury selection for the first trial was
completed March 31, 1999. On April 2nd, the judge granted a
special hearing for April 5th and one of the suspects changed his
plea to guilty. He was sentenced to two consecutive life terms in
prison without parole. On April 8, a gag order was placed on the
lawyers for the defendants because of statements they were making
to the press. A trial was held for the second murder suspect and
on November 3, 1999, he was found guilty by a jury of felony
murder, second-degree murder, aggravated robbery and kidnapping.
On November 4, 1999, a deal was agreed to, whereby the convicted
killer accepted a sentence of two life terms in prison, with no
parole, in exchange for not receiving the maximum sentence, the
death penalty. The deal was made with the support of Matthew
Shepard's parents. The suspect also agreed not to appeal the
sentence.
Two others were charged with being accessories
after the fact. A 20-year old girlfriend of one of those charged
with kidnapping, aggravated robbery and first-degree murder pled
guilty on Wednesday December 23rd, 1998 to being an accessory
after the fact to first-degree murder. She was sentenced on May
21, 1999 to serve between 15 and 24 months in prison. The maximum
she could have received was three years. The second accomplice
pled guilty to a reduced charge of interfering with a police
officer and on November 9, 1999 was sentenced to 180 days in jail,
with credit given for 120 days already served and the remaining
sixty days were suspended.
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This site has been created as a supplement to Matthew's
Place, which is owned by Judy Shepard, Matthew's mother. This
site is both a memorial and a resource for further information
about human rights, gay rights, and hate crimes issues. Please
visit the Matthew Shepard
Foundation for information on giving contributions, etc.
Site contains an historical
archive.
Excerpt from the biography:
Matthew Wayne Shepard was born on December 1,
1976 in Casper, Wyoming. He was the oldest son of Judy Peck
Shepard and Dennis Shepard. At around midnight on October 6, young
Matthew was taken from a bar by two other young men to a place
about a mile outside of Laramie. Once there, these men took him
out to a split-rail fence, mercilessly beat him with a pistol,
tortured him, then tied him up onto the fence, and left him for
dead. He was found late the next day at 6:22 p.m. by two bikers,
some 18 hours after the brutal attack. When the bikers first saw
Matthew tied to the fence, they thought that what they saw a
scarecrow, but realized that it was a person. Matthew remained in
a coma until Monday, October 12, when he left this world at 12:53
a.m. with his family at his bedside. The Matthew
Shepard Foundation has been set up to help fund programs to
educate youth and the public about hate crimes, and what they can
do to prevent tragedies such as the Matthew's brutal murder...
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United Gays and Lesbians of Wyoming
(UGLW), Inc. is an organization that seeks to enhance the
lives of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people in
the Equality State through:
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Education of the general public
and our membership concerning gay, lesbian, bisexual, and
transgender issues.
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Advocating the protection and
promotion of the civil rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and
transgender people.
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Establishment of a statewide
network for dissemination of information regarding gay,
lesbian, bisexual, and transgender issues and events.
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Memorial Web Sites (hosted by
Yahoo.com) dedicated to Matthew Shepard and sites promoting
antiviolence and hate crime legislation in his behalf.
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This page features various hate crime watch
groups, bibliographies, annotated links and more.
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Names Index:
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