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Who Was Matthew Shepard?
In 1998, Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old University of Wyoming student, was brutally attacked in an anti-gay hate crime that shocked the nation. Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson abducted Shepard, drove him to a remote area, tied him to a fence, and beat him severely, leaving him to die in freezing temperatures. Shepard succumbed to his injuries on October 12, 1998. His death became a landmark moment in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, ultimately leading to the passage of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act in 2009.
Early Life
Born on December 1, 1976, in Casper, Wyoming, Matthew Wayne Shepard was the eldest son of Judy and Dennis Shepard. He was known for his gentle, kind nature and his sensitivity to others. Matthew attended school in Casper before moving with his family to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, where his father worked in the oil industry. He completed high school at The American School in Switzerland, where he developed a passion for languages, theater, and fashion.
During a senior trip to Morocco, Shepard was the victim of a violent attack, leaving him deeply traumatized. Although the perpetrators were never caught, the incident had a lasting effect on Shepard, contributing to his struggles with depression, anxiety, and PTSD throughout his life.
College and Career Aspirations
After high school, Shepard briefly attended Catawba College in North Carolina, where he pursued his interest in theater. Though he had known about his sexual orientation for years, Shepard came out to his mother only after high school, receiving her full support. He later attended Casper College, where he met Romaine Patterson, a close friend and fellow LGBTQ+ advocate.
In 1998, Shepard enrolled at the University of Wyoming, where he studied political science and international relations, with aspirations of joining the Foreign Service. Known for his thoughtfulness and engaging personality, Shepard quickly became active in campus life, particularly with the university’s LGBT student alliance.
Matthew Shepard’s life and tragic death have left an enduring legacy, helping to bring national attention to the violence faced by the LGBTQ+ community and influencing critical changes in hate crime legislation in the United States.
Abduction and Murder
On the night of October 6, 1998, shortly after moving to Laramie, Wyoming, Matthew Shepard encountered Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson at a local bar, The Fireside Lounge. McKinney and Henderson targeted Shepard, seeing him as vulnerable and intending to rob him. In the early hours of October 7, they lured him from the bar, drove him to a remote area, and tied him to a split-rail fence. There, they brutally beat him with the butt of a .357 Smith & Wesson pistol, leaving him critically injured in near-freezing temperatures.
Believing Shepard was dead, McKinney and Henderson fled the scene. Eighteen hours later, a bicyclist, Aaron Kreifels, found Shepard, initially mistaking him for a scarecrow. Though still alive, Shepard was in a coma and was rushed to Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado. Over the next four days, Shepard remained comatose, with severe brain stem damage and hypothermia, before succumbing to his injuries at 12:53 A.M. on October 12, 1998. Shortly after his death, police discovered the bloody weapon, along with Shepard’s shoes and wallet, in McKinney’s truck. Both McKinney and Henderson were arrested and later convicted of felony murder and kidnapping, receiving two consecutive life sentences without parole.
Funeral and Public Response
Matthew Shepard’s memorial service took place on October 16, 1998, at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Casper, Wyoming, with over 700 attendees, including friends and family from across the globe. However, the service was marred by protestors from the Westboro Baptist Church, led by Fred Phelps, who demonstrated with hateful, homophobic signs. In response, Shepard’s friends, led by Romaine Patterson, organized “Angel Action,” where participants wore white robes and large angel wings to block the protesters from view, a gesture that became symbolic of the fight against hate.
Shepard’s murder, which received widespread media attention, became a flashpoint in the national conversation about anti-gay hate crimes, galvanizing activism and calls for change.
The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act
Despite the homophobic motivations expressed by McKinney and Henderson during their trials, they were not charged with a hate crime, as Wyoming had no hate crime laws at the time. The outcry following Shepard’s murder led to national protests and vigils, and a push for stronger federal protections for LGBT victims of violence.
On October 28, 2009, over a decade after Shepard’s death, President Barack Obama signed into law The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. This landmark legislation expanded the federal hate crime law to include crimes motivated by a victim’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. It also gave the Department of Justice the authority to assist in the investigation and prosecution of hate crimes when local authorities are unwilling or unable to do so.
Matthew Shepard Foundation
In the wake of their son’s death, Matthew Shepard’s parents, Judy and Dennis Shepard, founded the Matthew Shepard Foundation. The foundation’s mission is to “encourage individuals to embrace human dignity and diversity” and to “replace hate with understanding, compassion, and acceptance.” Through educational outreach, the foundation continues to promote tolerance and advocate for LGBT rights, ensuring that Matthew’s legacy endures.
Matthew Shepard’s younger brother, Logan, now plays an active role in the foundation, overseeing its daily operations and working to further its mission.
Cultural Legacy: ‘The Laramie Project’ and ‘Considering Matthew Shepard’
Matthew Shepard’s tragic death has been memorialized in various forms of art, including the acclaimed play The Laramie Project and the 2016 musical Considering Matthew Shepard. These works, alongside numerous films, documentaries, and songs, continue to raise awareness about the dangers of hate and the ongoing fight for equality and human rights. Through these tributes, Matthew Shepard’s story lives on as a symbol of the importance of compassion and justice in the face of violence and prejudice.