Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Shepard talk denounces intolerance

More than 13 years ago, Matthew Shepard was beaten to death because he was gay.

The 21-year-old University of Wyoming student was savagely attacked and tied to a fence post in a remote area east of Laramie, Wyo. He died in a hospital several days later, but his mother hopes to end hate by sharing his story.

Judy Shepard, who started the Matthew Shepard Foundation to advocate for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights, spoke Wednesday at Whitworth University, urging acceptance regardless of race, sex, religion or sexuality to make schools and communities safe for everyone.

“There is no difference between being straight and being gay,” she said. “We are human beings. It just shouldn’t matter. And one day it won’t. But that’s not today, because today, stereotypes rule. And we need to get rid of that.”

“The Laramie Project,” a play about the murder, came to North Idaho College last year, sparking protests by the Westboro Baptist Church, the Topeka, Kan.-based church that claims God hates homosexuals; they also protested at Matthew Shepard’s funeral.

Matthew Shepard’s murder sparked a national discussion about hate and hate crime legislation at the state and national level – it led to the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. But although society has come a long way since his murder, it hasn’t yet come far enough, Judy Shepard said.

The solution: “Educate, educate, educate.”

She lauded the recent repeal of the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy but called on citizens to pay attention to politics and to vote to enact change. The U.S. needs tougher hate crime laws, she said, and an end to what she called legal discrimination.

“You can still be fired in 30 states in this country for being gay,” she said. “Thirty-five for being transgender. You are not allowed to marry. Some states have issues with adoption.”

“It’s a patchwork of nonsense,” she said, saying the rhetoric that allowing gay marriage would harm traditional marriage is false.

“This is a civil rights issue,” she said. “More and more Americans are beginning to understand that that’s exactly what this is.”

She said sharing her son’s story and talking about hate is the only way she can cope with her grief. And she hopes there are no more Matthew Shepards in the world – or any more Russell Hendersons or Aaron McKinneys, the two responsible for his death.

“Inside, we all have the same dreams,” she said. “We all have the same aspirations to love and be loved in return. To be safe and secure and happy in our lives. We all want that. And nothing in this world gives you the right to deny that to anybody else. Nothing.”

She encouraged audience members to speak up when they see an injustice occurring, to embrace diversity and to act with civility.

“All I am asking you to do is pay attention and take a stand for kindness and respect,” she said. “Just those two words, that’ll pretty much fix everything, I think.”

She told members of the LGBT community and their allies to share their stories to encourage dialogue on gay rights and hate.

“It’s not shameful. You are who are and you love who you love and that’s just the way it is,” she said. “We have always been here and we will always be here.”