 | |
The Matthew Shepard Foundation empowers individuals to embrace human
dignity and diversity through outreach, advocacy and resource programs.
We strive to replace hate with understanding, compassion and acceptance.
________________________________________________________________________________
Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson were arrested shortly after the attack and charged with murder following Shepard's death. Significant media coverage was given to what role Shepard's sexual orientation played in the killing. During McKinney's pretrial and trial, testimony was given that the pair had pretended to be gay to gain Shepard's trust and rob him. McKinney's prosecutor argued the murder was premeditated and driven by greed, while McKinney's defense counsel argued that McKinney had only intended to rob Shepard, but had killed him in a rage when Shepard made a sexual advance. McKinney's girlfriend told police that he had been motivated by anti-gay sentiment, but later recanted her statement, saying that she had lied because she thought it would help him. Both McKinney and Henderson were convicted of the murder and each sentenced to two consecutive life sentences.
Shepard's murder brought national and international attention to hate crime legislation at the state and federal levels. In October 2009, the United States Congress passed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act (commonly the "Matthew Shepard Act" or "Shepard/Byrd Act" for short), and on October 28, 2009, President Barack Obama signed the legislation into law. Following her son's murder, Matthew's mother Judy Shepard became a prominent LGBT rights activist and established the Matthew Shepard Foundation. Shepard's death inspired notable films, novels, plays, songs, and other works.
In the years following Shepard's death, his mother Judy Shepard has become a well-known advocate for LGBT rights, particularly issues relating to gay youth. She was a main force behind the Matthew Shepard Foundation, which she and her husband Dennis founded in December 1998.
The Meaning of Matthew: My Son's Murder in Laramie, and a World Transformed is a 2009 biographical book by Judy Shepard about her son Matthew Shepard. Judy Shepard speaks about her loss, her family memories of Matthew, and the tragic event that changed the Shepards' lives and America. The Meaning of Matthew follows the Shepard family in the days immediately after the crime to see their incapacitated son, kept alive by life support machines; how the Shepards learned of the huge public response, the candlelit vigils and memorial services for their child; their struggles to navigate the legal system.
Check out Matthew's Place owned by Judy Shepard but ran by LGBTQ YOUTH for LGBTQ YOUTH...
Movies about Matthew Shepard can be purchased on Amazon:
I will never forget when the NEWS of Matthew's Demise came on Television. I was so heart broken for his family. I think it is amazing how his parents for taken this horrific tragedy and turned it into a POSITIVE for so man LGBTQ Youth.
It is so important that we {LGBTQ} continue to FIGHT for EQUALITY and PROTECTION!!
Now more than ever we are seeing so MUCH HATRED towards the LGBTQ Community, not only in the USA, but around the WORLD...
UNITED we can OVERCOME all this HATRED...
We need to continue to let our voices be heard by VOTING for LEADERS who will CONTINUE to ENSURE our RIGHTS, EQUALITY and PROTECTION with LAWS...
God Bless You and KNOW THAT YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL - YOU ARE NORMAL - YOU CAN BE EXACTLY who GOD CREATED YOU TO BE!!!!
NEVER let ANYONE ELSE DEFINE WHO YOU ARE or SHOULD BE - BE YOU!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.