Morgan BellRemembering Matthew Shepard
October 25th 2008 13:52
Ten years have passed since Matthew Shepard was murdered in a vicious anti-gay hate crime.
Matthew Shepard died October 12, 1998.
His mother Judy continues to campaign against hatred of gays and lesbians.
Judy Shepard
Judy Shepard lost her son, Matthew Shepard, in a murder motivated by anti-gay hate. That tragedy became a symbol of the need to pass national hate crimes legislation. Mrs. Shepard is an international spokeswoman, activist and executive director of the Matthew Shepard Foundation. She is focused on a vision to replace hate with compassion, acceptance and understanding.
Shortly after midnight on October 7, 1998, 21-year-old Matthew Shepard met Aaron James McKinney and Russell Arthur Henderson in a bar. McKinney and Henderson posed as gay men and offered Shepard a ride in their car. Subsequently, Shepard was robbed, pistol whipped, tortured, tied to a fence in a remote, rural area, and left to die. Still tied to the fence, Shepard was discovered eighteen hours later by a cyclist, who at first thought that Shepard was a scarecrow. At the time of discovery, Shepard was still alive, but in a coma.
Shepard suffered a fracture from the back of his head to the front of his right ear. He had severe brain stem damage, which affected his body's ability to regulate heart rate, body temperature and other vital signs. There were also about a dozen small lacerations around his head, face and neck. His injuries were deemed too severe for doctors to operate. Shepard never regained consciousness and remained on full life support. As he lay in intensive care, candlelight vigils were held by the people of Laramie.
He was pronounced dead at 12:53 A.M. on October 12, 1998 at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins. Police arrested McKinney and Henderson shortly thereafter, finding the bloody gun as well as the victim's shoes and wallet in their truck.
Henderson pleaded guilty on April 5, 1999, and agreed to testify against McKinney to avoid the death penalty; he received two consecutive life sentences. The jury in McKinney's trial found him guilty of felony murder. As it began to deliberate on the death penalty, Shepard's parents brokered a deal, resulting in McKinney receiving two consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole.
The disturbing and brutal nature of Matthew Shepard's murder prompted calls for new legislation addressing hate crime.
USA Hate Crimes in 2004
9,528 victims of hate crimes.
53.8 percent were victims of racial prejudice.
(Of those, 67.9 percent were anti-black, and 20.1 percent were anti-white.)
16.7 percent were victims of religious intolerance
(Of those, 67.8 percent were anti-Jewish, and 12.7 percent were anti-Islamic.)
15.6 percent (over 1,400) were attacked because of sexual-orientation.
(Of those, 60.9 percent were male victims)
13. 2 percent were targeted due to ethnicity/national orientation.
(Of those, 51.5 percent were anti-Hispanic.)
Less than 1 percent of the total victims of crimes motivated by a single bias were targets of an anti-disability bias. Of the 73 victims of this type, 49 were mentally disabled.
* source: the FBI
Matthew Shepard died October 12, 1998.
His mother Judy continues to campaign against hatred of gays and lesbians.
The level of ignorance is astounding. The continuing belief that what happened to Matt was not a hate crime and the notion that ‘special people shouldn’t have special rights’, is beyond my comprehension. The level of ‘hate’ is frightening.
Judy Shepard
Judy Shepard lost her son, Matthew Shepard, in a murder motivated by anti-gay hate. That tragedy became a symbol of the need to pass national hate crimes legislation. Mrs. Shepard is an international spokeswoman, activist and executive director of the Matthew Shepard Foundation. She is focused on a vision to replace hate with compassion, acceptance and understanding.
Shortly after midnight on October 7, 1998, 21-year-old Matthew Shepard met Aaron James McKinney and Russell Arthur Henderson in a bar. McKinney and Henderson posed as gay men and offered Shepard a ride in their car. Subsequently, Shepard was robbed, pistol whipped, tortured, tied to a fence in a remote, rural area, and left to die. Still tied to the fence, Shepard was discovered eighteen hours later by a cyclist, who at first thought that Shepard was a scarecrow. At the time of discovery, Shepard was still alive, but in a coma.
Shepard suffered a fracture from the back of his head to the front of his right ear. He had severe brain stem damage, which affected his body's ability to regulate heart rate, body temperature and other vital signs. There were also about a dozen small lacerations around his head, face and neck. His injuries were deemed too severe for doctors to operate. Shepard never regained consciousness and remained on full life support. As he lay in intensive care, candlelight vigils were held by the people of Laramie.
He was pronounced dead at 12:53 A.M. on October 12, 1998 at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins. Police arrested McKinney and Henderson shortly thereafter, finding the bloody gun as well as the victim's shoes and wallet in their truck.
Henderson pleaded guilty on April 5, 1999, and agreed to testify against McKinney to avoid the death penalty; he received two consecutive life sentences. The jury in McKinney's trial found him guilty of felony murder. As it began to deliberate on the death penalty, Shepard's parents brokered a deal, resulting in McKinney receiving two consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole.
The disturbing and brutal nature of Matthew Shepard's murder prompted calls for new legislation addressing hate crime.
USA Hate Crimes in 2004
9,528 victims of hate crimes.
53.8 percent were victims of racial prejudice.
(Of those, 67.9 percent were anti-black, and 20.1 percent were anti-white.)
16.7 percent were victims of religious intolerance
(Of those, 67.8 percent were anti-Jewish, and 12.7 percent were anti-Islamic.)
15.6 percent (over 1,400) were attacked because of sexual-orientation.
(Of those, 60.9 percent were male victims)
13. 2 percent were targeted due to ethnicity/national orientation.
(Of those, 51.5 percent were anti-Hispanic.)
Less than 1 percent of the total victims of crimes motivated by a single bias were targets of an anti-disability bias. Of the 73 victims of this type, 49 were mentally disabled.
* source: the FBI
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Comment by moonglow
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We need to tolerate all people, even if we don't approve of their actions.
I can't imagine his mother's pain.
Comment by Jason King
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Comment by RubySoho
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Thank you for remembering.
Comment by ratchet
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I have a real problem with the word 'tolerance'. To tolerate something is to put up with it, often with negative emotion still attached.
Perhaps if those campaigners substituted the word 'acceptance', society's mindset might slowly start to change and, in the words of John Lennon "The world can live as one".
Peace.
Comment by moonglow
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Comment by moonglow
A Lot of Scrap
Paranormal Paranormal
Teacup Tales
Rubber Ball
In Zoo
Craft Voyage
Moonglow Rising-A Literary Blog
How to Write
Handcrafted
Informative Articles
Free Sewing Patterns For You
The Soon to be World Famous Online Vintage Craft Book Museum
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The Something for Nothing Blog
I Like Playing With Toys
Crochet It
Comment by Morgan Bell
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Judy is an amazing woman hey
shes so softly spoken and brave!
its hard to believe it been ten years already
thanks for the comment
hi Jason,
people need to teach their kids its not ok to hate
i hope in our lifetime we see widespread acceptance of all kinds of diversity
hi Ruby,
heartbreaking, yes, that is exactly the right word
i dont know what goes through some peoples minds when they treat others this way
hi Ratchet,
oh i miss John Lennon too . . . another harmless person who met a tragic end
"acceptance" is definately the better word but i guess we have to get people to move in baby steps so if the only choices are being tolerated or being brutally bashed to death i dont mind tolerance so much . . . i get what you are saying though, i wish more people has such an open world view!
thanks for stopping in
Comment by Cass
To think these things happen as recently as 10 years ago when we were on the verge of a new millennium.
Comment by Morgan Bell
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oh i do agree, acceptance would be the much more sought after outcome!
but as a stop-gap measure i hope people have the strength to tolerate the things they are not yet willing to accept
thanks so much for your comments!
Comment by Postmodern Critic
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I think if the generations before mine (I'm 24) don't legalise gay marriage and end ALL institutionalised discrimination against gays and lesbians, mine will.
I knew of Matthew Shepard but I hadn't read about his case in detail until now... He looked like a decent person, and I'm sorry that he's not here today, touching the lives of others in a way that probably never would have made me know his name.
I thank you for being a vocal supporter of gay rights and educating so many people on issues they might never have heard about otherwise.
Comment by Morgan Bell
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as usual i like your positive attitude and optimism!
i find the demonisation of gay men (and other queers) completely absurd
i have known hundreds of boys like Matthew Shepard personally, and how anyone could wish them harm is just beyond comprehension
thanks for stopping by and showing your support!
Comment by Wilson Pon
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Well, I watched the US showtime drama, "Queer as folk" and what this drama impressed me here is it told us that even the gay and lesbian also living their life as an ordinary person in their daily life. So, we should try to tolerate with them, but not to show the hatred on them!
Note: Morgan, this Matthew Shepard reminded me of the "Brian Kinney" in the Queer as folk drama series!
Comment by Morgan Bell
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hey youre a Queer As Folk fan . . . you should get the original UK version on dvd, i think it was far superior!
gays and lesbians really are just ordinary people with jobs and families and hopes and dreams and everyone deserves equal respect and fair treatment regardless of sexual preference
say no to hate and intolerance!
Comment by Neems
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At the end of the day- an expression of love between two people- no matter their sexual orientation- is just that. It's about the love.
If you don't understand something, learn about it- don't fight for a belief you know nothing about and wander about blindly being led by those who choose to hate because of their refusal to accpet and be open to the beautiful diversity of our world.
All said and done, we are all the same.
Neems
Comment by Cheryl J
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I felt devastated when this happened and it still makes me sick.
Comment by Morgan Bell
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thanks for your contribution, you have a fantastic outlook on the world and all its diversity . . . i hope more people take a leaf out of your book!
hi Cheryl,
yep even after all this time the cruelty of this act is still sickening . . . remembering this tragedy will hopefully remind people of how dangerous ignorance and hatred can be
thanks so much for your comments, i always appreciate your opinions
Comment by Janet Collins
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Comment by Morgan Bell
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despicable is a very appropriate word!
i dont expect everyone to approve of every different kind of behaviour and culture but i dont see why we all cant "live and let live"
hi Louie,
thanks for the good vibes!
i hope his mother gets some peace too!
Comment by Someone
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Nevermind, neither the place or the time. RIP Mr. Shepard, and kudos Morgan... need people like you to make sure people like this are gone but never forgotten.
Comment by Morgan Bell
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thanks for paying your respects
people will move at their own pace when it comes to accepting change and differences, acceptance would be an ideal long-term goal but people have to participate in the process volunterily . . . tolerance we can all achieve right now by just allowing others to live peacefully without interferance
i will never understand how people can become so enraged over the mere existance of a gay man
Comment by Someone
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I think people get too caught up in acceptance ... If a religion (for example) teaches that being gay is wrong, people have as much right to adhere to those teachings as they do to be gay. You cannot force them to view homosexuality as acceptable, that contradicts their chosen belief system . Tolerance, i feel, is enough. If everyone accepted everything, we'd all think the same, and that wouldn't be any fun at all.
In my defense, I fully support gay people, I have gay friends, I don't think being gay makes people different at all.... but I'm all about freedom of thought.
edit: I hope the 2 guys had a nice time dropping the soap in the prison shower.... a fitting fate for such terrible people.
Comment by Morgan Bell
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thats a really good example!
the reversal makes it much clearer . . .
you do have to tolerate homophobes, you cant reach in their brains or banish them to an island, you have to tolerate views you think are stupid without infringing on their freedom to quietly exist
by showing tolerance you have the right to request tolerance in return!
Comment by RubySoho
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Why?
You cannot force them to view homosexuality as acceptable,system
Why not?
So what?
The chosen belief system of the KKK is that blacks and Jews are inferior to whites and deserve to be killed. That's a belief system like any other. Should we tolerate that?
Why is the word 'religion' so magical that is compels us to accept behaviour and attitudes that we would otherwise find abhorrent?
p.s people don't have a right to be gay. They are gay. That's like saying I have a right to be a woman.
pp.s i think you may have your terminology somewhat confused. e.g I can accept that some people find homosexuality wrong. I cannot tolerate their attempts to deprive homosexuals of their rights.
Comment by ratchet
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"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference."
Now, I hate having to raise the 'G' word at the best of times, but the sentiment here is somewhat appropriate. I don't mean that i would in any way want to change a person's sexual preference, religion or political beliefs etc, I just accept and rejoice in the fact that humans are diverse and free to choose.
I guess the word acceptance is my personal preference but hey, if the word tolerance is going to keep somebody from meeting the same fate as Matthew Shepard then great, tolerate all you like. Whatever works.
Comment by Morgan Bell
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this is right on the money:
people have the right to think whatever they want but they dont have the right to impose discriminatory laws and rules upon the public
hi Ratchet,
the "G" word? haha
Germaine Greer?
what a fantastic sentiment!