“Matt is no longer here because two men learned that it was okayto hate,” said an emotional, yet stiff-lipped Judy Shepard, whose sonMatthew was slain in one of America’s most brutal hate crimes nearlytwo years ago. “They were given the impression that society condonesor is indifferent to such treatment of those who are not like them.”
Shepard’s plea for peace was one that seemed logical to thosegathered at North Central College in suburban Chicago Thursday, Sept.28, but she quickly pointed out that such behavior is easier saidthan done in American society.
She also told students of the additional struggles she experiencedwhen she learned her son was homosexual. “As a parent of a gay child,your hope is that they can go through the entire day without anincident,” she said. “It would have been a great day if nothing likethat happened.”
On Oct. 7, 1998, this mother’s worst nightmare came true when her21-year-old son, a student at the University of Wyoming, was pistolwhipped, tied to a fence post and beaten into a coma in freezing coldtemperatures. Matthew was left to lay in misery for 18 hours until hewas discovered and treated for abrasions, hypothermia, severe weltsand a fractured skull at a nearby hospital.
Shepard held on for five days after the attack, but the abusegradually turned fatal. As he was laid to rest, his killers AaronMcKinney and Russell Henderson were sentenced to life in prison.
“There was a bit of relief at first to know that Matthew’ssuffering was over, but for us the suffering was just beginning,”Shepard said on behalf of her family.
“There are still days when I can’t go on, but the love and supportof those around me have sustained me. “
The Shepard family, which also consists Matthew’s father Dennisand his brother Logan, started the Matthew Shepard Foundation toencourage acceptance and embracing of diversity.
Shepard made it clear that the main audience anti-hate awarenesscould be spread is the college demographic, particularly since thatwas Matthew’s age when he died.
“I have one wish for college students and that is that they wouldstop pigeon holing everyone that is different then they are,” shesaid. “It starts with the faculty and administration on a campusmaking it clear that hate behavior will not be tolerated. If itdoesn’t start with them, then how will students learn from theirexample? Students need to get involved to, by joining support groupson campus and discussing this issue so that their schools can be freefrom hate crimes.”
