It's been 13 years - Matthew Shepard

[TBF]

Matthew Wayne Shepard (December 1, 1976 – October 12, 1998) was a student at the University of Wyoming who was tortured and murdered near Laramie, Wyoming, in October 1998. He was attacked on the night of October 6–7, and died at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado, on October 12 from severe head injuries.

During the trial, witnesses stated that Shepard was targeted because of his sexual orientation. Shepard's murder brought national and international attention to the contention of hate crime legislation at the state and federal levels.

All of the info is here (including the Hate Crimes Prevention Act - Matthew Shepard Act for short - that President Obama signed into law):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Shepard

Forgive me if this has been posted already, but I did a search and couldn't find anything recent.

[fizzgig]

1. it seems so long ago, yet not so long ago

i've lived in fort collins most of my life. i was a junior in high school when it happened and all i can remember is the shock and disgust and heartbreak i felt that anyone would do that to another person.

[TBF]

2. I guess it's old news

but these kinds of crimes still happen, including the teenage suicides due to harassment (bullying) based on sexual orientation.

I thought it was worth mentioning the anniversary of his attack.

[fizzgig]

8. not old news at all

[racaulk]

3. And that cretin Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-Obviously) stood on the floor of the House...

...and called the hate crime nature of Shepard's murder a "hoax." With Judy Shepard in the room, no less.

:mad:

May the monsters that committed this murder never know freedom again, and may the world never forget Matthew.

K&R

[Behind the Aegis]

4. +1

[TriMera]

5. We will never forget. n/t

[joeybee12]

6. KNR for remembrance....

A life cut way too short.

[Mnemosyne]

7. ...

[Starry Messenger]

9. k&r

[Wilms]

10. ^

[xchrom]

11. ...

:cry:

[TBF]

12. I love this quote from Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel -

"Few are guilty, but all are responsible." We are all responsible; every additional week that we do not work for justice, every day that passes in which we do not imbue in our children an ethic of acceptance and uprightness, every moment of our silence is an act of violence against our LGBT brothers and sisters.

From this excellent blog - http://gay.americablog.com/2011/10/matthew-shepard-was-attacked-13-years.html