I want to begin by saying that this case contains a lot of triggers, violence , rape, and homophobic slurs. It is my intent to tell Matthew's story but I WILL NOT repeat the vulgar words that were said to him and about him. I do not like those words and I refuse to allow them to come from me in any way, shape, or form. Like many others around the world, I had heard of Matthew Shepard. I knew that he was killed for being gay and that he died a horrific, tragic death. What I didn't know is how much researching this case and seeing what happened to this sweet, caring, non judgmental man was going to break my heart and scare me in the way that it did. I am the mother of a lesbian and the mother of a bi-sexual. Two out of my three children are apart of the LGBTQ community. I myself am Bi-Sexual. Seeing what happened to Matthew and the ignorance surrounding hate towards individuals like himself ,makes me want to hide my children from the world. Protect them from the ignorance. I want to educate and make people aware that being "afraid" of someone that loves differently than you may is not only ridiculous but doesn't give you the right to harm or kill them.
As I watched the movie about Matt yesterday, The Matthew Shepard Story, I cried and felt my heart break for his parents, friends, and his community. I want to be apart of stopping crimes of hate, prejudice, and bring peace to the LGBTQ community.
October 6th, 1998. Matthew decided to get dressed up and headed down to the Fireside Lounge in Laramie to get a drink. When he walked in, Russell Henderson and Aaron McKinney watched him from across the room. They decided they were going to pretend to be gay and rob Matthew. They gained his trust, told him they were going to give him a ride home, got him in their truck, took his wallet, and drove him to a remote location in literally the middle of nowhere. According to Aaron McKinney, Matthew touched his knee and attempted to make sexual advances towards him which in turn caused what his defense called "gay panic" causing McKinney to then "panic" and pistol whip Matthew. First of all, what the fuck?? Gay Panic Defense? Are you kidding me?? This is nothing more than a legal strategy blaming the victim for being killed because of their sexuality. When a person uses this as a defense, it basically excuses and explains that a " loss of control" makes it ok to commit crime of violence toward the victim. Who the fuck came up with this idiocy? SO McKinney claims that Matthew made advances toward him and so he drug him to a barbed wire fence, tired him up, and literally pistol whipped him until he was in a coma. His face was covered in so much blood, you could only see the streaks from his tears. The tears he cried while being beaten....after he was done, McKinney and Henderson left Matthew there to die and drove off. Not a second thought.....
18 hours later a cyclist riding through the area saw him hanging on the fence and thought at first he was a scarecrow. Upon closer examination, he saw that what he thought was a scarecrow was a human that was in distress. The first officer on the scene ran to him and attempted to make an airway in Matthew's bloody mouth. This officer was selfless because there was an issue with faulty gloves at the time so the officer put her bare hands in his mouth. Later it was determined that Shepard was HIV positive and that the officer could have contracted the disease through some cuts on her hands. She didn't care about herself, she cared about trying to save Matthew's life. This is the type of police officers we need in this world right now. He had suffered fractures to the back of his head and in front of his right ear. He experienced severe brainstem damage, which affected his body's ability to regulate his heart rate, body temperature, and other vital functions. There were also about a dozen small cuts 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 and died 6 days after he was attacked. At his funeral, The Westboro Baptist Church picketed with signs that said horrific things and would shout and yell at his parents and mourners. These people are sick and cruel and I hope they rot in hell where they belong. But it's ok because Matthew's friend Roamine gathered his friends and at the trial of Aaron McKinney , they wore white angel costumes and stood in front of the protesters so that all you saw was a barrier of white angels. Matt's angels. McKinney was up for the death penalty. While watching the movie, it shows how Matt's parents were initially not on the same page. They both wanted the death penalty at first, but Judy, his mom, realized that she wanted to do what Matt would have done. Show mercy for the person that showed her son none at all. In his statement to the court however, Dennis Shepard said the following.."Mr. Kinney, I give you life in memory of the one that no longer lives". A deal was made and Aaron McKinney is serving two life sentences. he waived his right to any appeals and he will never get parole. Russell Henderson is also serving two life sentences.
Neither were ever charged with a hate crime. Bullshit. This was an obvious hate crime! Please go take a look at matthewshepard.org
Judy and Dennis Shepard started the Matthew Shepard foundation to raise awareness of hate crimes. To share Matt's story with the world and provide resources to the LGTBQ community. Please donate your time or money if you can. No parents should ever have to lose their child because of their sexuality.
Matthew was a beautiful soul and had experienced hate throughout his life for being gay. He was raped on a school trip to Morocco. He had suffered already and then was murdered just because he loved in a different way. Please teach your children and grandchildren to love a person for who they are, not who they choose to love. Please educate yourself and find out how to make sure that if your child is gay, lesbian, transgender, bi-sexual, etc that you as a parent love and support them, not make them feel that they are alone and unloved. Do your part in changing the way hate crimes are committed and prosecuted. Let's work together to make members of the LGBTQ community know that we love them and support them.
Rest in Peace Matthew.
Sources:
* The Matthew Shepard Story. Amazon Prime.
* The Mercury News-https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/10/12/matthew-shepard-killer-russell-henderson-interview-20-years/

Comments