A statement in part from Judy Shepard, chairwoman of the Matthew Shepard Foundation, who didn’t know a certain celebrity blogger intended to donate any cash earned from his lawsuit:
We had no advance notice or contact from Mr. Hilton or his representatives regarding this proposal, nor any communication since he posted this plan to his website.
We do not know the details of the lawsuit, whether it has been filed, the nature of his claims or the likely outcome. But because the lawsuit presumably involves the physical attack prompted by Mr. Hilton’s admitted use of an anti-gay slur, the Foundation will be unable to accept any funds obtained in such a manner.
We very much appreciate the generosity of the offer to support our continuing work to memorialize Matthew through activism in defense of sexual minorities and in favor of understanding, compassion, and acceptance. But because so much of our work involves education to reduce the use of hateful language against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons, or those so perceived, it would be inappropriate for us to benefit financially from circumstances in which such a verbal attack was involved.
Jason Chan
Snap! You’ve just been served by Judy Shephard, Perez.
Cam
Hey Perez, instead of just randomly donating to an organization that is in the public eye so everybody will hear about it, why not donate the money to Silvia’s House in NYC. It gives a place for runaway gay teens to stay while they get back on their feet after being kicked out, they can barely afford blankets, so if you want to de-douche yourself by donating the money give them a call, they would take the money.
Karly
“But because so much of our work involves education to reduce the use of hateful language against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons, or those so perceived, it would be inappropriate for us to benefit financially from circumstances in which such a verbal attack was involved.”
Somehow you all imagine yourselves immune to such a reduction? It seems pretty hypocritical to condemn a person for using a word by continuously using that word against them…
jesse
Queerty? I’m disappointed in you. Um… Are you really describing someone as ‘Faggot’ blogger? Twice in one day? Yes, Many people dislike him, but how is this any better than him using that word to incite anger. You’re doing the same thing. That word should not be used as an adjective to describe anyone. This is offensive and uncalled for. Think what you may of Perez Hilton, but could you at least pretend that your website still has some dignity and not stoop to this level?
AlanInSLC
I knew there was other reasons I love this woman, other than the obvious one of standing up for our community. What a lovely person she is! 🙂
edgyguy1426
I believe there are quite a few charities that have requested Perez not solicit on behalf of considering the creatively decorated photos on his site.
edgyguy1426
That statement is A1 Class
paulied
@jesse: I think the quotation marks around the offensive word references Hilton’s use of the word and is not intended to call him the word. BTW, you go Judy! You are a truly classy lady!
Rudy
@jesse: I often disagree with Queerty’s political slant, but showing Hilton all the contempt he works so hard to earn is fine with med.
If a celebrity is going to act as some kind of self-appointed gay spokesperson, they’d better be a credit to the community.
Hilton is not famous – he’s infamous. His trashy behavior made Prejean a Christian heroine and gays look like bullies, he posts Lance Black’s photos and has the temerity to lecture people making private videos, and now this.
He just drags the gay community from one disaster to the next for the sole purpose of advertising himself.
We need to distance ourselves as far as possible from this out-of-control piece of trash. He is as relevant to the movement as Jeffrey Dahmer.
Timothy
Judy Shepard = classy
C-Teller
@jesse:
i agree
Mark
The Shepherd Foundation’s response is intelligent, thoughtful and appreciated, especially since PH didn’t even deign to tell them (all he knows is the lowest form of Hollywood publicity). My hunch is there won’t be any money anyway.
Aaron
No offense, but Judy Shepard seems to be a complete moron. Regardless of your personal opinions of Perez Hilton, this could have been a way to accept funds for a worthy cause from someone trying to make amends. She would have proved herself classy if she was able to turn this in to a learning experience. Instead, she’s applying rhetoric where its not applicable. And she also seems to be condoning violence. What if her son had called one of those sickos that killed him a homo…would she think that those straight guys were “provoked”.
Yes, words mean something, but there is also such a thing as context.
Perez writes vile things…but we (including Queerty) encourage those vile things to be said and written by reading it. Anyone that denies that is fooling themselves.
Greg L.
@Rudy:
I Absolutely agree. Hilton is a filthy bottom-feeder from whom we can’t distance ourselves far enough.
sam
There is so much hypocrisy in attitudes to Perez Hilton, it’s not funny. Perez was simply using the language that straight homophobes use against us. It was reverse psychology. Ever heard of reverse psychology? Go look it up.
At least Perez goes out into the mainstream and exposes homophobes. In contrast, many of us in the gay community are too comfortable and too apathetic in our little gay ghettos. Perez has done more for gay rights than GLAAD and HRC.
alan brickman
well he is a sad faggot isn’t he ….
galefan2004
@Aaron: I think when your son becomes a martyr for the cause of equality, you deserve a tad bit more respect than being called a “complete moron” because you refuse to take money from a man that used hate speech which resulted in him getting hit and then suing for being hit. Also, don’t even try to say something stupid about Mathew Shepard using hate speech and it resulting in his death. That is not even a hypothetical you want to create.
@sam: I honestly don’t think PH is smart enough to understand reverse psychology. Not to mention, its a stretch to call this reverse psychology in the first place. All PH had to do is walk away but he was unwilling to do that.
Aaron Reza
@galefan2004:
Sorry, but passing an opportunity to educate on a subject such a violence and hate speech and turning away money from someone who is trying to make amends is MORONIC.
I think its ridiculous that people are trying to justify this thug physically assaulting a gay guy because the gay guy called him a faggot. Do you honestly think Polo Molina was standing up for us gays, defending us from the homo-hating Perez Hilton? Come on, get real.
But nevermind, you’re probably right. Violence is the answer for straight guys when their sexuality is threatened.
RainaWeather
@Aaron Reza: Why does it matter that he’s a gay guy? He’s still an asshole. When a man insult another man, it will likely end in a physical altercation. Hilton’s being gay does not make him different from anyone else.
TANK
It is moronic! SO now all of a sudden these people can afford to pass up on money, or even the potential for money? This org isn’t a politician who, if a donation from a publically unpopular person were made, may make a showy display of returning the money ONLY IF it were revealed carrying the likelihood of negatively impacting said poitician’s polling numbers. This is goddamn nonprofit, goddamn son of a bitch fuck’s sake.
Now what this perez person should do (and yeah, I like to do that with scum–keep at ’em arm’s length) is donate 25K anyway and not make it contingent upon whether or not he wins a lawsuit or settles. Now that would be the classy thing to do in addition to whatever he may be “awarded” or get in the lawsuit or out of court.
And go with that lawsuit! I’d sue the piss outa anyone who hit me…provided they were still alive.
Steve
With any luck, PH will be the first one eaten when the Old Ones awaken.
hyhybt
@Steve: ?
BitchFace
How fucking retarded. The Shepherd Foundation gets money from any number of ridiculous schemes but for whatever reason THIS is too stupid. Every fucking time Reichen Lehmkul pulls his nuts out and sells a momento… they get money but THIS would be too crass.
And now I watch as the Gheys call for Mario’s beheading and discuss boycotting The Advocate. This reminds me of when a functionally retarded beauty queen tried to string a sentence together and failed.
Why is it that every fucking person I know is getting a picture of themselves with duct tape smacked across their lips like this isn’t a vision conservatives just LOVE?
Queer Community, you’ve been surprisingly stupid about picking your battles lately. Who needs enemies when we have all of our infighting and bitching to do us in?
C-Teller
@BitchFace:
lol goddamn this comment is just too right
ben
Judy Shepard is making a (well publicized and, as such, very successful) statement to the effect that using hate-speech will almost always beget violence, as has been the case with Perez Hilton. I’m sure there was some conflict among the organization whether or not to accept the (as yet, non existent) awards from Perez’ suit, but angling this sort of statement has condemned Perez as a representative of the gay community while perpetuating Judy’s very important message, that use of this speech is never to be supported. I don’t know how you bitter fucking queens can stretch to call her a moron.
BitchFace
@ben: I never called her a moron. Her son did die with the understanding that both his mother AND his father thought of him as a faggot. Now they both make a living from his death.
Rudy
@BitchFace: Did Perez Hilton tell you that?
http://m.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/oct/03/10-years-later-matthew-shepard-hasnt-been-forgotte/