20 years ago, the world came face to face with one of the most shocking hate crimes of the modern era. Now, Matthew Shepard’s family has announced his final resting place.
21-year-old Matt Shepard, a handsome, blond political science student with blue eyes and a sweet smile met two men in a bar in Laramie, Wyoming. The three chatted for a bit, before the two strangers offered Matt a ride home. Instead of taking him home, they drove to a rural area and proceeded to beat and torture Shepard, pistol whipping him until blood covered his face. The two men then tied Shepard to a fence and left him for dead in near-freezing temperatures.
Related: Matthew Shepard’s Mother Judy In New Ad: Donald Trump Terrifies Me
18 hours later a cyclist saw Matthew’s body, at first mistaking him for a scarecrow. Police arrived at the scene and transported Shepard to a nearby hospital. He died there six days later, never regaining consciousness. The two men who assaulted Matthew both received life sentences in prison.
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Shepard’s murder sparked a national dialogue on anti-queer hate crimes and inspired Shepard’s friends and family to activism. His mother Judy reluctantly began traveling the world, giving speaking engagements about her son, and lobbying for hate crime protections against LGBTQ people. She and Matthew’s father, Dennis, also founded The Matthew Shepard Foundation, an advocacy group aimed at raising awareness of hate crimes and anti-violence.
Judy & Dennis Shepard have selected Washington National Cathedral as Matthew’s final place of rest, the same church that began hosting same-sex weddings in 2010, and that welcomed a transgender preacher four years later.
“We’ve given much thought to Matt’s final resting place,” Judy Shepard explained via press release. “And we found the Washington National Cathedral is an ideal choice. Matt loved the Episcopal church and felt welcomed by his church in Wyoming. For the past 20 years, we have shared Matt’s story with the world. It’s reassuring to know he now will rest in a sacred spot where folks can come to reflect on creating a safer, kinder world.”
Matt’s internment marks an epilogue of hope to a story of pain and tragedy. Today, he would be 40 years old, and though he may not have lived to see marriage equality, an end to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and all the cultural advancements of the LGBTQ community, his spirit and his legacy live on.
Kangol
This is a beautiful turn of events, and a fitting tribute to Matthew Shepherd’s martyrdom and memory. It’s also important that this is announcement is happening on National Coming Out Day, when an avowedly homophobic party, the GOP, unfortunately controls all three branches of power.
DCguy
A wonderful tribute.
And remember, when all of those anti-LGBT troll accounts come in here trying to give cover to bigots and hate by calling it a “Different Opinion”….Well, the two men who brutalized and murdered Matthew Sheppard had a “Different Opinion” than he did.
That’s what they’re trying to hide behind those words.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
Beyond horrific what those two subhuman pieces of shit with arms, legs, and a hatefilled head stuck into it did to Matt. One of them stated “He needed to be murdered”….
The absolute most heart wrenching statements I ever heard was a description of Matt one of the ER Nurses stated upon first tending to Matt as he was brought into the ER. She said his entire face was caked with dried blood. The only flesh visible was from the trail of tears that ran down his face…..
sweetnovember
Usually I don’t comment, but this discreption is so violent and heartbreaking. How any human being can do that to any living soul? He was a beautiful young man that I wish I met and took all his pains away
graham
I remember this very well. I am deeply moved by what is now to happen and send my very best wishes to Judy and Dennis.
rray63
This tragedy, more than anything else it seems to me opened the eyes of everyday American’s to the important fact that we, the members of the LGBTQ community are just people. Why it took a senseless act is beyond any of us, but I like to think his sacrifice was not a wasted one. He was, is and always will be one of the most beautiful men I’ve ever seen, truly a face like an Angel. I hope people always remember this young man, especially those that are “considering” violence against anyone because they are different. Education should never come at the cost of one’s life or the suffering of family, friends and even strangers that felt the pain. I wish peace to his family, if they have not found it yet, if they have I wish for it to continue all their days.
Mr. Laudahl
Thank goodness, society has come a long way in the last two decades! I was teaching at a junior-high school twenty years ago, and we all read about Matthew Shepard in “TIME for Kids” magazine. A pupil in my sixth-grade class asked to be permanently transferred to another class because he felt “uncomfortable and traumatized” having to talk about homosexuality in my room. The principal nearly did transfer him out of my room, until I convinced her that I did not have a “gay agenda” but was rather objectively reading the news with my students (which was completely true). My goodness, such an uproar over something so innocent! My heart will always go out to Matt Shepard and students like him. Nobody, and I mean NOBODY, deserves to be treated with contempt and disgust the way he was! To any gay students I may have in my classroom: It gets better; please believe this! Just be yourself, and things WILL get better! And you can always talk to me if you need help!
jdr11201
It is a fitting tribute to Matthew Shepard and to his family. I remembered when this happened it broke my heart and was conflicted on how awful man can be towards the gay men course ignorance had a play in it. RIP Matthew Shepard you are now among the angels. 🙂
Mick406
Such a beautiful face . . . and I’m sure, a beautiful personality. His face and story have never escaped my mind. I broke down in tears when I first read the story of what happened to him. I remained astonished for several months, thinking of WHO would want to do such a thing? Where was their conscience? HOW could they do such an atrocity?!!! You had to be mighty hard-hearted to carry out such a brutal murder as this. I have been haunted by his death ever since I heard about it that day. May that beautiful soul rest in peace. We love you Matthew!!!
Bunnco
Just reading this story, remembering 20 years ago, brings tears to my eyes. Such hate, such evil on such a sweet soul. If there are angels then surely Michael is one.
Brgod
This is a great article and he absolutely can now rest in peace. I remember when I first saw the news on that day all those years ago and how upsetting it was for me. I was his age and had just recently come out and was stunned by what a hateful disgusting crime those two committed and how anyone regardless of their sexual orientation could be beat up and left for dead, so glad justice was served!!
Paulie P
May he finally rest in peace and his abusers never see the light of day. Bless his memory and his sweet soul.
DHT
I am so glad that he will be interred here. I am not religious but I will attend the ceremony.
Everyone is responsible for what happened to Matthew, both gays and straights. Small, slight gay men are universally bullied by both gays and straights and by both men and women. Routinely small, slight, and especially young gay men are bullied by other gays. Just remember than when you bully a gay man you are killing Matthew Shepard. These men are so used to it they don’t have the ability to know when they are in danger.
GayEGO
Excellent choice! Matthew has helped to advance America toward more equality for LGBTs. Washington, D.C. is a memorable city to place Matthew as part of our history!
MinnesotaNotNice
This is so wonderful to read! I had no idea that the Shepard’s never laid Matthew to rest.
Christopher
This excellent news, Matthew was the reason I finally came out. I couldn’t be in the closet anymore while people beat and killed us. I hope those two killers never get out and glad Matthew’s parents will finally start to get closure .