Joe Biden and (inset) Matthew Shepard (Photo: Shutterstock/Commons)
Yesterday marked 25 years since the death of Matthew Shepard. The brutal, homophobic murder of the 21-year-old’s gay student in Wyoming, shocked the US and beyond.
The White House issued a statement from President Joe Biden to mark the anniversary.
“Twenty-five years ago today, Matthew Shepard lost his life to a brutal act of hate and violence that shocked our nation and the world. The week prior, Matthew had been viciously attacked in a horrific anti-gay hate crime and left to die – simply for being himself.
“Matthew’s tragic and senseless murder shook the conscience of the American people. And his courageous parents, Judy and Dennis Shepard, turned Matthew’s memory into a movement, galvanizing millions of people to combat the scourge of anti-LGBTQI+ hate and violence in America.
Twenty-five years ago today, Matthew Shepard lost his life to a brutal act of anti-gay hate and violence simply for being himself.
His murder shook the conscience of the American people. And his courageous parents, Judy and Dennis Shepard, turned Matthew’s memory into a…
“Threats and violence targeting the LGBTQI+ community continue to rise”
“As Vice President, I had the honor of helping to enact the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which extended federal hate crimes laws to cover sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability,” Biden continued. “This legislation is a lasting tribute to Matthew, a testament to the relentless advocacy of Judy and Dennis, and an important step forward for our country.
“I was proud to honor Judy and Dennis as Uniters – Americans who stand against hate and heal our divides – at the United We Stand Summit here at the White House last year. Our charge is to continue the fight against hate, against violence, and against bigotry in all its forms.
“Today, as threats and violence targeting the LGBTQI+ community continue to rise, our work is far from finished. No American should face hate or violence for who they are or who they love. I once again call on Congress to send the Equality Act to my desk so that we can ensure LGBTQI+ Americans have full civil rights protections under our laws – because every American is worthy of dignity, acceptance, and respect.
“God bless Judy, Dennis, and all those who are grieving and remembering Matthew today.”
The murder of Matthew Shepard
Shepard was a student at the University of Wyoming. On the night of October 6, 1998, he was approached by two other young men, Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson, at the Fireside Lounge in Laramie. They offered to give him a ride home. Instead, they took him to a remote area where they pistol-whipped and tortured him. He was tied to a fence and left to die.
Eighteen hours later, a cyclist came upon Shepard tied to the fence. At first, he thought he was a scarecrow. Shepard was still alive but in a coma. He was rushed to hospital but succumbed to his injuries five days later and died on October 12th.
Police quickly arrested McKinney and Henderson. They men received life sentences for Shepard’s murder.
The legislation, sponsored by a Republican lawmaker, has been indefinitely postponed.
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That’s a f*cking joke! I can’t believe how many people forget that Bill Clinton declared marriage was between one MAN and one Woman when he drew up the Defense of Marriage Act back in the 90’s. And I’m amazed how many gays forget the biggest cheerleaders of that act was Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and Hilary Clinton! They all threw their support behind DOMA back in the day and were willing to take away OUR civil rights because they believed gay people should not have the right to marry. And all of them changed their tune after they realized how many gay people actually vote in elections and showed their faux support just to commandeer the gay community’s support. They’re all about the lip service and photo ops. Don’t trust ANY politician when it comes to gay rights.
@LumpyPillows–Stayed on subject but sorry you couldn’t follow where I was going. Blind faith with politicians is a horrible thing. And sorry if the truth hurts but he has made his homophobic view on gays quite public when he was a senator and VP. He says he’s changed but he hasn’t. Do a little research and don’t accept things at face value.
Of course Brian revises history to suit his right-wing rant.
Bill Clinton did not “declare marriage was between one MAN and one Woman when he drew up the Defense of Marriage Act back in the 90’s.”
This is an outright lie.
CONGRESS drew up the Defense of Marriage Act! More specifically, REPUBLICAN Congressman Bob Barr and Senator Don Nickles introduced the bill that became DOMA in May 1996.
Of course Brian didn’t tell you that. Brian also didn’t tell you that while Bill Clinton did sign the bill, he did so behind closed doors, late at night, and without any fanfare, because he knew it was wrong, and was doing so primarily because it was an election year. (He won in 1996.) It was disgraceful but he was not a “cheerleader.”
Joe Biden did vote for it, as did nearly all Republicans and most Democrats, though some like Pat Schroeder spoke out against it. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton were never “cheerleaders” of DOMA. In fact, in 2008, Barack Obama’s platform explicitly called for the repeal of DOMA. You can look it up.
I know there are others on this site who know some of this history, so please speak up when you can, because otherwise you have people like Brian6767 who just make crap up and post it on here, and people who don’t know the history will believe it.
The main reason Obama/Biden acquiesced to the whims of the Human Rights Campaign? Jennifer Pritzker bankrolled his ascendancy. Let’s stop pretending politicians are doing things for altruism. You’re not two years old, gang.
@Kangol2–AND, of course, Kangol2shows his ignorance and promotes a revisionist version of what really happened by saying Clinton got boxed in by his political opponents. Clinton gave power to the states to deny recognition of same-sex marriages, and yes, his wife, Joe, and Barack backed him with full support. Bill Clinton put his name on that discriminatory bill so that Independent voters would swing to the Democratic side. Hillary stood in front of congress and said, that she “takes umbrage at anyone that would want to change the definition of marriage”. (And to dumb it down for Kangol2), umbrage is defined as ‘offense or annoyance’. She was “offended and annoyed” at anyone fighting for marriage equality and gay rights. You can go to youtube and watch the video of her actually saying it, (her words, her mouth, not mine). Kangol2 is also trying to say that Hillary wasn’t a supporter for DOMA, while the video proves how ignorant Kangol2 truly is, (you can also find videos of Senator Biden declaring his own homophobia regarding same-sex marriage but I’m sure Kangol2 wouldn’t want to be proven wrong). And Kangol2 didn’t mention that Bill Clinton signed the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy in 1993 telling gays they can serve in the military but we’ll have to stay in the closet to do it. He also forgets to mention how, while in the Senate, Biden voted in 1993 for a broad defense bill that included the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law on LGBT service in the U.S. military. I’m an Independent. I don’t vote with my sexuality. Just because a politician has Democrat or Republican behind their name doesn’t mean I’m going to blindly support them. Don’t be ignorant sheep, like Kangol2…
Brian, first I love how every time some progressive sentiment is given conservatives only response is to dig into history from 30 years ago. Yes, these individuals all had their rough path to enlightenment, but they all got there. I really don’t give a flying F what Biden said in the 90s. I care what he said today. And it’s clear and obvious which party has our backs and which one doesn’t. Can you provide a name of a Republican in Congress who was publicly for same sex marriage in the 90s? How about the 2000s? How about today? I’m not talking about the lazy sentiment that “it’s the law now” blah blah, but actually publicly endorses marriage equality.
@boblrice–It’s a shame that you can’t see the suspicion that their “enlightenment” came about all at the same time. You think it’s a coincidence that Biden, Obama, and Hillary all had an epiphany at the exact same time? They realized how many gays vote and changed their tune to garner the gay community’s support. They provide the lip service we want to hear and we forget how they all wanted to take away our civil rights. And you’re right; the Republicans are worse. But at least they’re upfront about it.
brian, dear what does a different president on a different topic have to do with Joe Biden and Matthew Shepard? Nothing. It is a classic attempt to misdirect. We have your number. Kangol set you “straight” on the details of your phony attempt to create a false narrative on history. I’ll leave it at that.
Klangol 2 is technically right. But HILLARY Clinton did repeat “marriage was between one MAN and one Woman” when her husband coordinated the Defense of Marriage Act and DOMA into law back in the 90’s.
Hillary repeated this line (a lie) at most campaign stops. Let’s not forget the actual TRUTH just for political purposes.
Klangol 2, a half-truth is the same as a full-blown lie. Please study the full truth instead of false propaganda. Bil (with Hillary’s full support) pushed, passed and signed both DADT and DOMA into law.
A real hero is Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi – they supported us when we needed it. The Clinton did NOT (until SHE needed our votes) That is a characteristic of a shameful politician.
LMMFAO!! Sweetie, pleeeease! That tired old queen couldn’t set ANYTHING straight! And you….couldn’t find your gaping a-hole with a map and a funnel! It’s DIRECTLY on topic, genius!! Biden, the Clintons, and Obama ALL were against gay marriage and ONLY changed their tunes when they realized they needed the gay vote to beat the Republican incumbent, (McCain). Is that too hard for you to follow, Einstein? I’ll leave it at that!
@Ronbo–“A real hero is Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi”….I don’t know what you’re smoking but I want some of it. They’re the 2 most corrupt crooks in the Democratic party! Pelosi was warned about Jan 6th and did NOTHING! She called the travel ban racist and xenophobic and encouraged people to come to Chinatown/San Francisco in DROVES at the beginning of Covid. Biden is guilty of quid-pro-quo when he and Obama threatened to withhold billions of dollars if Ukraine didn’t fire the lead investigator of Burisma. They’re no heroes of mine and never will be!
Expected, important and wonderful that the White House under the leadership of President Biden would address the anniversary of the brutal murder of Matthew Shepard.
I had a little bit of a doubletake with the following sentence: “Twenty-five years ago today, Matthew Shepard lost his life to a brutal act of anti-gay hate and violence simply for being himself.”
Why add “…simply for being himself.” It seems to betray a deep-seated prejudice (unconcious bias?) that there could have been something that he might have done that would justify or mitigate this “…brutal act of anti-gay hate and violence”. Sort of brings to mind the logic underlying the “gay panic defense”.
As they well know at the White House, brutally murdering someone in an act of anti-gay hate and violence is never justifiable. period.
So much goes out on X (formerly Twitter), I’m sure things are less and less being doublechecked or reviewed.
I personally think it’s the best way to make he statement. Being himself got him killed. It doesn’t imply nor mean that being himself was wrong. I did a bit of a doubletake at the fact that it has been 25 years since it happened. Certainly doesn’t seem that long, but then again the Pulse massacre seems like it happened last year in my mind.
The vile rhetoric from The Westboro Baptist Church help me to shed the last vestiges of the belief in the invisible sky deity – and taught me to hate the religious zealots as much as they hated Matthew and me. Fred Phelps rests in piss!
All this shouting Clinton obama blah blah. It was 25 years ago. Biden wqs the first to break. Doma was the compromise for don’t ask don’t tell. The point is all of them finally caught up to us. Can we say that about the leaders of the other party?
Yes, there are a couple good acts in which we/they should be proud. But… OUR party is now pushing censorship and cancellations… much like the Repubkkkans. We can’t have both a ministry of truth AND our First Amendment.
Seems our leadership has a love of wealth which is greater than a conscious. For example, we SHOULD be for “peace” and equality in the middle east (not winners and losers). Now only the “squad” is calling for a cease fire. Seems the military industrial complex has captured the leadership of BOTH parties. It’s time to move on when OUR side is calling for bombing the Palestinians inside their open-air concentration camps.
Baron, [sigh] is this really the best you can do? Good God this is tiresome.
Yes, he once ran for office as a Democrat. He was also a civil rights attorney.
But then he lost his mind, got disbarred, and became the monster we all knew.
His having been a Democrat has nothing to with with the Democratic Party today. This is not the clever dig you apparently think it is. It’s just lazy and childish.
And not one democrat voted for him. People like tis Baron tool, that like to distract from just how horrible they are, with nonsense facts that are irrelevant are truly frustrating, but only if you argue with them. Best to not feed the trolls.
Wake up Lumpy! You are the “troll” using misinformation and false personal attacks.
Start with educating yourself, then maybe you’ll land on the truth. If you don’t weigh multiple aspects of an issue or only look at half of the truth, you may be pushing misinformation. Facts matter; propaganda is just half-truth parade for idiots.
“Obama wasn’t born in the USA”… “Russia hacked Hillary’s election”… seems political parties push misinformation to get people riled up and parade around nonsense.
I suggest you look to “Breaking Points” to get a nuanced education. Skip the parades and become informed.
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ZzBomb
I’m Proud of My President! Thank you Joe!
wikidBSTN
Ditto!
dbmcvey
Yes!
brian6767
That’s a f*cking joke! I can’t believe how many people forget that Bill Clinton declared marriage was between one MAN and one Woman when he drew up the Defense of Marriage Act back in the 90’s. And I’m amazed how many gays forget the biggest cheerleaders of that act was Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and Hilary Clinton! They all threw their support behind DOMA back in the day and were willing to take away OUR civil rights because they believed gay people should not have the right to marry. And all of them changed their tune after they realized how many gay people actually vote in elections and showed their faux support just to commandeer the gay community’s support. They’re all about the lip service and photo ops. Don’t trust ANY politician when it comes to gay rights.
LumpyPillows
Brian, nice attempt to change the topic. You just couldn’t have said something nice? No. Be a better human.
brian6767
@LumpyPillows–Stayed on subject but sorry you couldn’t follow where I was going. Blind faith with politicians is a horrible thing. And sorry if the truth hurts but he has made his homophobic view on gays quite public when he was a senator and VP. He says he’s changed but he hasn’t. Do a little research and don’t accept things at face value.
Kangol2
Of course Brian revises history to suit his right-wing rant.
Bill Clinton did not “declare marriage was between one MAN and one Woman when he drew up the Defense of Marriage Act back in the 90’s.”
This is an outright lie.
CONGRESS drew up the Defense of Marriage Act! More specifically, REPUBLICAN Congressman Bob Barr and Senator Don Nickles introduced the bill that became DOMA in May 1996.
Of course Brian didn’t tell you that. Brian also didn’t tell you that while Bill Clinton did sign the bill, he did so behind closed doors, late at night, and without any fanfare, because he knew it was wrong, and was doing so primarily because it was an election year. (He won in 1996.) It was disgraceful but he was not a “cheerleader.”
Joe Biden did vote for it, as did nearly all Republicans and most Democrats, though some like Pat Schroeder spoke out against it. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton were never “cheerleaders” of DOMA. In fact, in 2008, Barack Obama’s platform explicitly called for the repeal of DOMA. You can look it up.
I know there are others on this site who know some of this history, so please speak up when you can, because otherwise you have people like Brian6767 who just make crap up and post it on here, and people who don’t know the history will believe it.
decrans
The main reason Obama/Biden acquiesced to the whims of the Human Rights Campaign? Jennifer Pritzker bankrolled his ascendancy. Let’s stop pretending politicians are doing things for altruism. You’re not two years old, gang.
brian6767
@Kangol2–AND, of course, Kangol2shows his ignorance and promotes a revisionist version of what really happened by saying Clinton got boxed in by his political opponents. Clinton gave power to the states to deny recognition of same-sex marriages, and yes, his wife, Joe, and Barack backed him with full support. Bill Clinton put his name on that discriminatory bill so that Independent voters would swing to the Democratic side. Hillary stood in front of congress and said, that she “takes umbrage at anyone that would want to change the definition of marriage”. (And to dumb it down for Kangol2), umbrage is defined as ‘offense or annoyance’. She was “offended and annoyed” at anyone fighting for marriage equality and gay rights. You can go to youtube and watch the video of her actually saying it, (her words, her mouth, not mine). Kangol2 is also trying to say that Hillary wasn’t a supporter for DOMA, while the video proves how ignorant Kangol2 truly is, (you can also find videos of Senator Biden declaring his own homophobia regarding same-sex marriage but I’m sure Kangol2 wouldn’t want to be proven wrong). And Kangol2 didn’t mention that Bill Clinton signed the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy in 1993 telling gays they can serve in the military but we’ll have to stay in the closet to do it. He also forgets to mention how, while in the Senate, Biden voted in 1993 for a broad defense bill that included the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law on LGBT service in the U.S. military. I’m an Independent. I don’t vote with my sexuality. Just because a politician has Democrat or Republican behind their name doesn’t mean I’m going to blindly support them. Don’t be ignorant sheep, like Kangol2…
boblrice
Brian, first I love how every time some progressive sentiment is given conservatives only response is to dig into history from 30 years ago. Yes, these individuals all had their rough path to enlightenment, but they all got there. I really don’t give a flying F what Biden said in the 90s. I care what he said today. And it’s clear and obvious which party has our backs and which one doesn’t. Can you provide a name of a Republican in Congress who was publicly for same sex marriage in the 90s? How about the 2000s? How about today? I’m not talking about the lazy sentiment that “it’s the law now” blah blah, but actually publicly endorses marriage equality.
Baron Wiseman
@brian6767
Ouch!
Sometimes those facts hurt. Especially when they are not responded to.
brian6767
@boblrice–It’s a shame that you can’t see the suspicion that their “enlightenment” came about all at the same time. You think it’s a coincidence that Biden, Obama, and Hillary all had an epiphany at the exact same time? They realized how many gays vote and changed their tune to garner the gay community’s support. They provide the lip service we want to hear and we forget how they all wanted to take away our civil rights. And you’re right; the Republicans are worse. But at least they’re upfront about it.
LumpyPillows
brian, dear what does a different president on a different topic have to do with Joe Biden and Matthew Shepard? Nothing. It is a classic attempt to misdirect. We have your number. Kangol set you “straight” on the details of your phony attempt to create a false narrative on history. I’ll leave it at that.
Ronbo
Klangol 2 is technically right. But HILLARY Clinton did repeat “marriage was between one MAN and one Woman” when her husband coordinated the Defense of Marriage Act and DOMA into law back in the 90’s.
Hillary repeated this line (a lie) at most campaign stops. Let’s not forget the actual TRUTH just for political purposes.
Klangol 2, a half-truth is the same as a full-blown lie. Please study the full truth instead of false propaganda. Bil (with Hillary’s full support) pushed, passed and signed both DADT and DOMA into law.
A real hero is Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi – they supported us when we needed it. The Clinton did NOT (until SHE needed our votes) That is a characteristic of a shameful politician.
brian6767
@LumpyPillows
LMMFAO!! Sweetie, pleeeease! That tired old queen couldn’t set ANYTHING straight! And you….couldn’t find your gaping a-hole with a map and a funnel! It’s DIRECTLY on topic, genius!! Biden, the Clintons, and Obama ALL were against gay marriage and ONLY changed their tunes when they realized they needed the gay vote to beat the Republican incumbent, (McCain). Is that too hard for you to follow, Einstein? I’ll leave it at that!
brian6767
@Ronbo–“A real hero is Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi”….I don’t know what you’re smoking but I want some of it. They’re the 2 most corrupt crooks in the Democratic party! Pelosi was warned about Jan 6th and did NOTHING! She called the travel ban racist and xenophobic and encouraged people to come to Chinatown/San Francisco in DROVES at the beginning of Covid. Biden is guilty of quid-pro-quo when he and Obama threatened to withhold billions of dollars if Ukraine didn’t fire the lead investigator of Burisma. They’re no heroes of mine and never will be!
Fahd
Expected, important and wonderful that the White House under the leadership of President Biden would address the anniversary of the brutal murder of Matthew Shepard.
I had a little bit of a doubletake with the following sentence: “Twenty-five years ago today, Matthew Shepard lost his life to a brutal act of anti-gay hate and violence simply for being himself.”
Why add “…simply for being himself.” It seems to betray a deep-seated prejudice (unconcious bias?) that there could have been something that he might have done that would justify or mitigate this “…brutal act of anti-gay hate and violence”. Sort of brings to mind the logic underlying the “gay panic defense”.
As they well know at the White House, brutally murdering someone in an act of anti-gay hate and violence is never justifiable. period.
So much goes out on X (formerly Twitter), I’m sure things are less and less being doublechecked or reviewed.
RIP Matthew Shepard
dbmcvey
I don’t see the problem.
Openminded
I personally think it’s the best way to make he statement. Being himself got him killed. It doesn’t imply nor mean that being himself was wrong. I did a bit of a doubletake at the fact that it has been 25 years since it happened. Certainly doesn’t seem that long, but then again the Pulse massacre seems like it happened last year in my mind.
LumpyPillows
Trying to find a problem where there isn’t one.
mildredspierce
The vile rhetoric from The Westboro Baptist Church help me to shed the last vestiges of the belief in the invisible sky deity – and taught me to hate the religious zealots as much as they hated Matthew and me. Fred Phelps rests in piss!
Baron Wiseman
Yes, those vile, disgusting Democrats were the worst. Despicable.
LumpyPillows
LOL, Baron…you need help.
phillycap
All this shouting Clinton obama blah blah. It was 25 years ago. Biden wqs the first to break. Doma was the compromise for don’t ask don’t tell. The point is all of them finally caught up to us. Can we say that about the leaders of the other party?
Ronbo
Yes, there are a couple good acts in which we/they should be proud. But… OUR party is now pushing censorship and cancellations… much like the Repubkkkans. We can’t have both a ministry of truth AND our First Amendment.
Seems our leadership has a love of wealth which is greater than a conscious. For example, we SHOULD be for “peace” and equality in the middle east (not winners and losers). Now only the “squad” is calling for a cease fire. Seems the military industrial complex has captured the leadership of BOTH parties. It’s time to move on when OUR side is calling for bombing the Palestinians inside their open-air concentration camps.
Leo
Baron, try living up to your family name.
Baron Wiseman
@Leo
Fred Phelps, as vile as he was, was a Democrat. He ran for political office as a Democrat.
Leo, try educating yourself before making ignorant and uninformed remarks.
boblrice
Baron, [sigh] is this really the best you can do? Good God this is tiresome.
Yes, he once ran for office as a Democrat. He was also a civil rights attorney.
But then he lost his mind, got disbarred, and became the monster we all knew.
His having been a Democrat has nothing to with with the Democratic Party today. This is not the clever dig you apparently think it is. It’s just lazy and childish.
Better luck next time.
Baron Wiseman
@boblrice
Facts are facts, pumpkin.
dbmcvey
Phelps was a Democrat. So what? He was also a disgusting anti-gay vile bigot. What’s your point?
dbmcvey
Also, while Phelps may have run that time as a Democrat I’m sure he hadn’t voted Democrat since the mid-sixties.
I can name sever truly awful Democrats, though I can come up with even more terrible Republicans who are currently holding office.
Baron Wiseman
@dbmcvey
That time in the mid-sixties!?!
Fred Phelps ran in Kansas Democratic primaries FIVE times!
Governor 1990, 1994 and 1998
U.S. Senate 1992
Mayor 1993 and 1997
He supported Al Gore and Bill Clinton and demonstrated against the funerals of Barry Goldwater, Ronald Reagan and William Rehnquist.
LumpyPillows
And not one democrat voted for him. People like tis Baron tool, that like to distract from just how horrible they are, with nonsense facts that are irrelevant are truly frustrating, but only if you argue with them. Best to not feed the trolls.
Ronbo
Wake up Lumpy! You are the “troll” using misinformation and false personal attacks.
Start with educating yourself, then maybe you’ll land on the truth. If you don’t weigh multiple aspects of an issue or only look at half of the truth, you may be pushing misinformation. Facts matter; propaganda is just half-truth parade for idiots.
“Obama wasn’t born in the USA”… “Russia hacked Hillary’s election”… seems political parties push misinformation to get people riled up and parade around nonsense.
I suggest you look to “Breaking Points” to get a nuanced education. Skip the parades and become informed.