23 years ago this night, 21-year-old Matthew Shepard met Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson for the first time at the Fireside Lounge in Laramie, Wyoming and became the victim of one of the most brutal and heinous anti-gay hate crimes in history.
McKinney and Henderson said that they would give Matthew a ride home but instead they drove him to a remote rural area and proceeded to rob, pistol-whip, and torture Matthew, tying him to a fence and leaving him to die. Matthew hung there all night in the freezing, in pain and alone until he was discovered 18 hours later by Aaron Kreifels, a cyclist who initially mistook Shepard for a scarecrow. Matthew was still alive but by that time has slipped into in a coma.
Matthew 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 heart rate, body temperature, and other vital functions and there were about a dozen small lacerations around his head, face, and neck. His injuries were so severe that doctors could not operate.
Matthew was pronounced dead at 12:53 a.m. on October 12, 1998.
Both McKinney and Henderson were convicted of the murder, and each received two consecutive life sentences.
What happened to Matthew angered both America and the world. His senseless murder garnered immense media attention that brought forth and shone a light on the bigotry and hated that LGBT individuals endure
The life and death of Matthew Shepard changed the way we talk about, and deal with, hate in America. Since his death, Matt’s legacy has challenged and inspired millions of individuals to erase hate in all its forms. Although Matt’s life was short, his story continues to have a great impact on young and old alike. His legacy lives on in thousands of people like you who actively try to eradicate the hatred from those who preach against us and fight to replace it with understanding, compassion and acceptance.
On October 2009, the United States Congress passed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act (commonly the “Matthew Shepard Act” or “Shepard/Byrd Act” for short), and on October 28, 2009, President Barack Obama signed the legislation into law
Rest well sweet Matthew. We shall never forget.
It goes without saying you haven’t read The Book of Matt, because that might upset the theories you hold to your bosom in a quasi-religious manner.
Is that the one that tries to smear him as a drug dealer, even though no drugs were found in his apartment, and only a small amount of marijuana and alcohol was found in his system from the autopsy?
McKinney’s initial motive was robbery. But he targeted Shepard, he said, because “he was obviously gay. That played a part. His weakness. His frailty.”
“Matt Shepard needed killing.”
“As far as Matt is concerned, I don’t have any remorse.”
“The night I did it, I did have hatred for homosexuals.”
I used to live in Laramie. My brother knew those guys.
-Aaron McKinney, 2009.
You’re a piece of shit.
Excuse me; Joe Clark is a piece of shit. For clarification.
No you are
The Book of Matt? You mean the book with no footnotes and no named sources, no documents, and no way to corroborate any of its outlandish claims? That book? Anyway, while that book is junk, the Shepard family completely and utterly failed in responding to it. If someone tries to smear your son posthumously, you don’t say that it’s not worth responding to and shuffle away.
Sad
Joe Clark, you must be a Chump supporter. He loves the stupid people.
Sickening…. Even today it still hurts to think of him on that fence. I saw his Mom speak…what a courageous woman after her son was murdered…May memories of him bring her peace…
It is very shocking to see that a crime that happened more than 20 years ago still continues to be repeated in many places around the world.
Fortunately, things are beginning to improve little by little for the community, through many struggles that give rise to vital laws for queer people, such as the law that emblematically bears Matthew’s name.
These are achievements that save lives and change the world.
We will never forget Matthew or others who suffered the same fate as him.