Matthew Shepard

The aggression

The October 6th 1998, Matthew Shepard leaves with homosexual friends in Fireside Bar in Laramie, Wyoming. He discusses with them, then those from go away. Remained only, Matthew is made approach by two young people who ask to him whether it is homosexual. Having answered by the affirmative, he sees himself proposing a turn of car, which he accepts readily.

But young people take along Matthew apart from the city and make it leave to blow stick Magnum 357. Having attached to a barrier, its attackers strike it until him to break cranium, then, the died believer, give up it.

Prevented by a cyclist having fallen close to him, the helps arrive on the spot 18 hours after the aggression and bring back it to the hospital of Valley Powder, Colorado, where he will die four days later, surrounded as of his.

Reactions

As of the advertisement of died of Matthew, gay associations decided to react by organizing “candlelight vigils”, taken care where each one comes with its candle. The goal was double: to gather to pay a homage quiet and moved to Matthew, and, to claim the adoption of the law against the heinous crimes in order to prevent that this drama does not reproduce.

The taken care first took place October 15th, with Washington, on the steps of the Capitole. More than 5.000 people gathered there, of the phosphorescent sticks to the hand, to listen to the speeches of friends of Matthew, stars, representatives of gay associations and defense of the human rights, and politicians.

The October 16th, day of the funeral, the banner pages of homosexual Internet sites take the black like dominant color. This same day, of the integrist Protestant militants anti-gay, taken along by the Reverend Fred Phelps, express close to the church where the ceremony takes place, with the cry of “God hastes fags” (God hates the fags), by holding up signs “Matt in hell” (Matthew in hell). Roman Patterson, a friend of Shepard, organizes a counter-demonstration. People carrying of the white dresses and the gigantic wings (resembling angels) gather around the group of homophobes and mask their signs, allowing the funeral to be held in the respect.

In 1999, the two assassins of Matthew Shepard, Russell Henderson and Aaron McKinney, then old of 21 and 22 years, are condemned to perpetuity, without possibility of release.

The history of Matthew Shepard inspired three film: The Laramie Project (according to the part of the same name), The Matthew Shepard Story and Anatomy off has Hate Crime . The Laramie Project and The Matthew Shepard Story has both receipt of many prices.

Several artists evoked the crime in their songs: Melissa Etheridge (" Scarecrow" in its album Breakdown , 1999), Elton John and Bernie Taupin (" American Triangle" in Songs from the West Coast , 2001, choruses of Rufus Wainwright), Amy Ray (" Laramie" , in Stag , 2001), Ron Sexsmith (" God Coil Everyone" , in Cobblestone Runway , 2002), Janis Ian (" Matthew" , in Billie' S Bones , 2004), Thursday (" Mr. Shepard" , War All the Time , 2004), Cyndi Lauper (" Above the Clouds" , in The Body Acoustic , 2005), Tori Amos (" Merman" , in Piano has: The Collection , 2006), Brian Houston (" The Balad off Matthew Shepard" , in Sugar Queen , 2006), and several others.

A law against the crimes of hatred founded on the orientation was deposited on March 20th, 2007, in the name of Matthew Shepard. It passed to the Sénat of the United States, but the president George W. Bush indicated that he would oppose his Véto to him.

external bonds

Foundation Matthew Shepard
Site in French on Matthew Shepard

Simple: Matthew Shepard

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