One of my best friends has been beaten up for being gay, and it's so depressing - I wish people would be more considerate. But I did a report on Matthew for school and came out by doing it.
BILL FRENCH, 14
HAWAII

I sent this letter to everyone in my high school in California. As a result everyone at school told me how proud they were of me. They made me feel really good about who I am. They - even the football players - also promised that if anyone thinks of ever trying to harm me because I am gay, that they will have hell to pay.
This is my letter:
Dear fellow Students,
Oct.11 was National Coming Out Day for millions of Americans who are tired of having to lie about who they are. At the same time, a fellow American, Matthew Shepard, was dying in a hospital because he made a decision sometime back to stop lying about who he was.
He was brutally beaten and then strung up to die in a pasture on a cold night in Wyoming. His only crime: he chose to love in a way that some consider to go against the common fabric of our society.
While most of us find the murder to be a lurid and cowardly act, other people find it to be acceptable. They feel he deserved to die because of who he was.
I know the overwhelming majority of you condemn violence of this nature like I do. Any kind of violence has no place in our society. It only makes matters worse and never made any situation better. It also divides us rather than uniting us.
I consider all of you my good friends no matter who you are, what you are, where you come from, whether your family is rich, or whether your family is poor. And I hope you consider me your friend too. I say this because I choose to love in the same way that Matthew Shepard did.
Matthew will be buried today. My heart goes out to his family, his friends, and all of those whom have expressed their deep concern regarding this terrible tragedy. In spite of this tragedy, I will celebrate Matthew's life today. And I hope each of you do too. No Matthew did not die in vain... he sacrificed himself for people like me and some of you, so that we can live a more free and open life. After all this is what America is all about.
God bless you Matthew. You will be sorely missed, but not forgotten.
ROBBIE 17,
[Robbi49253@aol.com]
CALIFONIA

This murder happened at a time in my life where I want to come out to the people I see everyday, yet I fear the same fate as poor Matthew Shepard. I don't even know yet If will come out at school, and this savage incident will surely make me think twice before making that decision.
Yet at the same time that would mean the straight people were winning - pushing young gays and lesbians back into their shells. Incidents like this are the breeding grounds for anger and vindictiveness and they occur only because gays and lesbians are actually gaining ground in there efforts to be accepted.
I wish nobody would have to endure such punishment just because of stupid, closed-minded prejudice. May Matthew rest in peace and serve as a sort of martyr, an example of sorts to make sure nothing like this ever happen again.
ROB [ROBDAWG18@aol.com]
Fairfield, CA

Matthew Shepard was a very brave man - for him to be out in such a conservative area shows a lot about him. He showed that the repression of the enviroment he lived in wouldn't stop him from being who he was. Its a shame that such cruel people would partake in such a savage act.
Matthew has been in my heart since I've heard of his death. I can't get it out of my mind the way he was murdered, how alone he must have felt. I sobbed when I heard of his death. - I couldn't hold it in, the tears just poured out of my eyes.
I went to a vigil at the University of Pensylvania. It was moving to see the outpouring of support for Matthew, and how many people are ready to stand up and not tolerate the ignorance anymore. It's just a shame that Matthew had to die for us to really wake up and take action.
SHAUN, 19 [WEBBOI@AOL.COM]
New Jersey

I met Matthew just after New Years 1998. He was living in Denver, and had just got back from visiting his parents in Saudi Arabia. It had snowed a lot and I was stuck in downtown Denver, near where he lived. I was introduced to him by a friend of mine. Matthew and I went out for coffee and I remember being so fascinated with his wordly charm. I even remember admiring his clothes and telling him that. He seemed to hold nothing back when we talked.
He'd left Wyoming and gone to Switzerland to get an education - to see the beauty of the world he told me. I remember him talking about wanting to college in a pretty place. He had mentioned Wyoming, or maybe the Northwest coast.
The one thing I remember the most about Matthew was his charm. He had the smallest build, with the biggest heart. He was so kind and so compassionate. I could never see him fighting anyone. He had this peacefull feeling about him, and it shined through his smile. His distinctly timid voice still rings in my head. When I read about the violence in Wyoming, I never put the two together. It wasn't until after he died, when I saw the picture in the paper, that I realized it was the innocent Matt I had once had coffee with. My day was frozen and I know I miss him.
JEREMIE GARZA, 18
[SPICINESS@AOL.COM]
San Francisco, CA

When I first heard, my friend and I were just goofing around and having fun. The news segment came on and we just stopped and stood in silence and disbelief.
How does it make me feel? I almost feel numb. When will it all stop? It seems like the more visible we get and the more progress we make, the more shit we have to deal with. If it's not Matthew's death then it's the four consecutive nights of gay bashing that took place down the street last month.
And if it's not the violence, then it's the Supreme Court's recent decision to deny the gay community protection from discrimination. It's a constant struggle - but I have to keep reminding myself to be strong and not to give up. Because I know that one day - maybe not in my lifetime, but one day - our battle will eventually end, and it's the homophobes who will hang their heads in defeat. DANIEL QUICK, 23
[DANIELQT@AOL.COM]
New York, NY

To be young and gay is a beautiful thing. There are those evil people who say we are going to hell just for excisting. But I know what beauty is, and I know what good is. If Matthew's death shows the country the same thing, it won't have been in vain.
KURT, 18
Wyoming

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