Speech for the Matthew Shepard Memorial March and Rally to be delivered on October 15, 1998 in Hartford, CT
When I heard the news... what did I feel? The white blinding, brain shivering, blood rushing, vengeance seeking RAGE tore through my body nearly shredding my heart.
What is the correct response to such a heinous crime?
Where do we express our outrage?
Who can we count on to extract our revenge?
How could this happen in our America?
Why is that beautiful, brave, caring, bright and loving gay boy dead?
The easiest to answer of those questions are "how" and "why":
Because we are represented by politicians who feel free to call our lives a disease, an illness, a maladjustment and even a crime - and they do so with impunity. Because these politicians are not ripped from their elected positions with righteous indignation, but instead their coffers fill with donations and they are re-elected to high office time and again. That ís why Matthew Shepard was beaten bloody.
Because we turn for moral leadership to priests and pastors and ministers and rabbis who daily refer to our lives as "abomination". Because these men and women of God are not punished for that assault on our dignity and humanity, but are treated with respect and deference and their defamation's are excused in the name of religious freedom. That's why Matthew Shepard was robbed and crucified on a fence.
Because talk-show hosts get laughs making jokes at our expense. Because comedians build careers aping and demeaning us. Because heterosexual actors win awards portraying us as "almost real people". Because newspapers and magazines lose no readership addressing their audience as if every one of us is straight. That's why Matthew Shepard was set on fire and left to die.
Because WE, in vast numbers, refuse to come out of the closet, thereby sending a clear message that even WE believe there is something to hide; that our lives are shameful; that being Gay or Lesbian is wrong. That is why Matthew Shepard is dead.
So, how should we answer this unspeakable act of hatred?
WE must begin by keeping a close watch, a constant visible and vocal presence at the trial of his slayers. We must not have a repeat of the Dan White fiasco. Let there be no "Twinkie Defense" for these cowards. Harvey Milk's assassination taught us a lesson we can NOT and will not forget!
WE must stand up in those cathedrals, synagogues, mosques and churches of hate- Stand up and state that we will not accept the preaching of exclusion. Stand up and walk out leaving them as bankrupt of members as they are of truth. Anything less, any compromise is permission to continue the persecution. Hatred has no compromise. If you need a place to put your faith and charity then seek an institution preaching love and acceptance for YOU.
WE must get out and vote! Let's stop electing representatives from our pocketbooks and wallets. Let's stop making excuses for politicians who are good on some issues but will not stand up for us. Trust me, my friends, any hack can pass laws protecting your bank account. Let's hold them to a higher standard than that. If they want our votes and our donations make them take the heat for openly supporting our right of full lawful citizenship. They are our representatives. Make them live up to that promise or vote them the hell out!
When you are watching television and a comedian defames us - pick up the phone and call the station. They listen. They count every actual caller as the opinion of 10,000 viewers. You have power. Use it. When a movie or TV show portrays our lives, but there isn't an openly gay or lesbian person to be found anywhere near it, - stay home!!! Boycott. Hollywood actually believes they are doing us a favor portraying us as "just like straight folk". Send them the message that heterosexuality is NOT the gold standard of humanity. We are proud to be just as we are and need no whitewashing, thank you.
Most importantly we must come out. There is no other way. WE must come out at our jobs. To our families. To our politicians. To our neighbors. If you allow no one to assume you are heterosexual they will never again freely make that assumption about anyone. That's how we change the world.
Finally always remember that we live in a capitalist system. Every penny you spend is a vote for or against us. When you buy a car from a company that gives money to our enemies you have just voted against passage of the "Hate Crimes Bill". By the same token, when you use an airline that extends domestic partnership you have just brought us one step closer to the realization of equal rights for all.
We must conduct our lives as open and proud members of a huge and powerful community. We must take hold of our own destinies.
My sisters and brothers - We cannot bring Matthew Shepard back to life- but maybe we can make his death the moment history records as the turning point of our struggle for freedom. It's within our power. Let's change the world today.
-Harvey Fierstein
Oct. 15, 1998