Matthew Shepard Update Discussion List Newly formed on 10/16/98 on onelist.com. Subscribe today and view the archives also!! Need an HTML fragment to get others to subscribe, email me:Rodney Allen Bell, II
MATTHEW SHEPARD UPDATE #4, 10/15-10/30, 1998
This newsletter is updated as needed and goes out to the MatthewShepardUpdate@onelist.com list, the Lambda Midwest List lmw-l@unl.edu and many others on my personal emailing list. This is strictly a volunteer effort. The newsletter's goal is to provide: 1) information not found in the news, 2) poetry about Matthew Shepard, 3) Memorials about Matthew, 4) Vigils held/being held for Matthew, 5) present editorial viewpoints not part of the mainstream press, 6) provide the best links to stories, websites and memorials for/about Matthew Shepard, 7) announce web rings, email lists and message boards of interest and 8) present any other information about Matthew Shepard and Hate Crimes in America. This newsletter is put up in HTML format after sending. The Lambda Midwest Matthew Shepard Memorial Website http://geocities.datacellar.net/WestHollywood/Stonewall/2178/shepard1.html is always the starting point for links to the newsletters and also a comprehensive list of links, memorials and web rings coming soon!!! Each newsletter is converted to HTML and uploaded. Please send neat things about Matthew Shepard including a) photos-personal, private and public, b) news articles, c) scans, d) any other memorabilia regarding Matthew Shepard, e) graphics of any kind related and f) Physical stuff (newspapers clips, magazines, etc.) to: lovespirit@earthlink.net or snail mail to: Rodney Allen Bell, II, B.A., P.O. Box 45357, Kansas City, MO 64171 Matthew Shepard Update Writer and List Owner There is never enough room to include everything that is/has happened.
===============================================================================
POETRY:
22
When I was 22
The ashes, ashes all fell down
And they came at me armed to the teeth
Like Shiva, ready to destroy me
And make me a martyr.
I didn't want to become a martyr
And I didn't want to burn and
I didn't want to lie in the hospital for them.
When I was 22
I bled for the sin of being a man who was different. . .
Only my blood didn't wash them clean and it made them mad.
So they kicked me on my path to see Joan
And Martin and Galileo. . . or maybe
They kicked me to make that path.
When I was not even 23
My mother and father cried for my bruised body.
My mother and father cried for my dying body.
My mother and father cried because they might have to kill me.
I laid in my mind and no one could reach me.
When I was 22
There came a silence that outdid them all.
I had burned for them and bled for them till there
Was nothing left to do but die.
I won nothing and lost my life.
Not even 23 and my dead body
Was on the news.
My killers, on the TV.
And the leaders said it was isolated
And I couldn't agree more.
So isolated, no one heard me screaming.
When I was 22
I died.
And somewhere in South Carolina,
A boy cried.
written by a young man from Clemson
To: Matthew Shepard..R.I.P. God Bless You
And to others who were victimized by hate crimes
Hate Vs. Love
A young man was killed today.
He was a college student,
Lived in Wyoming,
And was gay..
Now, he is just a "was" to us.
His spirit shall be with all of us..
Many may be celebrating this,
But I hope most all of us are
In sorrow that this ever happened.
I know God will bring him peace,
For now..
He is safe and loved.
However, this suffering is very, very evil.
A girl said 'We didn't mean for this to happen.
We were just going to rob him'.
Hmm.. That you SURE did.
You robbed him of his dreams,
His hope and future.
Because one is gay,
They suffer.
We should be happy
For them for loving.
Love is stronger than hate.
We shall overcome this hate.
I'll never forget this day,
For it's a wake-up call,
That we're responsible for one another,
No matter WHAT.
Today, my love will spread,
And hate will be erased.
Justice
God, on this night..
My pain, anger and rage
Won't rest.
This hate and evil
Needs to be erased.
If you don't bring justice,
My soul and heart
Will never live and breathe,
As it should..
I am mourning this even happened.
God, I know you're love.
Show us you are.
Show us your justice.
We need justice and peace.
The torture and pain,
That this man suffered..
Won't stop flowing through my head
Until there is justice.
Please just shine your love
And strength over all of us,
To STOP this hatred..
Heal this hate
And bring love and justice.
Justice, Justice, Justice..
It will show us to value peace.
Justice, Justice, Justice..
It will show us to value love.
Let's value love and peace, now and forever!
-Tami Davidson tadsw96@execpc.com
Author: torgen@hotmail.com
fly
Posted by Torgen, Berlin (Germany) on October 20, 1998 at 08:18:46:
fly, fly, little wing
fly beyond imagining
the softest cloud, the whitest dove
upon the wind of heaven's love
past the planets and the stars
leave this lonely universe of ours
escape the sorrow and the pain
and fly again
fly, fly, precious one
your endless journey has begun
take your gentle happiness
far too beautiful for this
cross over to the other shore
there is peace forevermore
but hold this memory bittersweet
until we meet
fly, fly, do not fear
don't waste a breath, don't shed a tear
your heart is pure, your soul is free
be on your way, don't wait for me
above the universe you'll climb
on beyond the hands of time
the moon will rise, the sun will set
but I won't forget
fly, fly little wing
fly where only angels sing
fly away, the time's not right
but go now, find the light
______________________________________
JUST LIKE MATTHEW
I am a gay man
Just like Matthew
I am an Episcopalian
Just like Matthew
I am a Saggitarius
Just like Matthew
I am short and blonde
Just like Matthew
I love soccer, dancing, and theater
Just like Matthew
I spoke three languages
Just like Matthew
I want to make the world a better place
Just like Matthew
I trust people at face value
Just like Matthew
I give my love and friendship to people
Just like Matthew
I know how to cry
Just like Matthew
And on Monday October 12th 1998
With a last shuddering gasp
As one last star fell
Part of me died
Just like Matthew.
___________________________________
copyright 1998 by Dean Backus jtdb@mindspring.com.
===============================================================================
NEWS MORE RECENT:
TRAGIC GAY-BASH VICTIM BARED FEARS ON FILM IN '96
By MICHAEL STARR
New York Post
10/22/98
Matthew Shepard, who was beaten to death Oct. 7 in Wyoming, expressed his fears
of being openly homosexual in a small, conservative college town in an interview two
years ago.
Shepard's comments were recorded by documentary filmmaker Tim Kirkman in
1996 at Catawba College in Salisbury, N.C., after a speech by then-presidential
candidate Bob Dole.
Kirkman approached Shepard and his then-boyfriend and asked them for their
thoughts on Sen. Jesse Helms, an outspoken critic of homosexuals and the subject
of his documentary, Dear Jesse.
Tim was gathering some interviews for the documentary, said Kirkman's
spokesman, Alan Klein.
Dole's speech had attracted a lot of gay and lesbian protesters, and Tim .asked
Matthew what he thought about Jesse Helms, Klein said. Both Matthew and his lover
agreed that Helms was indeed homophobic. And they said it was tough being "out'
as homosexuals in a small town.
They also said they had just joined a gay ^Catawba College_ group and expressed
some trepidation about that, Klein said.
They said it was tough to be in that town and also to be visible in a gay organization.
Kirkman discovered the footage by accident while editing Dear Jesse - and has
already been approached by one major news organization about selling the footage,
Klein said.
The idea is for as many people in the country to see this because it really humanizes
the issue and adds another dimension to what people already know about Matthew,
he said.
The documentary will be shown in January as part of Cinemax's Reel Life series.
Shepard was savagely murdered in Laramie, Wyo., by two men who left him
hanging on a fence in freezing temperatures after learning he was gay.
Shepard died after lingering in a coma for several days, and his death has sparked
national outrage.
Related New York Times Article by Frank Rich
http://www.mattshepard.org/html/nyt_article.html
WILL MATTHEW SHEPARD GET JUSTICE THROUGH A JURY? READ ON!!!!
Reuters, October 23, 1998
US Jurors Show Bias Against Companies, Gays - Poll (excerpt)
NEW YORK -- Potential American jurors are biased against big corporations
including tobacco companies, gays and politicians and would follow their
beliefs regardless of a judge's instructions, according to a poll released
Friday.
The nationwide poll, which will appear Monday in the National Law
Journal, also showed that half the respondents would find in favor of
President Clinton if he were sued for sexual harassment by Monica Lewinsky.
However, 23 percent said they would side with the former White House intern.
The study, which was taken between Oct. 2-4, polled 1,012 people and has
a sampling error of plus or minus 3 percent.
The study was a joint project of the law journal, a New York-based weekly
trade newspaper, and DecisionQuest, a trial consulting company. . . .
Another part of the poll shows that gays and lesbians who are involved in
a trial are at least three times as likely to face a biased jury as a person
who is white, African-American, Hispanic or Asian. According to the survey,
one in six potential jurors said they could not be fair to politicians.
In another finding, 75 percent of the respondents said that if they were
jurors they would do what they believe to be right, regardless of the judge's
instructions, and more than 40 percent said that a defendant who does not
testify is hiding something.
"This could hurt defendants, defense lawyers said, because a common
instruction tells jurors not to infer guilt from a defendant's silence,'' the
newspaper said. "Defense counsel now fearthat the traditional strategy of
keeping a client off the stand may be a recipe for conviction.''
================================================================================
NEWS RELEASE
GLOradio Corporation/GAYBC
http://www.gloradio.com http://www.gaybc.com
Contact: John McMullen, Chairman & President
(415) 431-6990 E-mail: john@gaybc.com
GAYBC Offers Matthew Shepard National Vigil Webcast
October 22, 1998, San Francisco, CA--GAYBC (http://www.gaybc.com),
GLOradio's online radio network for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and
Transgender Community, announced today that the service will offer a 2-hour
special webcast of the national vigil for Matthew Shepard held on October
14 in Washington, D.C., beginning October 22. The webcast is available
around the clock on-demand and can be heard by anyone with a minimum of a
28.8kbps connection to the Internet and computer with sound card and
speakers.
GAYBC's webcast of the Shepard vigil features emotional memorials by two
of Matthew's friends from Wyoming, Walter Bolden and Alex Trout. There were
several members of the U.S. Congress who address the event, including Dick
Gephardt, Barney Frank, Edward Kennedy and John Kerry. Film and television
personalities speaking at the event include Ellen DeGeneres, Dan Butler,
Kristen Johnston and Anne Heche. Elizabeth Birch of the Human Rights
Campaign, Joan M. Garry of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation
and Kerry Lobel of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force are among the
community leaders speaking.
"We join the rest of our community in the tremendous pain we all feel for
Matthew Shepard, his family and his friends," said GLOradio's John
McMullen. "We hope that by making this event available for listening to
people throughout the nation and around the world, that more people in our
community will be inspired to continue to stand up and express the rage we
feel and demand that our elected leaders do everything possible to see that
not one more life is lost."
GLOradio's GAYBC will continue to follow the Shepard murder case through
its daily newscast, The Daily Dose, and on weekly talk and commentary
programs. The special vigil webcast will be permanently available from the
GAYBC archives.
========================================================================
Editor's Note: This should be either a black ribbon for hate crimes or a yellow ribbon with a green circle(s). Don't think these people know what they're doing. Yellow is not for this area. Look up your ribbons!!!
RAB
YELLOW RIBBON CAMPAIGN
Please consider participation in this regional (6-state) yellow ribbon
campaign:
"Tie a Yellow Ribbon... for Freedom and Justice"
The Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment, and all people
dedicated to creating a society that is free for all people, call on
communities, organizations, and individuals to come together in protest of
the hate crimes committed against countless victims across our country over
the past year, including:
* Matthew Shepard brutally beaten to death in Laramie, Wyoming because
of his sexual orientation,
* Oumar Dia shot to death by a racist skinhead in Denver, Colorado,
because of his skin color.
* James Byrd, an African American man dragged to death behind a truck
in Jasper, Texas because of his race.
We are asking individuals, businesses, schools, religious institutions,
governmental entities, and others to stand together in unity behind the
symbol of a yellow ribbon. The yellow ribbon symbolizes both friendship,
which we all need to create the communities we want, and forgiveness, which
we are all called to grant to the perpetrators of these crimes.
The yellow ribbon campaign will culminate November 1-November 7, 1998 with
candlelight vigils, proclamations by officials, and finally, the ringing of
bells at noon on November 6, the one month anniversary of the beating of
Matthew Shepard.
By tying a yellow ribbon around trees and street posts, on our homes and
fences, and by wearing the ribbons on our clothing, we will be standing
together in opposition to hate crimes and in support of the freedom for all
people in our country.
For more information please contact the Northwest Coalition Against
Malicious Harassment at 303-839-5953 or 206-233-9136, or send email to
msnab@aol.com.
>From Marlene Hines, in Wyoming:
Hi Everyone,
The following is an outline of a campaign we developed to respond to the
awful beating death of Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wy. If you would like a
hard copy of the packets we have put together for the Yellow Ribbon
Campaign.
Please pass this email on to anyone you know who might be interested/able to
help us in our organizing.
Thanks for all your good work as always.
Marlene Hines
303-839-5953
12 October 1998
Dear Friends,
As we mourn the passing of Matthew Shepard, the human rights movement is
called to be leaders in promoting a positive response and reaction to this
brutal hate crime.
The Mountain States Network Against Bigotry/Northwest Coalition Against
Malicious Harassment is suggesting several ways to publicly denounce this
and other hate crimes, to increase public awareness and responsibility, and
to take action against crimes of this nature. In order to do this we are
asking you to:
1) Distribute and hang yellow ribbons in your community (schools,
government buildings, neighborhoods, religious institutions, etc.).
2) Contact, and encourage others to contact, your governor to request the
passage of an inclusive hate crimes bill in your state. (NOTE from Safe
Schools Coalition: In Washington State, the issue of concern is not a hate
crimes act, itself, since we already have one. The Safe Schools Coalition is
very concerned, however, about the lack of a legal requirement that schools
have any malicious harassment policies, that would parallel the protections
in our state law. You might want to ask Governor Locke why not and tell him
you think that, of all citizens of the state, school children ought to be
protected from hate crimes, especially.)
3) Promote the passage of a Hate Crimes Awareness Week Resolution (sample
Resolution enclosed) in your town or county or school district or at the
sate level.
4) Arrange for local churches and religious institutions to ring their
bells at noon on Friday, November 6, 1998, the one month anniversary of the
beating of Matthew Shepard.
5) Organize activities for Hate Crimes Awareness Week, November 1-7, 1998,
such as candlelight vigils, rallies, community education programs, etc.
Please call (303-839-5953) if you have any questions or need any assistance
in organizing these events. We would like to know what you're doing so that
we can keep other groups and local activists informed of your work.
I look forward to hearing from you,
Marlene Hines
Sample Resolution
WHEREAS, the (City or County or school district) is committed to providing
each member of its community an environment free from the intimidation, fear
and violence; and
WHEREAS, all (City or County or school district) residents, regardless of
membership or perceived membership in a particular group should feel safe
from intimidation, fear and violence; and
WHEREAS, our community is aware of and horrified by the beating death of
Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyoming, the shooting death of Oumar Dia in
Denver, Colorado, the dragging death of James Byrd in Jasper, Texas, and
numerous other crimes of hate and intimidation; and
WHEREAS, our community wishes to take a proactive stance by denouncing
crimes of hate that may incubate when good people remain silent; and
WHEREAS, when any one person is assaulted, threatened or their property
damaged because of their membership, or perceived membership, in a
particular group, every member of our community is affected and our values
of freedom and fairness are trampled upon.
NOW, THEREFORE, (CITY OR COUNTY or school district) PROCLAIMS THAT CRIMES
MOTIVATED BY HATE WILL NOT BE TOLERATED IN OUR COMMUNITY AND JOINS COMMUNITIES
ACROSS THE REGION IN DECLARING THAT THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER FIRST 1998 WILL BE
DECLARED (CITY OR COUNTY) HATE CRIMES AWARENESS WEEK. WE HOPE THAT OUR
COMMUNITY WILL TEACH OTHERS A LESSON OF PEACE, BROTHERHOOD,
AND HARMONY.
Beth Reis
Seattle-King County Department of Public Health, Public Health Educator and
liaison to the Safe Schools Coalition of Washington
2124 Fourth Ave, Seattle, WA 98121
phone: 206-296-4755 (8-5 Pacific time)
voice-mail: 206-205-6156 (24 hours)
fax: 206-296-0184
email: elizabeth.reis@metrokc.gov
========================================================================
VIGIL FOR MATTHEW SHEPARD-A BLESSING
An Email from Rev. John M. Barbone, Spirit of Hope MCC, Kansas City, MO
Here is a Report on the Vigil that was held for Matthew Shepard - I want to
thank you for your help in disseminating the information and ask that you send
this report to all those to whom you forwarded the original announcement.
Let them know the success of the endeavor and the part they played in in
honoring Matthew's Memory and in speaking out against injustice and
intolerance. God Bless you all !
On Wednesday Night, October 14th - an estimated group of almost 300 people
gather at Spirit of Hope Metropolitan Community Church to pray for Matthew
Shephard and his family and all those who have been the victims of hate and
intolerance.
The Service lasted about one half hour and was then followed by a Candlelight
Vigil from Spirit of Hope MCC, down Main Street Kansas City, to Community
Christian Church on the Plaza. About 2/3 of the worshippers made the walk and
two vans carried people who wanted to participate but were unable to make the
walk.
The clergy and/or laity from the following communtities of faith who
identified themselves at the service included the following:
Country Club Congregational Church;
Broadway Baptist Church;
Trinity United Methodist;
Guardian Angels Roman Catholic;
Prince of Peace Lutheran;
St. Paul School of Theology;
Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral (Episcopal);
Immaculate Conception Cathedral (RC);
Community Christian Church;
Unity on the Plaza;
Westport Cooperative Services;
All Souls Unitarian;
Evangelical Lutherans;
St. James;
I am sure that there were others as well - we were blessed by the presence of
every person in that room. In addition both GLAAD & P-FLAG were represented
and supportive of this endeavor.
Rev. Barbone would like to thank Rev. Paul Smith; Rev. Greg Watling, Rev. Jane
Ralph, Rev. Susan Vogel and Jim Doebely for their help and support in
implementing the Vigil. He also expresses gratitude to the staff and members
of Spirit of Hope MCC for their heartfelt support and service in this
endeavor.
========================================================================
RESOLUTION OF THE NATIONAL GAY LESBIAN LAW ASSOCATION:
Resolution of the National Lesbian & Gay Law Association
Be it resolved:
WHEREAS, the recent tragic assault and murder of Matthew Shepard, chosen for
brutal violence because he was gay, has once again demonstrated the desperate
need of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people for protection from
such violence; and
WHEREAS, the incidence of such violence is growing as gay, lesbian, bisexual
and transgender visibility increase and extremist groups fan the flames of
hatred through their words and deeds; and
WHEREAS, more than half of the states as well as the federal government either
lack laws protecting vulnerable minorities from hate crimes or have hate crime
statutes that fail to include sexual orientation or gender identity; and
WHEREAS, the effectiveness of even those laws that have been enacted too often
depends on erratic or nonexistent enforcement by law enforcement agencies and
prosecutors who fail to treat seriously violence against lesbian, gay,
bisexual and transgendered individuals or to make the safety of sexual and
gender minorities a sufficient priority to provide genuine equal protection of
the laws in the criminal justice systems;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Lesbian & Gay Law Association,
having earlier dedicated its annual conference to the memory of Matthew
Shepard and other victims who came before him, urges that
1) Congress, and state legislatures, enact at the earliest possible date,
statutes that protect lesbians, gay men, bisexual and transgendered persons
from violent crime motivated by hate; and
2) police, prosecutors, and judicial systems vigorously enforce such laws and
give the safety of our community the attention and commitment of resources it
requires; and
3) legislation's protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people
from discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations should
be enacted by Congress and in the many states where it is absent, in order to
begin to alter the climate that produces violence against sexual and gender
minorities and that perpetuates the status of sexual and gender minorities as
less than full and equal members of the broader national community.
Respectfully submitted:
Mark F. Scurti,
Secretary, NLGLA
BE ALL THAt WE ARE
The horrible senseless death of a young gay man this week brought the
world together-Matthew Sheperd lost his life because he was gay-that's
it-simply because he was Gay! He was open about who he was, and because
he was real those that could not tolerate that decided to take his life.
What a price to pay!
As I pondered this today, I thought about how discrimination is not just
confined towards Gay folks, but so many group are openly judged or
discriniated against by others. Those who are handicapped or ill often
are left alone, or their needs not met-poor poverty stricken folks often
do not even have a home to go to, or food to eat-emotionally ill people ,
often cannot receive the mental health care they need-minority races are
often isolated just because they may be of a different skin color.. How
pathetic the world is! Many pass judgement and turn away by saying if
these folks wanted to, they could improve themselves and make it better,
and yes, I suppose that may be true in very few cases.
For me, I have faced discrimination on many of the above issues and it
has been painful indeed, and I am sure that some of you have too. There
have been times when I felt beaten down, ready to give up because of the
lack of support because of who I am and what I am about.
As I thought about this today,at first I felt really helpless about it
all, almost in despair and then the statement came to me that"WE TEACH
PEOPLE HOW TO TREAT US." If we stay in self-imposed closets of our own
making and cannot be real about who we are and where we are at, then how
can we build a support system at all? At times the discrimination I have
felt, was of my own making ,because I was discriminating against myself
and excluded myself because I perceived myself as different too.
We are a people created to love, to have compassion for ourselves and
others,and to respect life. Because Matthew was real, and did not hide
his orientation, he lost his life, but he did not lose his spirit which
will live on for a long time-his realness, and spirit has brought the
world together-to embrace one another, and the outcry is to STOP THE
HATE! For me, I want to embrace myself and live in the acceptance of all
that I am, and when I can do that-then I can embrace anyone else without
judging them and accept them in all that they are!
Carol McNeely
October 16, 1998
songofjoy3@juno.com
"THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE'
========================================================================
LINKS OF INTEREST
EMAIL LISTS:
Subscribe to the MatthewShepardUpdate on onelist.com:
http://www.yahoogroups.com/subscribe.cgi/MatthewShepardUpdate
WEB RINGS:
Matthew Shepard Memorial Web Ring
http://www.dkol.com/matthewshepard/webring.htm
So what is The Visible and Proud Webring? To provide a way to promote tolerance and acceptance, to show the world that we are more than just statistics or non-entities, that we have faces, families, friends, real people. It is promote visibility among minorities of all sorts. If we are visible, we cannot be ignored. And lastly, it is my hope that maybe, just maybe, someone will wander through our sites and by seeing the real us they can help prevent a hate crime or come to the defense of one of us who needs them.
So there you have it in it's simplicity. Want to be part? Good! Join the Visible and Proud Webring.
Visual and Proud Web Ring
http://geocities.datacellar.net/WestHollywood/Park/1415/webring.html
Index of Matthew Shepard Memorial Web Ring
http://www.webring.org/cgi-bin/webring?ring=mshepard;index
MEMORIAL PAGES AND INFORMATION ON MATTHEW SHEPARD/HATE CRIMES:
Lambda Midwest Matthew Shepard Memorial and Hate Crimes Page
http://geocities.datacellar.net/WestHollywood/Stonewall/2178/shepard1.html
Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Memorial Page
http://geocities.datacellar.net/WestHollywood/Park/1415/index.html
Matthew Shepard-1976 to 1998
http://members.aol.com/arisiaart/Matt.html
Matthew Shepard's Memorial Website
http://www.websine.com/shepard/matt.html
Matthew Shepard Tribute
http://www.pcisys.net/~aellison/matthew/
Web Vigil for Matthew
http://w3.ime.net/~valor/matthew/matthew.html
In Memory of Matthew Shepard 1976-1998
http://www.web-construct.com/shepard/index.html
Matthew Shepard (1977-1998)
http://www.enqueue.com/ria/
Memorial to Matthew Shepard
http://geocities.datacellar.net/WestHollywood/Park/1165/matt.html
Matthew's Place
http://matthewsplace.com/
World Time Zone System (map redesigned in Memory of Matthew Shepard)
http://www.halyava.ru/tunguska/worldtm7.htm
World Time Zone for print (map redesigned in Memory of Matthew Shepard)
http://geocities.datacellar.net/CapeCanaveral/5082/matthew.htm
Matthew Shepard
http://members.tripod.com/~MAGAYBOY/mattmem.html
San Diego Mourns Matthew Shepard
http://www.yourpix.com/matthew/
In Memory of...Matthew Shepard
http://mattshepard.hypermart.net/
United Gays and Lesbians of Wyoming
http://www.uglw.org/
Matthew Shepard Always in Our Hearts
http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/lmcisaac/mshepard/
Just a Prairie Boy
http://geocities.datacellar.net/WestHollywood/Village/6641/matthew.html
In Memory of Matthew Shepard
http://members.aol.com/BattleGods/hate.html
Memorial
http://www.angelfire.com/wi/macsean/memorial.html
Matthew Shepard International Memorial Chat Room
http://members.wbs.net/homepages/m/a/t/mattboston/inmemoryofmatthewshepard.html
Gentle Touch's Web: In Memory of Matthew Shepard
http://www.gentle-touch.com/home4.shtml
In Honor of Matthew Shepard
http://geocities.datacellar.net/WestHollywood/Stonewall/8807/
Matthew Shepard Online Memorial
http://www.youthresource.com/remember/mathew/
Remembering Matthew Shepard
http://www.newmilleniumtech.net/matt/
Memorial to Matthew Shepard
http://geocities.datacellar.net/WestHollywood/Park/1165/matt.html
Denver Memorial Page to Matthew Shepard
http://coloradopridecenter.org/mathewshepardmemorial.html
Mike Silverman's Memorial
http://www.websine.com/shepard/matt.html
French Memorial Site
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/cdrhomepage/matthew.story.htm
Webpage Dedicated To Matt Shepard
http://members.aol.com/dmode4life/
Remember Matthew Shepard
1977-1998
http://www.unm.edu/~wendellr/matthew.htm
A Moment for Matthew Shepard
http://mitglied.tripod.de/wuerker/index.html
Matthew Shepard
http://www.dkol.com/matthewshepard/
Matthew Shepard 1977-1998
http://members.aol.com/arisiaart/Matt.html
Gentle Touch's Web Memorium for Matthew Shepard
http://www.gentle-touch.com/home4.shtml
A Moment of Silence
http://www.enqueue.com/ria/
San Diego Mourns Matthew Shepard
http://www.yourpix.com/matthew/
Web Vigil for Matthew
http://w3.ime.net/~valor/matthew/matthew.html
Yahoo! Full Coverage - Matthew Shepard 1976-1998
http://headlines.yahoo.com/FC/US/Matthew_Shepard_Murder/
Matthew's Place
http://matthewsplace.com
Matthew Shepard Memorial
http://www.websine.com/shepard/gifgallery.html
Wired Strategies-Matthew Shepard' Online Resources
http://www.wiredstrategies.com/shepard.html
Vigil
http://www.duke.edu/~jharkins/vigil.html
Ft. Collins Colorado Lambda Center
http://www.lambdacenter.org
Ed Grimes' Poetry Page Great!!!
http://geocities.datacellar.net/~edgrimes/shepard.html
In Memory of Matthew Shepard
http://members.aol.com/BattleGods/hate.html
Matthew Shepard
http://www.fcol.com/~bholden/ms/
A Candle for Matthew
http://geocities.datacellar.net/WestHollywood/Park/7712/
In Memory of....Matthew Shepard
http://mattshepard.hypermart.net/
Matthew Shepard Memorial
http://members.aol.com/StarrzRose/Rose.html
Matthew Story
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/cdrhomepage/matthew.story.htm
Matthew Shepard Memorial Page
http://www.angelfire.com/wi/macsean/memorial.html
Ollies Gay Home Page
http://members.xoom.com/GayBelgium/
Matthew Shepard Tribute
http://www.mattshepard.org
Xwinger@cwix.com 's Matthew Shepard Page
http://geocities.datacellar.net/Area51/Station/1192/shepard.htm
Other Registered Matthew Shepard Domains:
MESSAGE BOARDS:
Matthew Shepard Memorial and Hate Crimes Message Board
http://www.InsideTheWeb.com/mbs.cgi/mb184923
Lambda Midwest Message Board for the G/L/B/T Midwest
http://www.InsideTheWeb.com/messageboard/mbs.cgi/mb94205
Remembering Matthew Shepard
http://www.newmilleniumtech.net/matt/
Wired Strategies
http://www.wiredstrategies.com/wwwboard/
Planet Out Discussion Board
http://www.planetout.com/pno/msgbrd/list.html?board=2
LEGAL ASPECTS WEBSITES:
The Smoking Gun: Archives of Matthew Shepard's Murder Briefs Filed Against Defendants
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/shepard1.shtml
MARCHES:
BeSeen! Be Heard! Web Site
January 6,1999 March on Congress for Enactment of the Matthew Shepard
Protection Against Hate Crimes Act of 1999
http://geocities.datacellar.net/CapitolHill/2047/march.html
Coordinators:
Be Seen! Be Heard! Contacts:
Information and Comments
potomacwatch@hotmail.com
Jennifer DeWalt (organizing coordinator)
Jennfrmpen@aol.com
David Mariner (youth and universities coordinator)
David@youth-guard.org
Michael Romanello (general information & endorsements)
m_romanello@hotmail.com
Sites Supporting the March:
http://geocities.datacellar.net/WestHollywood/4073,
http://geocities.datacellar.net/WestHollywood/Stonewall/2138 and
http://geocities.datacellar.net/Area51/Station/1192/shepard.htm.
ACTIONS AGAINST HATRED OF GAYS/LESBIANS/BI/TRANS:
Expose on Fred Phelps
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/michael_haggerty/expose3.htm
Hate Crimes in America
http://www.civilrights.org/lcef/hate/
Fighting Hate Across America: Leadership Conference Education Fund
http://www.civilrights.org/lcef/hat.html
Stop the Hate
http://www.rockartifacts.com/stopthehate/index.html
Hate Crimes Prevention Act
http://www.web-construct.com/shepard/index.html
Actions Against Hate
http://www.uglw.org/MSActions.html
Hate Crimes by Modem
http://www.seattletimes.com/extra/browse/html97/hateed_120397.html
James Byrd:
http://www.abcnews.com/sections/us/DailyNews/hatecrimes980611.html
Petition to the Governor of Wyoming
http://www.e-thepeople.com/etp2/affiliates/national/fullview.cfm?ETPID=0&PETID=55464&ETPDIR=affiliates/national
Petition to Wyoming State Rep. Eli Bebout to stop blocking Wyo Bias Crime Law
http://www.e-thepeople.com/etp2/affiliates/national/fullview.cfm?ETPID=0&PETID=61945&ETPDIR=affiliates%2Fnational
Petition to U.S. Senator Hatch to stop blocking U.S. Hate Crimes Act
http://www.e-thepeople.com/etp2/affiliates/national/fullview.cfm?ETPID=0&PETID=61879&ETPDIR=affiliates%2Fnational
Hatewatch.Org
http://www.hatewatch.org
Yahoo News on Hate Crimes
http://search.news.yahoo.com/search/news?p=hate+crimes&n=10
New York Hate Crime
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/headlines/ap/ap_us/story.html?s=v/ap/19981018/us/gay_beating_1.html
Webmasters for a Cure
http://www.clubpride.com/wfac/
Planet Out
http://www.planetout.com/pno/news/article.html?1998/10/13/2
XIII
http://www.chez.com/treize/texte.htm
GRAPHICS:
No Hate in the Equality State
http://www.uglw.org/MSActNoHatelogo.html
Stop the Hate and Matthew Shepard Graphics Great Page!!!!
http://www.rockartifacts.com/stopthehate/index.html
NEWS AND OTHER ARTICLES:
Asking for it
Judges and juries may go easy on gay bashers who blame their victims.
http://www.salonmagazine.com/news/1998/10/23news.html
NYC Protestors Denounce Cops
NewsPlanet Staff Wednesday, October 21, 1998 / 04:45 PM
http://www.planetout.com/newsplanet/article.html?1998/10/21/1
Channel 6000 - Wyoming Gov: 'Strictest Punishment Possible'
http://www.koin.com/news/stories/news-981012-142437.html
Culture News from Wired News
http://www.wired.com/news/news/culture/story/15570.html
U.S. News: Case study: How Jasper, Texas, handled a hate crime (10/26/98)
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/981026/26jasp.htm
U.S. News: John Leo says crime is crime, hate crimes are not special (10/26/98)
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/981026/26john.htm
News from Lexington, Kentucky
http://www.kentuckyconnect.com/heraldleader/news/101398/n9crimes.shtml
http://www.kentuckyconnect.com/heraldleader/news/101398/n9gay.shtml
Shepard Becomes the Christian Right's Nightmare
October 23, 1998
NEW YORK
http://www.datalounge.com/cgi-bin/dbm/news/record?record=2803
U.S. News: Spotlight on Laramie, Wyo., and a hate crime killing (10/26/98)
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/981026/26wyom.htm
Newsweek.com: Nation: Trickle-Down Hate
http://www.newsweek.com/nw-srv/printed/us/na/na0617_1.htm
Oregon Live: 10-19-98 Hundreds mark Matthew Shepard's killing
http://www.oregonlive.com/todaysnews/9810/st101912.html
TIME Cover: The New Gay Struggle --PAGE 1-- October 26, 1998
http://cgi.pathfinder.com/time/magazine/1998/dom/981026/cover1.html
Newsweek.com: Nation: Echoes of a Murder in Wyoming
http://www.newsweek.com/nw-srv/printed/us/na/na0417_1.htm
Frat Scarecrow & Other Briefs
NewsPlanet Staff
Friday, October 23, 1998 / 07:50 PM
http://www.planetout.com/newsplanet/article.html?1998/10/23/4
University Withdraws Recongition of Fraternity
October 23, 1998 CO
http://www.datalounge.com/cgi-bin/dbm/news/record?record=2806
News Articles Link:
http://www.mattshepard.org/html/news.html
http://www.salonmagazine.com/news/1998/10/23news.html
Asking for it
Judges and juries may go easy on gay bashers who blame their victims.
BY JEFF STRYKER
125 Arrested at Shepard March in New York City
More than 5,000 protestors strangle midtown as huge turnout for Shepard
vigil overwhelms city police.
http://www.datalounge.com/cgi-bin/dbm/news/record?record=2789
Shepard is Put to Rest in Wyoming
Parents thank a grieving community as Matthew Shepard is buried in
Casper.
http://www.datalounge.com/cgi-bin/dbm/news/record?record=2785
Reno Urges Congress to Reconsider Hate Crimes Law
Cites Shepard's death in pushing for renewed Congressional action on
federal hate crimes law.
http://www.datalounge.com/cgi-bin/dbm/news/record?record=2787
Non-Gay Organizations Blast Religious Right
American Jewish Congress and People for the American Way attack groups
aligned with Family Research Council in light of Shepard death.
http://www.datalounge.com/cgi-bin/dbm/news/record?record=2780
Conservatives Deny Responsibility in Shepard Death
Religious conservatives say their right to speak out against
homosexuality has nothing to do with the perpetuation of a hostile anti-gay
environment.
http://www.datalounge.com/cgi-bin/dbm/news/record?record=2761
TIME Cover: The New Gay Struggle --PAGE 1-- October 26, 1998
http://cgi.pathfinder.com/time/magazine/1998/dom/981026/cover1.html
Shepard Funeral Held in WY
NewsPlanet Staff Friday, October 16, 1998 / 08:14 PM
http://www.planetout.com/newsplanet/article.html?1998/10/16/1
PEOPLE ONLINE:
Matthew Shepard Interview Found
http://www.pathfinder.com/people/daily/98back/981022.html
Univ. of Wy. Pres. Statement
http://www.pathfinder.com/people/daily/98back/981012.html
MIKE HENDRICKSIf we all get what we really deserve. . .
http://www.kcstar.com/item/pages/local.pat,local/30da74a1.a20,.html
George Bullard: How Do We Resolve the Issue of Homosexuality? 10/24/98
http://detnews.com/1998/religion/9810/24/10240034.htm
VIGILS AND PICS:
Champaign-Urbana News Gazette coverage of a
candlelight vigil for Matthew Shepard.
http://www.news-gazette.com/story.cfm?Number=3669
Decatur Herald-Review's article on the recent
candlelight vigil held in Decatur to mourn Matt Shepard's death:
http://www.herald-review.com/04/unit1016-8.html
Madison vigil on Action Wisconsin's web site,
http://www.execpc.com/~dross/aw/
Photos from the NYC March
http://www.panix.com/~hoggardb/march_photos.html
OTHERS OF INTEREST:
Matthew Becomes a Martyr Survey
http://www.datalounge.com/cgi-bin/datalounge/survey/record?record=2771
New York Organizing Group
http://home.dti.net/pursley/rage/
Vote Smart
http://www.vote-smart.org
[MatthewShepardUpdate] GAYBC Offers Matthew Shepard National
Vigil Webcast
http://www.gaybc.com
Speak Out Now or Forever Have Your Peace Witheld
http://www.cyberramp.net/~mylasher/
===========================================================================
Quotes Related to Matthew Shepard:
"And so we sailed on, with grief in our hearts, glad to be still alive
and yet mourning still for our dear friends no longer with us."
-- The Odyssey
"The opportunity to be threatened, humiliated and to live in
fear of being beaten to death is the only 'special right'
our culture bestows on homosexuals."
- Diane Carman, Denver Post, October 10, 1998
"Go home, give your kids a hug," Judy Shepard said in a message read by a tearful
hospital spokesman who announced her child's death early Monday morning, "and
don't let a day go by without telling them you love them."
October 12, 1998
As his uncle, R.W. Eaton, told The Denver Post, the 21-year-old Matt, who aspired to a
career in diplomacy and human rights, was "a small person with a big heart, mind
and soul that someone tried to beat out of him." Of his nephew's shattered
body Eaton said, "It's like something you might see in war." And a war it is.
"Hate crimes are acts of violence directed against people because of their racial, religious, ethnic, gender or sexual identity. They are also acts of violence against the American ideal: that we can make one nation out of many different people." Arnold Aronson, President, LCEF
NEWSWEEK, October 26, "Discerning clergymen and moralists can hate the
sin and love the sinner, but by the time the homophobic message reaches the
angry guys sitting in the bar, that distinction has been lost."
Source: WOCKNER/QUOTE UNQUOTE #131/15 Oct 1998
"I was deeply grieved by the act of violence perpetrated against
Matthew Shepard of Wyoming. The Justice Department has assured me
that local law enforcement officials are proceeding diligently to
bring those responsible to justice. And I am determined that we
will do everything we can and offer whatever assistance is
appropriate. Hillary and I ask that your thoughts and your
prayers be with Mr. Shepard and his family, and with the people
of Laramie, Wyoming. In the face of this terrible act of
violence, they are joining together to demonstrate that an act of
evil like this is not what our country is all about. In fact it
strikes at the very heart of what it means to be an American and
at the values that define us as a Nation. We must all reaffirm
that we will not tolerate this. Just this year there have been a
number of recent tragedies across our country that involve hate
crimes. The vicious murder of James Byrd last June in Jasper,
Texas and the assault this week on Mr. Shepard are only among the
most horrifying examples. Almost one year ago I proposed that
Congress enact the Hate Crimes Prevention Act. Our Federal laws
already punish some crimes committed against people on the basis
of race or religion or national origin, but we should do more.
This crucial legislation would strengthen and expand the ability
of the Justice Department to prosecute hate crimes by removing
needless jurisdictional requirements for existing crimes and by
giving Federal prosecutors the power to prosecute hate crimes
committed because of the victim's sexual orientation, gender, or
disability. All Americans deserve protection from hate. There is
nothing more important to the future of this country than our
standing together against intolerance, prejudice, and violent
bigotry. It is not too late for Congress to take action before
they adjourn and pass The Hate Crimes Prevention Act. By doing so
they will help make all Americans more safe and secure."
--President Bill Clinton, Oct. 10.
"Matt Shepard spoke three languages or more. He seemed bright and
open and full of promise. We will never know what he would have
done in life. But in death, in a nation sickened by the
gratuitous thuggery of his murder, he may do much to dispel the
stubborn belief in some quarters that homosexuals are not
discriminated against. They are. Hatred can kill. The men accused
of killing Matthew Shepard will be tried for first-degree murder.
But his death makes clear the need for hate-crime laws to protect
those who survive and punish those who attack others, whether
fatally or not, just because of who they are."
--Editorial in The New York Times, Oct. 13.
"I am so pissed off. I can't stop crying. This is what I was
trying to stop -- this is why I did what I did."
--Actress Ellen DeGeneres at an Oct. 14 vigil in Washington,
D.C., in remembrance of Matthew Shepard.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The following beautiful and eloquent tribute to Matthew Shepard comes from
DenverKyle@aol.com. It also captures the essence of the service for those who
could not be there. Thanks Kyle. I am sure Matthew would have been deeply
honored by the sentiment. -- Scott
Dear Matt,
Your funeral requiem service today was beautiful. And very sad. I don't
remember a time in my life when I've cried harder or longer. There were times,
today, that I thought this grief would somehow just swallow me, it seemed so
huge, and so dark.
I'd never been to your church or to Casper before, and didn't really know
what to expect. The flowers, like the stained glass windows, the music, the
candles-- were all so beautiful! You would have loved seeing all the people
who came to pay their respects to you - your parents, family, classmates, and
all the people who knew you or were touched by you. There were many others
crowded into nearby hallways and streets, and a nearby church, mourning your
passing and hearing the stories of your life. Dozens of people stood silently
in the freshly fallen snow listening to your service on the radio. President
Clinton even sent flowers and representatives to your service. For several
hours, it seemed like the whole town of Casper had just shut down.
Oh Matt! You just wouldn't believe the outpouring of sorrow and sympathy from
around this entire country, even around the world, these past few days! In
cities from California to Maine, and in towns and countries far beyond, tens
of thousands of people gathered to remember you, Matthew Wayne Shepard, a
young man most of us had never heard of just 10 short days ago.
Tonight, your small, tattered body rests alone, awaiting tomorrow's burial.
Your pain and suffering are over now, and those of us left behind now agonize
as we realize what cruelty and torture you endured - what injustice you
suffered at the hands of two hateful souls. You know, Matt, none of us could
have ever imagined seeing you hurt like that, and no one should ever endure
the torture and pain that you faced. But I know you've seen that hurt and
hatred before, and maybe, because of your life, and this bright flame you've
ignited, fewer people will suffer like this in the future.
Your parents spoke this morning to thank the world for the outpouring of
support they'd received. I doubt they ever imagined they'd find themselves
back in Casper this week, in front of hundreds of cameras. It hurt so bad to
see your mom cry. She loved you from before you were born, and this is surely
the most difficult and darkest time in her life. She couldn't speak Matt, but
her tears spoke volumes. Her letters from the hospital, and the dignity she
showed, will always stand out in my heart. In the letter she wrote after
you’d left, she explained that you'd come into this world prematurely back in
1976 - that you weren't due until well into 1977! - and now, sadly, you were
also leaving much too prematurely.
Your dad was eloquent as he tried to hold back his tears. He said that if
something like this had happened to anyone else, you'd be the first one there
to help. I really believe that Matt, and I only wish there'd been someone
there for you last week when those guys beat and burned you, and put your
tortured, shoeless body up on that rugged fence. Please, don't be upset that
your dad still couldn't quite say the word 'Gay' to the whole world -- you
know how parents are sometimes. He obviously loves you dearly, and his heart
is crushed. Just give him time. That single word - 'gay' - that he couldn't
yet utter, was the one word that you used so comfortably to describe
yourself. And now it's that very same word for which your life was taken, and
for which your own parents' lives have also been threatened. I imagine that
it's probably an even more painful and difficult word for him to speak right
now. He will come around though, Matt. Just give him time. He knows who you
were, and when he sees your legacy, I'll just bet you it will be a word he'll
say very fondly and very proudly when he speaks of you in the future.
Your little brother’s heart is broken now. I’m sure it will be hard for Logan
to understand why someone as wonderful as you was taken from us now. That
question - why? - is not easily answered. But in you, Matty, he has found
someone he will always remember with pride. Your zest for living, and the
kindness you’ve always shown to others has been an inspiration for him, and
one of these days, he’ll walk proud in his bigger brother’s shoes. You’ll
always be a giant in his eyes.
It's strange, Matt, this amazing effect you've had on so many of us! To think
that just 10 days ago, you were sitting in a meeting on campus with some
friends planning activities for 'Coming Out' week... Would you have ever
imagined that within just five days, President Clinton would be talking about
you and your family publicly on three different occasions??? Would you have
ever dreamed that so many celebrities, politicians, activists, clergy and
citizens around the globe would be telling your story and raising awareness of
Hate Crimes and the need to end this senseless kind of violence? You would
have been so amazed to see Elton John, Ellen Degeneres, Ted Kennedy, and so
many others talking about you, Matt! Elton is donating proceeds from his
concerts to your family for your favorite causes. You had always said that
you wanted to make a difference with your life - that you wanted to help
others less fortunate than yourself. Matt, if you only knew!
You would be so amazed at the firestorm of media attention your story has
brought. When news of your beating first broke last Friday your story was on
CNN and all 3 networks within hours! Today, a week later, it still
continues! The first third of tonight’s ABC Evening News was about your story,
Matt, and all the networks showed your funeral. Even tonight's "Nightline"
showed your service, and followed with a gripping discussion about Hate
Crimes. You became an instant news phenomenon! On every talk radio program,
TV talk show, newspaper, -- in chat rooms and newsgroups around the world --
you were there, dude! That picture of you standing in the kitchen has been
seen by literally millions and millions of people around the world. Hundreds
of websites went black in your memory, and the internet is filled with
websites and pages honoring you, 'Matt6926'. Suddenly, though most of us have
never met you, we have all came to know about you, and your impact is still
thundering in our hearts.
Remember just over a year ago, when Princess Diana died - how the world
grieved her passing and everyone seemed to come together for awhile? In your
wildest dreams, I’ll bet you never imagined that something like that would
happen just because of you. But it did! The horrible events at the very end
of your life were unthinkable and unconscionable. I will never understand or
even begin to comprehend how you must have suffered on that cold Wyoming night
and that long day that followed. But Matthew, your life has made a huge impact
on our country, our national consciousness, and our lives. It was an enormous
price to pay --your life for our enlightenment-- but we shall be forever
grateful. You’ve become a Prince in our crusade against hate and violence
directed toward people who happen to be different. My prayer, Matt, is that
we can and will be valiant to this cause.
You became, unwittingly, another tragic casualty in this crusade against Hate.
Like your cousin Megan mentioned in her poem, you've unexpectedly become a
martyr. Unfortunately, Matthew, it is a battle that will be long fought.
This violence has taken so many before you, and continues to ravage and
assault people in all walks of life. Perhaps this catalyst that your death
has brought will spare others this atrocity in the future. You’ve emboldened
us Matthew, and the candles we’ve lit in your memory have now become torches
in our march against this onslaught.
Tomorrow I will cry one more time as your casket is lowered into the ground,
and the earth above you is covered in a fleece-white blanket of Wyoming snow.
Know that my tears are both of sorrow and of renewed determination. Like so
many who never had the opportunity to meet you, I will miss you, Matthew.
This emptiness and anguish cuts to my very core. But I also pledge to you,
fair young Prince, that your crusade is now just begun.
In your honor, Matthew, PEACE.
MATTHEW WAYNE SHEPARD
1976 - 1998
"Most of us did not know him, but we grieve and feel rage. It could have been any of us. Our anger stems from the inability to comprehend the ignorance, hatred and insanity of homophobia. The religious right is mounting a media campaign of hate against gay men and lesbians. Not since Nazi Germany has there been such a calculated and vicious attack on homosexuals -- the words and images may be different, but the propaganda is the same. Sexual orientation is not a choice. There is no way God-loving Christians are going to turn us straight with hate. If Jesus Christ died for our sins, then Matthew Shepard died for theirs."
Kevin Koffler
Editor-In-Chief, Genre Magazine
October 12, 1998
." "Matt was a young man who met the world with eager expectation, who offered trust and friendship easily and lived honestly," said the Rev. Ann Kitch, a cousin of Shepard from Peekskill, New York, in her eulogy. "He struggled to fit into a world not always kind to gentle spirits."
Homily for Matthew
Anne Kitch - homily from the funeral of Matthew Shepard
An angel with new wings
In a place a world away
Can once again begin to sing
God took him in his arms today
He blessed his soul with loving care
And took away his pain
His life story all would share
His memory on their hearts a stain
So young a heart destroyed
For a cause unforgotten
Another’s mind deployed
The result of a tragedy rotten
The tragic hero that’s hard to find
A martyr with great courage
God’s lamb in rare design
Never to be discouraged
Our love for him forever strong
His image will never fade
We’ll meet him again before long
Temporary goodbyes we now must bade
Matty, I love you with all of my heart
I wish you only knew how much
You’ll be happier with this brand new start
The world’s hearts you have now touched
Statement by Matt's Parents:
"Matthew is a very special person, and everyone can learn important lessons from his life. All of us who know Matthew see him as he is, a very kind and gentle soul. He is a strong believer in humanity and human rights. He is a trusting person who takes everybody at face value and he does not see the bad side of anyone. "His one intolerance is when people don't accept others as they are. He has always strongly felt that all people are the same; regardless of their sexual preference, race or religion.
"We know he believes that all of us are part of the same family called Humanity, and each and everyone of us should treat all people with respect and dignity, and that each of us has the right to live a full and rewarding life. That is one lesson which we are very certain he would share with you, if he could.
"Matthew also feels strongly about family. He is a loving son, brother and grandson who has made our own lives much richer and fuller than what we would have experienced without him.
"Matthew's life has often been a struggle in one way or another. He was born prematurely, and he struggled to survive as an infant. He is physically short in stature but we believe he is a giant when it comes to respecting the worth of others. We know that he thinks if he can make one person's life better in this world, then he has succeeded. That is a measure of success which Matthew has always pursued.
"Matthew very much enjoys the outdoors and camping, and he has always loved acting in the theatre he started acting in community theatre at the age of 5. Acting and the theatre arts are skills at which Matthew excels.
"He knows he's not the best athlete in the world but he has a very competitive spirit. One time he participated in the Wyoming State Games. He had a respectable finish in a running competition and then he decided to compete in a swimming event. He did this even though he knew he would likely finish last. Which he did. Afterwards, he acknowledged to us that he knew his chances of winning were far from good but he wasn't going to let that stop him from trying. That's Matthew's lesson for all of us. It's a lesson that we hope everyone takes to heart.
"Matthew has traveled all over the world. He speaks three languages: English, German and Italian. He loves Europe, but he also loves Laramie and the University of Wyoming. We feel that, if he was giving this statement himself, he would emphasize he does not want the horrible actions of a few very disturbed individuals to mar the fine reputations of Laramie or the university.
"Finally, we would like to thank the sheriff's department of Albany County, Wyoming, and Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins for their very professional efforts on Matthew's behalf.
===========================================================================
DONATIONS:
**DONATING FUNDS:
The family has again asked that no flowers be sent but rather that
people send donations to the Matthew Shepard memorial fund at:
c/o First National Bank
PO Box 578
Fort Collins, CO 80522
Account No. 1926083
Donations to help pass Bias Crimes Legislation can be sent to:
The Wyoming Grassroots Project
c/o UGLW
PO Box 6837
Cheyenne, WY 82003-6837
===========================================================================
Music:
My song for Matt
Posted by Anthony Anselmo on October 20, 1998 at 15:50:37:
I am still upset about the whole Matthew Shepard thing, so I decided to
channel my energy into writing. I was walking the other day thinking
"Uncertain Weather" would make a great tune to dedicate to Matthew. So
here is my version of the lyrics I feel would make a great song, and a
great tribute.
of course it would be cool if Genesis could record this (like Elton
rerecorded his song for diana) but I doubt that would ever happen.
Music Copyright 1997, Genesis.
A day of uncertain weather
Captured in a picture forever,
A face in a jaded photograph,
He once had a life,
Alone with his family,
Targeted by strangers, new to him.
Only just a young man,
No quams against anybody,
Killed by opinions that he sinned.
All gone long ago,
Leaving just a trace,
Of a spirit stuck in the wind.
To become a martyr to his race,
Leaving just a trace,
Of our candles blowing in the wind.
Loves, and joys, and memories
Deserted in the sky,
A scarecrow lying in the sand,
Oh no.
Ignorance, hate and lies,
lying from within,
blind eyes that cannot see,
Oh no.
One who's love spread along,
To everybody's heart,
Not to be forgotten, anytime soon.
A day of uncertain weather,
Stuck in that picture forever,
A face in a single photograph.
All gone long ago,
Leaving just a trace,
Of a spirit stuck in the wind.
To become just a martyr to his race,
Leaving just a trace,
Of our candles blowing in the wind.
Yes he's gone,
Just a face with a name,
One more step to stop,
the ignorance that kills us all.
All gone long ago,
Leaving just a trace,
Of a spirit stuck in the wind.
To become a martyr a race,
Leaving just a trace,
Of our candles blowing in the wind.
===============================================================================
LETTERS:
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1998 14:43:48 -0700
Subject: Excellent website in Canada.. English and French!
To all gay / Lesbian Webmasters -/- à l'attention des Webmestres gais et
lesbiens. (Matthew Shepard)
Oct, 15 1998.
(la version en Francais suit)
(sorry for my bad English !)
HI !
Download address :
http://www.laplace.qc.ca/shepard/shepard-v100.zip
Mirror:
http://www.colba.net/~erv/temporaire/shepard-v100.zip
this zip file contains all that you need to participate in the "Black
page" Matthew shepard memorial on your website by inserting a black memorial
page in front of your normal site main page.
This is by no mean an "official" page for the action and you may change
it at will.
The "Official" day is the 16th, but you may keep it longer, or even start later.
Here's how it looks (English version):
http://www.laplace.qc.ca/shepard/index.html
All you need to do is to unzip it, rename your actual "index.html" file
to "index2.html" and then send all the content of the zip file to the
root directory of your website.
You should then go there to register your site as a participant in
the HRC Campain. http://www.gayplace.com/m_shepard.html
I would also appreciate if you can send me a mail with the address of
your site at erv@arobas.net I'll keep you informed of pages upgrades.
Best regards,
Éric Vinter
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Bonjour,
Addresse du fichier :
http://www.laplace.qc.ca/shepard/shepard-v100.zip
Autre adresse :
http://www.colba.net/~erv/temporaire/shepard-v100.zip
To all,
Please visit http://lamar.colostate.edu/~xaomega to clear up a
national misunderstanding about who was involved in the hate incident
here. We at Chi Alpha Omega want not only to clear our name, but to make
a difference in this tough time.
Thank you
_____________________________________________________________________
- Chi Alpha Omega -
"Striving To Practice A Balanced Lifestyle,
Socially, Academically, and Spiritually."
_____________________________________________________________________
http://lamar.acns.colostate.edu/~xaomega
Dan Oltersdorf - President
495-5689
Jeff Warren - Director of the Social Ministry
229-9955
===============================================================================
Matthew Shepard Update Newsletter (c) 1998
Rodney Allen Bell, II, B.A."The spirit of love" ICQ: 4734586
P.O. Box 45357, Kansas City, MO 64171 (816) 931-6829 Voice lovespirit@earthlink.net lovespirit@juno.com Support the UNL GALA/AE, INC. just surf on over to:
http://www.eyegive.com/html/ssi.cfm?cid=3040&mid=17671
My Ebay Auction Page: http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/lovespirit/
Matthew Shepard Update: Memorial
http://geocities.datacellar.net/WestHollywood/Stonewall/2178/shepard1.html
Home Page: http://geocities.datacellar.net/WestHollywood/6986/index.html
Others: Univ of Nebr.-Lincoln GALA/AE, Inc. http://geocities.datacellar.net/WestHollywood/2840/index.html
Online Shopping: http://members.spree.com/lovespirit/default.asp?x=lovespirit
MA BELL'S FABULOUSLY DIVINE SHRINE: http://www.fortunecity.com/village/hancock/67/index.html
Lambda Midwest: http://geocities.datacellar.net/WestHollywood/Stonewall/2178/index.html
LambdaACOA: Gay/Les/Bi/Trans Adult Children of Alcoholics/Dysfunctional Families http://geocities.datacellar.net/WestHollywood/6986/acoa.html
Web Page Content ©1998-2004Rodney Allen Bell, II, B.A. This Page Last Updated 11/10/98,10/16/04
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