[posted October 12, 1998]
Matthew Shepard died last night at the hospital where he was taken after he was attacked, beaten unconscious, burned, tied to a fence and left to die. Matthew was an openly gay 21 year old man at the University of Wyoming. His ambition was to be an activist for gay rights.
Those who first found his body tied to the fence thought it was a scarecrow, which means that Matthew looked like someone crucified.
The two men who bashed and killed Matthew because he was a small gay man have been arrested and charged with his murder. Their two girl friends, who helped to dispose of Matthew's bloody clothes, have also been charged with the crime. The world is watching. The news media has covered every detail of this tragedy. Matthew's suffering and death has waked up many people to the danger that homosexuals face every day simply by being honest about who they are and being subject to potential violence because of the ignorance and fear that current religious and political preaching have spread about gays.
Matthew died in a dramatic and thoroughly reported crime. Most of the suffering, pain, suicides, bashings, beatings, loneliness, fear, and crimes against homosexuals go unreported and unnoticed by the world. Matthew was the great exception. His hope to made a difference for gay people has been realized. Thank God for Matthew Shepard. He is a hero. His life and death have made a difference.
We pray that the outrage expressed by President Clinton, the Governor of Wyoming, and many others will result in effective civil and human rights legal protection for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people. Contact people that you know in government and demand action.
We also pray that homophobic legalistic biblical literalists will wake up to the evil results of their misrepresentation of God, the Bible, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Contact religious right wing Bible abusers and politicians and tell them what you think.
Matthew Shepard demonstrated the importance and the risk of "coming out". He died during the night after National Coming Out Day. What effect has all of this had on you? What do you plan to do about your own life and mission?
Visit Dr. Truluck's homepage: Steps to Recovery from Bible Abuse
Here is an email address for anyone wishing to send Matthew and his family a message:
Here is the fund set up in his name:
Matthew Shepard Fund (#1926083)
c/o 1st National Bank
Box 578
Fort Collins, CO 80522